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Severed Wings
"Altman ( Deprivers ) combines the divine and the profane in this erotically charged urban fantasy."—Publishers Weekly Imagine Leaving Las Vegas meets City of Angels and American Gods, and you can imagine the power of Severed Wings . Brandon Jones, a handsome, hopeful young actor, stands on the verge of fame and fortune—when a car accident shatters his life, bringing his career to a screeching halt. Isolating himself, he cuts off his friends and family, turns to booze for companionship, and withdraws to a small apartment on Sunset Boulevard. Now, the only people he interacts with are a drag queen and a student working her way through college as an escort. Brandon has nothing to live for…until a startlingly beautiful young couple moves in across the hall. Spying through the peephole in his door, he grows increasingly obsessed with his new neighbors—and the parade of damaged strangers who visit them at all hours. Then something seemingly impossible happens that convinces him that this mysterious couple can help restore all he lost. Brandon insinuates himself into their lives, and finds himself on a journey from despair into hope—as an ancient secret from the dawn of time draws him head to head with a terrifying foe, bent on destroying everything he’s now come to love. Once again, Steven-Elliot Altman dares to place his readers in the company of an embittered anti-hero, in the same manner that inspired Paul Goat Allen of The Barnes & Noble Review to call his bestselling novel, Deprivers, “One of those rare novels that will haunt the reader’s subconscious for a long time.” The author has produced a timeless work that tempts our greater demons and provokes our higher angels. “An erotic and lyrical fantasy thriller, aptly set in the city of lost angels.” — Poppy Z. Brite, author of LOST SOULS and EXQUISITE CORPSE “In Severed Wings , Altman delivers a thrilling roller-coaster ride, plunging us headlong into dark territories fraught with unexpected pivots and twists.”—Stephen Susco, screenwriter of The Grudge “[an] ethereal story about the damage of the past and the hope for a better personal future.”—Booklist "This dark, alluring story will appeal to urban fantasy fans."—Publishers Weekly “Severed Wings will make you believe in angels and demons and everything in between, at least until you turn the last page.”—Kaye Lynn Booth, Writing to be Read “Steve Altman's SEVERED WINGS is a tour de force of the Weird. Eat of the fruit and take a truly mesmerizing trip through a glass darkly. I did, and I can't wait to do it again.”— Nancy Holder, NYT Bestselling Author (The Wicked Saga, written with Debbie Viguie) "Very nicely written with a simple, straightforward plot that is actually more complex by implication than it seems."—Don D'Ammassa, Critical Mass Reviews
- GenresFantasy
184 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2020
3 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Steven-Elliot Altman
13 books8 followersSteven-Elliot Altman is a bestselling author, screenwriter, graphic novelist and video game designer. His games include Acclaim's multiple award-winning title 9DRAGONS and Wooga's PEARL'S PERIL. Steve's novels include CAPTAIN AMERICA IS DEAD, ZEN IN THE ART OF SLAYING VAMPIRES, BATMAN: FEAR ITSELF, THE KILLSWITCH REVIEW, THE IRREGULARS and DEPRIVERS. He's also the editor of the critically-acclaimed anthology THE TOUCH and a contributor to SHADOWS OVER BAKER STREET, a Hugo Award Winning anthology of Sherlock Holmes Stories.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 29, 2020
Severed Wings is a fun read for fans of fantasy, with the fast pace of a thriller and a sexy dose of romance set against modern-day Los Angeles. The mythology Altman creates is strangely believable and I found myself googling historical references. The premise is interesting and fresh. There are a lot of twists and revelations so I don't want to spoil anything. If you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Izombie, Lucifer or Angel you will enjoy this book!
June 15, 2020
Book Review: Severed Wings by Steven-Elliot Altman
At a glance:
- magical realism
- page turner
- action-packed
Mood:
👼💋🍿⚔️🎮
Take a seat on the edge of your chair, grab some popcorn, and let this unassuming-looking book shock you into an unblinking state of staying up long past your bedtime, reading against your will. Severed Wings, to be released on June 3 2020, is a page turner that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of fantasy, pain, sex, and suspense.
The protagonist, Brandon, is an up-and-coming actor with a gorgeous, loving girlfriend. However, his practically-perfect life is soon completely shattered when he finds himself in a serious car crash, after which his life is forever changed. Starting over in a new housing complex, he meets a mysterious couple who can promise him something he never thought possible; even so, endless gut-wrenching obstacles block his path to this miracle. At the same time, he must make the transition from a man who previously valued only superficiality to a man of character—and that might just prove to be the hardest part of his ever-intensifying battle.
The author, Steven-Elliot Altman, comes from the video game world. He is the former game director at Acclaim Games and has written super-popular games like Pearl’s Peril, 9Dragons, Entropia Universe, Ancient Aliens: The Game, and Project Blue Book: The Game. His history with games really shows through in his writing style, setting him apart from most other novelists. The book almost reads like a video game: clear-cut objective, impossibly sexy object of desire, action-packed physical struggles, powerful tokens to be collected, and even some semblance of a final boss.
