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Chronicles of the Fallen #1
The Crowman
In a dying world, one lone rider is the only hope for salvation.
Some say the world is shattered, that our way of life is dying. Our sun fills half the sky and the scorched lands struggle to provide enough to sustain us. Still, there has always been hope. But as that fiery red orb descends below the rocky skyline, then comes the shadow: Dark spirits hell-bent on destroying what’s left of humanity, as if we needed any help.
My name is Cheveyo Santiago. I cheated death as a child, but that trauma marked me, and now I sense the evil in others. So here I am, drawn like a moth to the flame. Though I carry a revolver, I’m no gunslinger, there are plenty faster on the draw than me. My real edge is knowledge.
Old family recipes passed down through the ages – the secrets to banish the shadow back to the hells that spawned it. Salt, Brimstone, Silver and Tallow shall be my weapons.
So, hear this, all creatures and spirits of evil. I know you. I see you. Prepare yourself for judgement.
The Crowman is the first novella in a Weird West / Supernatural Western Horror series from Amazon best selling author Gareth Clegg.
Some say the world is shattered, that our way of life is dying. Our sun fills half the sky and the scorched lands struggle to provide enough to sustain us. Still, there has always been hope. But as that fiery red orb descends below the rocky skyline, then comes the shadow: Dark spirits hell-bent on destroying what’s left of humanity, as if we needed any help.
My name is Cheveyo Santiago. I cheated death as a child, but that trauma marked me, and now I sense the evil in others. So here I am, drawn like a moth to the flame. Though I carry a revolver, I’m no gunslinger, there are plenty faster on the draw than me. My real edge is knowledge.
Old family recipes passed down through the ages – the secrets to banish the shadow back to the hells that spawned it. Salt, Brimstone, Silver and Tallow shall be my weapons.
So, hear this, all creatures and spirits of evil. I know you. I see you. Prepare yourself for judgement.
The Crowman is the first novella in a Weird West / Supernatural Western Horror series from Amazon best selling author Gareth Clegg.
- GenresWeird WestHorrorFantasy
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2020
10 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Gareth Clegg
10 books15 followersGareth is an Amazon Best Selling Author who lives in make-believe worlds somewhere in the dark spaces between fantasy and science fiction. There he converses with imaginary friends and survives on a diet of tea, the finest curries available to humanity, and the occasional slice of Battenberg.
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Claim your FREE copy of FALLEN ANGELS now
(19 Short stories for fans of Sci-Fi, Steampunk, Cyberpunk, Fantasy and Supernatural)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 23, 2020
Howdy. Name's Jessie. You might know me from the beginning of this here adventure. The hombre who normally wastes time scrawling and scribbling these Godforsaken 'Goodreads' reviews got me to do it this time round. Says he knows the author and preferred something called 'pro-fessional distance'. I hain't the first idea what he means neither.
Anyway I don't know what he wants me to say about this here book. I didn't even know someone was writing about me! Who in tarnation is this Gareth Clegg? While it's nice and all to be included, he went completely off-track. While following that Cheveyo character and all his demon-slaying, Mr Clegg completely left out my trouble at the bank. At least the bath was everything I expected it to be. Let me tell you, them Byrne sisters sure were special!
Mr Reviewer has told me to get back to the story as writ. Cheveyo was a good companion on the journey down but I didn't know how much destruction he left in Providence! Damn town's made of glass so suppose it was gonna happen sometime. Don't know how I missed the hellish critter stinking up the place, but then I was out like a light after that bath! Wish I met that Ruby girl, she sounds a hoot. Still I wouldn't play cards with that firebrand, not with my fortune to tend to!
I don't do much reading (Mr Reviewer had to teach me before setting me down at this clickety-clack doohickey) but I'll say Mr Clegg writes a hell of a tale. Guns a-blazing, bar bust-ups, men exploding into birds: what's not to like?
Okay. Mr Reviewer seems happy, says I can take my mule Gracie and mosey on back to the trail. Now my claim is safe from that awful Carlton, I ought to start panning again. Gotta go earn my next bath with all the frills!
Anyway I don't know what he wants me to say about this here book. I didn't even know someone was writing about me! Who in tarnation is this Gareth Clegg? While it's nice and all to be included, he went completely off-track. While following that Cheveyo character and all his demon-slaying, Mr Clegg completely left out my trouble at the bank. At least the bath was everything I expected it to be. Let me tell you, them Byrne sisters sure were special!
Mr Reviewer has told me to get back to the story as writ. Cheveyo was a good companion on the journey down but I didn't know how much destruction he left in Providence! Damn town's made of glass so suppose it was gonna happen sometime. Don't know how I missed the hellish critter stinking up the place, but then I was out like a light after that bath! Wish I met that Ruby girl, she sounds a hoot. Still I wouldn't play cards with that firebrand, not with my fortune to tend to!
I don't do much reading (Mr Reviewer had to teach me before setting me down at this clickety-clack doohickey) but I'll say Mr Clegg writes a hell of a tale. Guns a-blazing, bar bust-ups, men exploding into birds: what's not to like?
Okay. Mr Reviewer seems happy, says I can take my mule Gracie and mosey on back to the trail. Now my claim is safe from that awful Carlton, I ought to start panning again. Gotta go earn my next bath with all the frills!
July 1, 2020
I very much enjoyed this novella and you will too if you like stories that get you into the action quickly. The worldbuilding is excellent and felt real and believable. I very much look forward to reading the next books in this series and exploring the world Gareth has created! I would definitely recommend this book.
July 2, 2020
Note: The author sent me an ARC of this book for an honest review.
The Crowman is a superbly written, dark western.
“The Crowman comes, and the Crowman goes
Nobody knows what the Crowman knows
Tie up his feet and chop off his nose,
How many times has the Crowman rose?
One, two, three.”
“The Crowman reaps what the farmer sows,
Where does he come from? Nobody knows
The Crowman comes when the daytime goes,
How many times has the Crowman rose?
One, two, three…”
I rotated the barrel of the two-shot, locking the second round into place with a click.
The thing laughed at me. “Too late. You’ve shown your hand. Goodbye, Cheveyo.”
As I pulled the trigger, the creature exploded, an inky stream leaping into the air. It swirled then burst into cawing crows, hundreds of them, streaming into the night sky and disappearing, lost in the darkness.
The Crowman is about Santiago Cheveyo a reluctant monster hunter who tries to rid the small town of Providence from the grip of an evil curse. After a man is butchered, the first night of his arrival Chev unravels the mysteries of a quiet frontier town. Aided by the beautiful gambler Ruby, they quickly discover nothing is ever as it seems.
Gareth Clegg writes a fantastic story that seamlessly adds undead monsters into the wild west. The Crowman is a gripping, action-packed novella that reads like a Louies L’Amoure novel. Well, if he would have written dark fantasy. A great first edition into a planned lengthy series of speculative westerns.
The Crowman is a superbly written, dark western.
“The Crowman comes, and the Crowman goes
Nobody knows what the Crowman knows
Tie up his feet and chop off his nose,
How many times has the Crowman rose?
One, two, three.”
“The Crowman reaps what the farmer sows,
Where does he come from? Nobody knows
The Crowman comes when the daytime goes,
How many times has the Crowman rose?
One, two, three…”
I rotated the barrel of the two-shot, locking the second round into place with a click.
The thing laughed at me. “Too late. You’ve shown your hand. Goodbye, Cheveyo.”
As I pulled the trigger, the creature exploded, an inky stream leaping into the air. It swirled then burst into cawing crows, hundreds of them, streaming into the night sky and disappearing, lost in the darkness.
The Crowman is about Santiago Cheveyo a reluctant monster hunter who tries to rid the small town of Providence from the grip of an evil curse. After a man is butchered, the first night of his arrival Chev unravels the mysteries of a quiet frontier town. Aided by the beautiful gambler Ruby, they quickly discover nothing is ever as it seems.
Gareth Clegg writes a fantastic story that seamlessly adds undead monsters into the wild west. The Crowman is a gripping, action-packed novella that reads like a Louies L’Amoure novel. Well, if he would have written dark fantasy. A great first edition into a planned lengthy series of speculative westerns.
March 19, 2023
This book was a really fun read. Right from the get-go I knew I was in for a real weird western treat. The protagonist Cheveyo Santiago is a mysterious man who comes to a town to rid it of an evil curse. He gets some help from an unlikely source and from there the adventure begins. If you like your westerns totally weird, full of action and tons of guns firing with some strange twists and turns then get ready to draw to that buy button fast because you're in for a real bloody and supernatural western.
July 7, 2020
Really enjoyed that...pulpy supernatural western
August 17, 2020
this is the first book I read from this autor and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The ending of this book.. come on! I just didn´t expect it! Can´t wait for book 2! Amazing job! definitely a must read!
August 4, 2020
Read this whilst on holiday and thoroughly enjoyed it, couldn't put it down. The old wild west setting reminded me of the western movies I watched as a child with my dad very nostalgic. But I loved the supernatural story woven seamlessly into this setting. Well written, the characters were well rounded and the storytelling was set at the right pace for me, never a dull moment. Also, I like that the story ended without a cliff hanger so no pressure to buy the next book, thanks for that Mr Gareth Clegg. I can't wait for the second instalment in the series, hope it's underway.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews