This Wasted Land

by Kenton Kilgore

She's lost and alone on a desolate world of monsters never before imagined. And if they don't kill her, the witch who has her boyfriend will. Alyx is a teenaged misfit who doesn’t like her mom, doesn't like school, and doesn’t like being told what to do. But she does like motorcycles, vintage hard rock, and her boyfriend Sam, a misfit in his own way. When a shape-shifting witch attacks them and snatches Sam onto a ghostly train, Alyx follows, only to find herself in a hellscape an endless gray desert of lost things, places, and people, prowled by grotesque monsters never imagined by her—or you.Struggling to survive, find Sam, and return home, Alyx endures horrors and heartbreak as she learns that the witch is but a slave of the ancient, inhuman being who rules this wasted land—and who craves to take Alyx and Sam for himself.Love horror/dark fantasy? Don't miss this book!What Readers Are "The horrors that Mr. Kilgore narrates are masterfully described and truly horrifying; original nightmares that can almost make your own darkest dreams seem trivial.""Ready for something that is different? For characters that you grow to really care about, and for creatures you've never imagined in your worst nightmares? This book has it all.""This book is really that good. I loved the story, the characters, the mood, the monsters, the surprises. This book is never predictable."

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2020

About the author

I write books for young adults, and adults who are still young.

I craft characters you’ll care about, and worlds you’ll get lost in.

My stories of wonder and terror, adventure and peril will make you think, and make you feel.

The influences that inspire me run from Shakespeare to comic books, poetry to hard rock, mythology to monster movies.

There’s no author like me, and my stories aren’t for everyone.

They’re unique. They’re intense. They challenge the SF/F genre. They’ll challenge you.

And they’re absolutely killer.

Reviews

[Greta Cribbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well-written book with believable characters, plenty of suspense, and a satisfying ending. I particularly enjoyed Alyx's story arc. She's not a very likeable character in the beginning, but after she goes through the events of the book, she comes out of it much more mature than she was going in. It's a reminder that sometimes it takes some unpleasant experiences to teach us what's really important in life.

[Liz(ard) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hotheaded/victim complex teenage girl protagonist with dark humor/sarcastic male side character dynamic felt overplayed at times, but the world building and pacing made up for it. I can’t particularly name what about Kilgore’s writing style didn’t thrill me, but I can definitely name what did. He describes things as needed, but will leave gaps in details especially when it comes to the monsters that allows the reader to really make a mental image. This also reflects the how the monsters are perceived in the book, because when Alyx realizes the nightmares she sees aren’t true, and with some effort certain monsters can be killed, they become a lot less threatening and don’t have as much psychological power over her. Emphasis on certain monsters, some are just plain fucked. When Alyx is spiraling, you can tell in the way it’s written. Enjoyable isn’t the best descriptor for that aspect, but it was definitely appreciated. The use of Native American and Scandinavian lore to create the multiple realities was sooooo good. There’s a lot of mythos in folklore that is genuinely terrifying, and it’s good to see authors using that (especially when they credit their references like Kilgore 👏👏). It was super fun to have songs as the chapter titles, not only because of how Alyx and Sam met, but also because of the songs relation to the contents it’s corresponding chapter. I really enjoyed this book even if I wasn’t suuper crazy about the writing style, there was a lot of play on imagery and symbolism that made this a fun read. It normally takes me weeks to finish a book with my schedule, and I read this one in 3 days because I HAD TO KNOW what was going to happen. This book was actually recommended to me by Kilgore himself at an art market last fall, truly a delightful person with a twisted mind. Definitely going to be reading more of his books.

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually picked this up back in 2024 when I met the author at Comic Con, but didn’t get around to reading it until now. And wow—what a perfect book to kick off spooky season!

While I wasn’t a fan of Kilgore’s writing style, the story more than made up for it. The character development was strong, and the plot pulled me in quickly. Set in modern times, the book dives deep into a world full of witches, monsters, ancient magic, and even cross-dimensional travel. It’s eerie, atmospheric, and at times downright creepy.
I’m convinced that if this were a movie, I would’ve had more than a few jump scares!

If you’re into supernatural thrillers with a dark twist and some rich world-building, this one might be worth checking out. just maybe read it with the lights on

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a rollercoaster of a story that kept me questioning everything. It was great at making me not trust anything, which is a fantastic trait in any thriller. The monsters and world building were unique and eerie, and it was absolutely successful in showing everything from the perspective of a scared teenager. Everything about this story kept me invested and intrigued the whole time. Would 10/10 recommend!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

A bit of a love story, A twisted tale indeed. Monsters, time travel across dimensions and an evil talking toy Pelican. Vikings and their gods and runes are also included. It's an awesome tale......

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

The synopsis looked interesting so I gave a try even though it’s not my usual genre. The characters are real well developed and three dimensional. The storyline is unique. I’d definitely read more by the author!