A true page-turner is a rare gem. I was up late, holding my breath, fighting the urge to skip ahead because the buildup is so intense and I just had to find out what happened. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, the rug was yanked out from under me. It’s amazing how words on a page can take us on such intense emotional journeys. This is one of those books that really does that. There is no filler and there’s never a dull moment, and as a reader, I really appreciated that. It was a book that was written with the reader’s experience in mind.
Only one word of caution before you partake: there are a handful of delicate topics touched on in Severed Wings, but this is not a book that handles delicate topics delicately; instead, it sacrifices tenderness for thrills.
At a glance:
- magical realism
- page turner
- action-packed
Mood:
👼💋🍿⚔️🎮
Take a seat on the edge of your chair, grab some popcorn, and let this unassuming-looking book shock you into an unblinking state of staying up long past your bedtime, reading against your will. Severed Wings, to be released on June 3 2020, is a page turner that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of fantasy, pain, sex, and suspense.
The protagonist, Brandon, is an up-and-coming actor with a gorgeous, loving girlfriend. However, his practically-perfect life is soon completely shattered when he finds himself in a serious car crash, after which his life is forever changed. Starting over in a new housing complex, he meets a mysterious couple who can promise him something he never thought possible; even so, endless gut-wrenching obstacles block his path to this miracle. At the same time, he must make the transition from a man who previously valued only superficiality to a man of character—and that might just prove to be the hardest part of his ever-intensifying battle.
The author, Steven-Elliot Altman, comes from the video game world. He is the former game director at Acclaim Games and has written super-popular games like Pearl’s Peril, 9Dragons, Entropia Universe, Ancient Aliens: The Game, and Project Blue Book: The Game. His history with games really shows through in his writing style, setting him apart from most other novelists. The book almost reads like a video game: clear-cut objective, impossibly sexy object of desire, action-packed physical struggles, powerful tokens to be collected, and even some semblance of a final boss.
A true page-turner is a rare gem. I was up late, holding my breath, fighting the urge to skip ahead because the buildup is so intense and I just had to find out what happened. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, the rug was yanked out from under me. It’s amazing how words on a page can take us on such intense emotional journeys. This is one of those books that really does that. There is no filler and there’s never a dull moment, and as a reader, I really appreciated that. It was a book that was written with the reader’s experience in mind.
Only one word of caution before you partake: there are a handful of delicate topics touched on in Severed Wings, but this is not a book that handles delicate topics delicately; instead, it sacrifices tenderness for thrills.
September 14, 2020
Severed Wings by Steven-Elliot Altman
Brandon Jones is an up and coming actor on the brink of hitting the big time when a devastating car wreck leaves him paralyzed from the waist down. After a few months of living in his parents’ house he decides he couldn’t properly wallow in his misery living there. With the help of the screen actors’ union and government assistance he finds a handicap adapted studio apartment he can afford at Villa Rosa on Sunset Blvd. His next order of business was to fill the refrigerator, the liquor cabinet, and gather delivery menus. Now he has to extract himself from all friends and family as he contemplates suicide.
The Villa Rose apartments are mostly inhabited by society’s misfits. Down the hall from Brandon lives Ray, a drag queen, he is a quirky character who adds humor and levity to the story to counter Brandon’s dark moods. Bethany lives on a lower level, she is a student working her way through college as an escort. Brandon meets her while doing laundry. They strike up a friendship.
Things get interesting when a mysterious couple, Desmond and Kyra, move in across the hall. The plot takes a turn when Brandon becomes obsessed with Kyra’s beauty and spies on her whenever he catches her in a window. He also notices the strange people who come to visit late at night. Brandon makes an effort to insinuate himself into his newest neighbors lives. Then the dreams start.
Brandon has no idea what he has gotten himself into. But he feels like Kyra can heal his injury so he can walk again, so whatever the price to pay will be worth the risk. Mr. Altman does a great job building his secret world and the descriptions of setting up scenes throughout the book are rich and realistic. The culminating battle on the roof of Villa Rosa was epic. Brandon’s journey from despair to hope and then back to despair again was difficult to read and I had to wonder if he had the inner strength to pull himself through, especially after he had made his peace with death.
FYI: Not all sex scenes are behind closed doors. Adult language with several F-bombs. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** August 13, 2020.
Format/Typo Issues: I was provided an ARC, so I can’t provide a comment on the finished product.
Brandon Jones is an up and coming actor on the brink of hitting the big time when a devastating car wreck leaves him paralyzed from the waist down. After a few months of living in his parents’ house he decides he couldn’t properly wallow in his misery living there. With the help of the screen actors’ union and government assistance he finds a handicap adapted studio apartment he can afford at Villa Rosa on Sunset Blvd. His next order of business was to fill the refrigerator, the liquor cabinet, and gather delivery menus. Now he has to extract himself from all friends and family as he contemplates suicide.
The Villa Rose apartments are mostly inhabited by society’s misfits. Down the hall from Brandon lives Ray, a drag queen, he is a quirky character who adds humor and levity to the story to counter Brandon’s dark moods. Bethany lives on a lower level, she is a student working her way through college as an escort. Brandon meets her while doing laundry. They strike up a friendship.
Things get interesting when a mysterious couple, Desmond and Kyra, move in across the hall. The plot takes a turn when Brandon becomes obsessed with Kyra’s beauty and spies on her whenever he catches her in a window. He also notices the strange people who come to visit late at night. Brandon makes an effort to insinuate himself into his newest neighbors lives. Then the dreams start.
Brandon has no idea what he has gotten himself into. But he feels like Kyra can heal his injury so he can walk again, so whatever the price to pay will be worth the risk. Mr. Altman does a great job building his secret world and the descriptions of setting up scenes throughout the book are rich and realistic. The culminating battle on the roof of Villa Rosa was epic. Brandon’s journey from despair to hope and then back to despair again was difficult to read and I had to wonder if he had the inner strength to pull himself through, especially after he had made his peace with death.
FYI: Not all sex scenes are behind closed doors. Adult language with several F-bombs. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** August 13, 2020.
Format/Typo Issues: I was provided an ARC, so I can’t provide a comment on the finished product.
December 4, 2020
This book was a bit outside of my usual reading realm. It is romantic, somewhat erotic, and fantastical. I was not disappointed!
The story follows the main character, Brandon, who was in an accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He had a promising future as an actor prior to what happened, and then found himself in an unending spiral of despair and loss. He even cut ties with loved ones and friends to further remove himself from the memories of his life before the accident. Having nothing but time and his own thoughts to keep him company, he began spying through his apartment peephole on his beautiful and intriguing neighbours across the way. They kept late hours and had visitors that made him question what they were up to. His curiosity gets the better of him and what he finds is fantastical, beautiful, and rife with possibility and hope.
I really liked the variety of characters, like Brandon’s other neighbours who are fun drag-queens who just want to help him get out of his own head. The mysterious neighbours across the way, Desmond and Kyra, are also entrancing and I imagined myself also becoming obsessed if I’d been the one to lay eyes on them. The writing is relatable and human and it was easy to connect with all of the characters and their motives. I would have been interested in delving deeper into the antagonist of the story, as that darkness was compelling and frightening, but not too deeply-explored. I always want to know more about the darker forces in any book, so me saying this isn’t to suggest that the reader got no information at all about the antagonist; I just craved more from that angle.
This was a fun and spellbinding book. It was a quick and easy read. I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys when the miraculous intervenes in the mundane and often sorrowful lives of humans.
A big thank you to Steven-Elliot Altman and WordFire Press for providing Horrorbound with the copy to review!
This review is coming soon to Horrorbound.net!
The story follows the main character, Brandon, who was in an accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He had a promising future as an actor prior to what happened, and then found himself in an unending spiral of despair and loss. He even cut ties with loved ones and friends to further remove himself from the memories of his life before the accident. Having nothing but time and his own thoughts to keep him company, he began spying through his apartment peephole on his beautiful and intriguing neighbours across the way. They kept late hours and had visitors that made him question what they were up to. His curiosity gets the better of him and what he finds is fantastical, beautiful, and rife with possibility and hope.
I really liked the variety of characters, like Brandon’s other neighbours who are fun drag-queens who just want to help him get out of his own head. The mysterious neighbours across the way, Desmond and Kyra, are also entrancing and I imagined myself also becoming obsessed if I’d been the one to lay eyes on them. The writing is relatable and human and it was easy to connect with all of the characters and their motives. I would have been interested in delving deeper into the antagonist of the story, as that darkness was compelling and frightening, but not too deeply-explored. I always want to know more about the darker forces in any book, so me saying this isn’t to suggest that the reader got no information at all about the antagonist; I just craved more from that angle.
This was a fun and spellbinding book. It was a quick and easy read. I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys when the miraculous intervenes in the mundane and often sorrowful lives of humans.
A big thank you to Steven-Elliot Altman and WordFire Press for providing Horrorbound with the copy to review!
This review is coming soon to Horrorbound.net!
June 13, 2020
I truly enjoyed the story.
The story settings in LA were detailed and believable. The bingo night was truly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the build up to the mystery of the neighbors across the hall. The main character displayed human fragility and desperation you could feel. The story's mix of eroticism ,horror and holy and biblical mythology was great. All in all a fun story.
The story settings in LA were detailed and believable. The bingo night was truly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the build up to the mystery of the neighbors across the hall. The main character displayed human fragility and desperation you could feel. The story's mix of eroticism ,horror and holy and biblical mythology was great. All in all a fun story.
March 13, 2026
When an accident leaves Brandon in a wheelchair and unable to persue his acting career, he thinks his life is over. He walks away from everything and everyone connected with his past life, searching for something or someone to give meaning to his life again. What he finds is a couple living across the hall who behave a little oddly. When he uncovers the secret which they carry, he doesn’t know if it’s his curse or his salvation, as he suddenly finds himself with supernatural abilities, in a battle for his life, and those of his friends, with a creature of myth and legend.
Severed Wings will make you believe in angels and demons and everything in between, at least until you turn the last page.
See my full review here: https://writingtoberead.com/2020/04/0...
Severed Wings will make you believe in angels and demons and everything in between, at least until you turn the last page.
See my full review here: https://writingtoberead.com/2020/04/0...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews