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The Devil's Due: Nothing Is Ever as It Seems
Nothing is ever as it seems. Ill-begotten wealth, fame, and glory come at a high price. Featuring award winning authors and Horror Writers Association members, The Devil’s Due offers enthralling horror stories of underhanded deals gone awry. --- The Resurrection and the Life - Jude Reid "First do no harm." They were supposed to be the words Alec Duffy would live his life by -- instead, there's a dead man at his feet and blood on his hands. It's going to take a miracle for Duffy to graduate with his life, his reputation and his future intact -- but in the depths of a hard Glasgow winter, miracles are thin on the ground. Dante's Tenth - Bobby Nash Dante, Arizona is not your average mining town. Those who came to this barren speck of desert struck it rich. Gold, silver, and other valuable minerals are there for the taking. This brings new blood to town as well as old blood. When a young reporter’s assistant becomes enamored of the daughter of a new arrival, he learns the terrifying truth behind the town. The townsfolk made a deal and payday is coming. Identity Theft - Rachel Brune A deal with a Fallen One is signed, sealed, and delivered in blood. Brent Whitehall, however, claims he never signed on the Devil’s line, and hires Hell’s private investigator to clear his name. Here Comes Mr Herribone! - Tim Jeffreys Jim Game and his partner, Tommy, work the comedy circuit without success until Tommy invents the character of Mr Herribone. With his sackcloth head, pratfalls, and song and dance routines, Mr Herribone is a hit. Soon Jim and Tommy are doing sold out gigs and TV shows. But did Tommy really invent Mr Herribone? Or did he strike a deal with someone, something, somewhere? And the price of that deal? Jim is about to find out. Genevieve and the Owl - Mark Allan Gunnells Once upon a time...a lovely young woman who dreamed of escaping the poverty and abuse of life with her step-father and step-brothers. Then she met a creature in the form of an owl that offered her three wishes. Could a strategic use of these wishes lead her to a happily ever after...or to destruction? The Plan - Josh Vasquez A detective surveys a grisly crime scene straight out of a horror movie and was this a random slaying or a long thought out revenge plan gone wrong? Face It - Carol Gyzander Connor's lost money, prestige and society connections due to his wife Amy's disfiguring disease. Shunned by the same friends that made them the "it couple," he ponders her request for help in ending it all. She says it's what she wants, right? Right? Mary's Secret- Winfield Strock III Who knows what the future brings? What would you do to ensure a favorable outcome? In the midst of the American Civil War, Mary found herself tempted to save her husband and her country through a deal with dark powers. She thought she knew the hidden price and was prepared to pay it, but the depths of evil plumb deeper than mortals can fathom. Saddie's Choices - Ravyn Crescent Time was up. That was the heart gripping feeling Saddie had grappled with many times in her life— a life that was going to be cut short. Ten years ago, she’d burned her bridges and signed Lucifer’s contract, giving her ten years of freedom and love. Now she has to fight his demonic collection agents or risk losing everything, including the love of her life. And the clock is ticking. The Devil You Know - Shane Nelson When Paul Block’s best friends die in a tragic accident, he finds out that he is the guardian to their newborn daughter. Losing his friends and becoming a single father prove too much for Paul, so when a stranger offers him a chance to get his old life back, he takes it. But he soon discovers that we’re all responsible for our actions and when it comes to signing contracts, the devil is in the details.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 17, 2020
From Valhalla Books comes The Devil’s Due: Nothing Is Ever As It Seems, in which the editor Adam Messer introduces us to 13 tales from various authors (including his own story) where the Devil always gets his way. Each story is so unique, I had a difficult time choosing my favorites. This collection deserves so much credit, and it is one of my favorite reads of the year. One of the best things about The Devil’s Due, is that these stories take place all over the world, across different periods of time. Stories range from current day, to the Gold Rush in the West, to Victorian Scotland, small middle-of-nowhere religious towns, fairytale forests with talking animals, nightclubs, corporations, to even Abraham Lincoln’s post presidency.
The Devil never rests in these stories, and one would do well to stay away from things that are too good to be true. Honestly, I also enjoyed the forward in this as well. Messer talks about The Devil and his need to collect in pop culture. This is a running theme in movies, such as Crossroads with Ralph Macchio, which is an excellent movie about playing the blues (which I own the soundtrack on vinyl). The theme occurs in music as well, with the infamous 27 club and many artists actually playing music at night in cemeteries and crossroads, in hopes of meeting the Devil themselves.
I will highlight some of my favorite stories below.
The Resurrection and the Life by Jude Reid
In 1875 in Glasgow, Scotland, young Alec Duffy is in his final semester of studying to be a doctor. After a skirmish that ends badly, Alec finds himself in the debt of a madam of a whorehouse. Countless tragedies follow as Alec must do the madam’s bidding. This was a unique take on the theme of this anthology and one of the longer works in the collection. This story appealed to me as a fan of Frankenstein and Penny Dreadful. I love a great period piece, especially when it involves horror like this. Dismal, bleak, and cold, with touch of “mad doctor” is a perfect winter read right now. The Resurrection and the Life was a solid opening by Reid.
Genevieve and the owl by Mark Allan Gunnells
I have read some work by Gunnells before, and Genevieve and owl was written like a dark version of a fairytale, with a fantastic ending. Genevieve is mistreated by her father and brothers, beaten and seen as a slave to them, and Genevieve has had enough. When an owl offers to grant her a wish, Genevieve takes things into her own hands, causing a chain of events that seem almost calculated to precision. This one leaves you wondering, who is the real manipulator in this tale? Although Gunnells sets his story in a whimsical woodland and quaint village, the Devil still finds a way to leave his mark.
Face It by Carol Gyzander
I looooved Face It by Carol Gyzander! A shitty husband named Connor is tired of the pain and suffering his wife is going through. It’s killing their social life! His rationale for his unspeakable hatred is weak, thus when he chooses his course of action, it is like a batman signal for Satan to show up. Like a conniving Jacob Marley, Satan offers another chance for Connor to redeem himself, but in keeping with the theme of The Devil’s Due, you can be sure that Satan will collect on this one. Gyzander did a fantastic job of writing a despicable character. Even when he thought he was a saint, the reader still hates Connor with every fiber of their being.
Dante’s Teeth by Bobby Nash
Dante’s Teeth by Bobby Nash takes place during the Westward Expansion when everyone was looking to cash in on the Gold Rush, with the belief of “manifest destiny”. Dante is a small town in Arizona, where the Native Americans were run out of their land and even the Devil has come to settle. Tobias West and Elizabeth Perth are two writers from New York setting up a local newspaper. When they set to interview the newest residents, a doctor and his family, Tobias is anxious to meet the mysterious daughter. Sprinkle in a suspicious priest, racism, and sharp teeth, and soon the reader will find the only thing manifesting here is evil. I could read an entire book on this story line alone. I will definitely be needing a part 2 from Bobby Nash.
The Known and True History of the Djinn by Adam Messer
My last tale to discuss is The Known and True History of the Djinn by Adam Messer. Jonathan Crinshaw goes to the library (basement of course!) to do research for his horror novel. He’s not having much luck finding what he needs, till a mysterious book piques his interest. The djinn inside the book is summoned forth by Jonathan, and is able to grant Jonathan anything he wishes. Of course with any deal made in this anthology, a debt always has to be paid, and Jonathan Crinshaw will learn that soon enough. This was a great conclusion to the collection, and I enjoyed learning about the Djinn, a being I was not familiar with before this story.
Adam Messer is a very busy man, whom I have gotten the opportunity to converse with over the past few weeks. All of Adam’s projects can be accessed here. He also hosts his own radio show in Savannah! He’s written various works as well as a children’s coloring book. I’m very glad to have had the opportunity to read his latest work, The Devil’s Due: Nothing Is Ever As It Seems, and I hope that you will pick up a copy to enjoy yourself. It is available on Kindle and Paperback. There are stories for all tastes in this collection, and some very talented writers!
5 stars from me!!
The Devil never rests in these stories, and one would do well to stay away from things that are too good to be true. Honestly, I also enjoyed the forward in this as well. Messer talks about The Devil and his need to collect in pop culture. This is a running theme in movies, such as Crossroads with Ralph Macchio, which is an excellent movie about playing the blues (which I own the soundtrack on vinyl). The theme occurs in music as well, with the infamous 27 club and many artists actually playing music at night in cemeteries and crossroads, in hopes of meeting the Devil themselves.
I will highlight some of my favorite stories below.
The Resurrection and the Life by Jude Reid
In 1875 in Glasgow, Scotland, young Alec Duffy is in his final semester of studying to be a doctor. After a skirmish that ends badly, Alec finds himself in the debt of a madam of a whorehouse. Countless tragedies follow as Alec must do the madam’s bidding. This was a unique take on the theme of this anthology and one of the longer works in the collection. This story appealed to me as a fan of Frankenstein and Penny Dreadful. I love a great period piece, especially when it involves horror like this. Dismal, bleak, and cold, with touch of “mad doctor” is a perfect winter read right now. The Resurrection and the Life was a solid opening by Reid.
Genevieve and the owl by Mark Allan Gunnells
I have read some work by Gunnells before, and Genevieve and owl was written like a dark version of a fairytale, with a fantastic ending. Genevieve is mistreated by her father and brothers, beaten and seen as a slave to them, and Genevieve has had enough. When an owl offers to grant her a wish, Genevieve takes things into her own hands, causing a chain of events that seem almost calculated to precision. This one leaves you wondering, who is the real manipulator in this tale? Although Gunnells sets his story in a whimsical woodland and quaint village, the Devil still finds a way to leave his mark.
Face It by Carol Gyzander
I looooved Face It by Carol Gyzander! A shitty husband named Connor is tired of the pain and suffering his wife is going through. It’s killing their social life! His rationale for his unspeakable hatred is weak, thus when he chooses his course of action, it is like a batman signal for Satan to show up. Like a conniving Jacob Marley, Satan offers another chance for Connor to redeem himself, but in keeping with the theme of The Devil’s Due, you can be sure that Satan will collect on this one. Gyzander did a fantastic job of writing a despicable character. Even when he thought he was a saint, the reader still hates Connor with every fiber of their being.
Dante’s Teeth by Bobby Nash
Dante’s Teeth by Bobby Nash takes place during the Westward Expansion when everyone was looking to cash in on the Gold Rush, with the belief of “manifest destiny”. Dante is a small town in Arizona, where the Native Americans were run out of their land and even the Devil has come to settle. Tobias West and Elizabeth Perth are two writers from New York setting up a local newspaper. When they set to interview the newest residents, a doctor and his family, Tobias is anxious to meet the mysterious daughter. Sprinkle in a suspicious priest, racism, and sharp teeth, and soon the reader will find the only thing manifesting here is evil. I could read an entire book on this story line alone. I will definitely be needing a part 2 from Bobby Nash.
The Known and True History of the Djinn by Adam Messer
My last tale to discuss is The Known and True History of the Djinn by Adam Messer. Jonathan Crinshaw goes to the library (basement of course!) to do research for his horror novel. He’s not having much luck finding what he needs, till a mysterious book piques his interest. The djinn inside the book is summoned forth by Jonathan, and is able to grant Jonathan anything he wishes. Of course with any deal made in this anthology, a debt always has to be paid, and Jonathan Crinshaw will learn that soon enough. This was a great conclusion to the collection, and I enjoyed learning about the Djinn, a being I was not familiar with before this story.
Adam Messer is a very busy man, whom I have gotten the opportunity to converse with over the past few weeks. All of Adam’s projects can be accessed here. He also hosts his own radio show in Savannah! He’s written various works as well as a children’s coloring book. I’m very glad to have had the opportunity to read his latest work, The Devil’s Due: Nothing Is Ever As It Seems, and I hope that you will pick up a copy to enjoy yourself. It is available on Kindle and Paperback. There are stories for all tastes in this collection, and some very talented writers!
5 stars from me!!
December 19, 2020
The Devil’s Due is an excellent collection of 13 short stories, each one written by talented authors. Published by Valhalla Books and edited by Adam Messer, this collection carries one continuous theme throughout, deals with the devil.
While there is a theme, none of these stories are anything like the others. Each carry a weight all their own, with a tragic tale to tell. “In the Black Rock” by Alledria Hurt, an overall bad day beginning with a fender bender sets off a chain of events that cannot be undone. “Face It” by Carol Gyzander was a tragic tale involving a husband grieving his wife’s fatal illness as doctors continue to tell him there is nothing more to be done. I found this story to be the most gut-wrenching out of the collection. This story will not play out like you think it might. In fact, it is nothing like many of you are already thinking, as you nod along thinking, ah yes, that sort of deal makes sense.
Another ominous tale with tragic undertones caught my attention, “The Plan” by Josh Vasquez. A plan for revenge plays out with the most curious of twists. I did not see this ending coming, not by a long shot. This story carries a powerful punch as it ends, making you wish that there were more pages to turn. I loved every word of this exceptional story.
One more great tale, out of 13 great tales, is “Here Comes Mr. Herribone” by Tim Jeffreys. This story truly creeped me out with its disturbing tale. One half of a comedy duo, Jim Game, is still standing after a tragic accident that claimed the life of a long-time friend, Tommy. Clearly haunted by grief and sadness without his long-time partner that played a character named Mr. Herribone in their act, Jim’s tale begins a slow descent into madness and despair. The tone of this story stayed unsettling and disturbing throughout the entire tale.
The final tale is written by Adam Messer, the editor and founder of Valhalla books and it is an intriguing tale about a Djin. “The Known and True History of the Djin” is an epic short story that tells the tragic backstory of a Djin, or genie, if you will. the legend of the Djin has always fascinated me and I loved this unique take on the creature. Everything about this story was perfectly executed, from the set-up all the way through to the bitter end. The character is relatable, as are his circumstances and the legend that it details is superbly written.
The Devil’s Due: Nothing Is As It Seems is a perfect collection of horror, despair, sadness, and the overall human condition as told by its authors. It is a perfect name, as none of these stories are what they seem. I strongly recommend this collection to any horror fan, buy it today. Add it to your shelf, buy one for a friend. They will thank you for it. 5 out of 5 stars for me.
While there is a theme, none of these stories are anything like the others. Each carry a weight all their own, with a tragic tale to tell. “In the Black Rock” by Alledria Hurt, an overall bad day beginning with a fender bender sets off a chain of events that cannot be undone. “Face It” by Carol Gyzander was a tragic tale involving a husband grieving his wife’s fatal illness as doctors continue to tell him there is nothing more to be done. I found this story to be the most gut-wrenching out of the collection. This story will not play out like you think it might. In fact, it is nothing like many of you are already thinking, as you nod along thinking, ah yes, that sort of deal makes sense.
Another ominous tale with tragic undertones caught my attention, “The Plan” by Josh Vasquez. A plan for revenge plays out with the most curious of twists. I did not see this ending coming, not by a long shot. This story carries a powerful punch as it ends, making you wish that there were more pages to turn. I loved every word of this exceptional story.
One more great tale, out of 13 great tales, is “Here Comes Mr. Herribone” by Tim Jeffreys. This story truly creeped me out with its disturbing tale. One half of a comedy duo, Jim Game, is still standing after a tragic accident that claimed the life of a long-time friend, Tommy. Clearly haunted by grief and sadness without his long-time partner that played a character named Mr. Herribone in their act, Jim’s tale begins a slow descent into madness and despair. The tone of this story stayed unsettling and disturbing throughout the entire tale.
The final tale is written by Adam Messer, the editor and founder of Valhalla books and it is an intriguing tale about a Djin. “The Known and True History of the Djin” is an epic short story that tells the tragic backstory of a Djin, or genie, if you will. the legend of the Djin has always fascinated me and I loved this unique take on the creature. Everything about this story was perfectly executed, from the set-up all the way through to the bitter end. The character is relatable, as are his circumstances and the legend that it details is superbly written.
The Devil’s Due: Nothing Is As It Seems is a perfect collection of horror, despair, sadness, and the overall human condition as told by its authors. It is a perfect name, as none of these stories are what they seem. I strongly recommend this collection to any horror fan, buy it today. Add it to your shelf, buy one for a friend. They will thank you for it. 5 out of 5 stars for me.
December 20, 2020
This is my first horror anthology book and I love it. I have always loved collections of stories. The authors all manage to draw you into their various stories of otherworldly diabolical figures offering to fulfill your wildest dreams, albeit with malevolent intent. It’s very reminiscent of anthology tv series such as “The Outer Limits” and “The Twilight Zone”. I think that’s what I adored about the book most, the top notch story telling that played in my mind like a movie. I am now hooked on the horror anthology concept and if you give this book a read I believe you will be too. I can’t wait for more works from Valhalla Books and their talented assortment of authors.
November 4, 2020
The Devil’s Due is an “unlucky 13” stories about people who make Faustian bargains (sometimes unwittingly) with the devil or one of his infernal agents. It’s a familiar literary trope, but the authors in this anthology breathe new life into it, sometimes by recasting a story in an unexpected setting. Bobby Nash’s story “Dante’s Teeth” is set in the Old West, and it’s an excellent Western as well as a horror story. “Genevieve and the Owl” by Mark Allan Gunnells takes the form of a dark fairy tale, and as a lover of folk horror I found the story fascinating. “Mary’s Secret” by Winfield Strock III (an author who is new to me) gives us a story of Victorian-era spiritualism and a historical setting in the form of a secret letter written by Mary Todd Lincoln in 1882. And one of my favorite horror themes, the cursed book, ends the anthology with Adam Messer’s “The Known and True History of the Djin.” Highly recommended for all lovers of horror literature.
March 11, 2022
A good effort but too many faults
The authors were in need of some good editors, but it appears they found none. Many grammatical and spelling errors, and the story lines are thin and predictable.
The authors were in need of some good editors, but it appears they found none. Many grammatical and spelling errors, and the story lines are thin and predictable.
November 7, 2020
One thing I love about this anthology is that, even though the stories involve making deals with demons and/or the Devil, they don’t glamourize it. Sure, it seems like some of the stories can have good endings or solutions, but they always backfire.
Working with evil ALWAYS backfires.
“The Resurrection and the Life” - An interesting historical piece about a physician named Alec Duffy whose sister is ended up being murdered. He finds that the [Hippocratic] oath can’t always be followed...especially when one seems to have a demoness on their side. (3.75/5)
“The Black Rock” - This is also interesting and shows that you can’t just give evil away; someone has to be willing to take it...even if they don’t recognize the evil. Desperation is a real downfall. This is one that kind of had stilted writing (this was an author thing, not an editor one). (3/5)
“Genevieve and the Owl” - This was a weird twist on Cinderella (3.5/5)
“Saddie’s Choice” - This is a longer story on how running away from a contract gets you nowhere but dead and damned. I really liked some of the words on what it means to DIE vs. continue to live in the afterlife (4.5/5)
“Mary’s Story” - A historical piece on Mary Lincoln writing a letter about how she forced Abraham to sell his soul for “victory.” (2/5)
“Face It” - A too-short story (this would be much better fleshed out, no pun intended, but I hope Carol Gyzander does create a longer story from this in the future, for her sake) about how rash judgements can hurt more than help...and sometimes even repenting, if too late (and I’m not talking Confession), doesn’t prevent your fate. (3.5/5)
“The Plan” - Cops investigate a murder scene of a man who was well-liked at a local church. A former member knows better though, and exposes the demon within the other man. I loved the end with the man’s son is super awesome. (4/5)
“Identity Theft” - This is, by far, my favorite. It swaps between past and present extremely well. While I don’t like how the lead is an alcoholic, she found herself somehow damning herself without signing a contract, and has developed the ability to see beyond the veil if someone with a certain contract dies in front of her. There is actually hope there at the end, if she decides one day to fully say ‘no’ But there is a lot of teasing about the WRONG she has witnessed and, in a macabre way, I want to know what it is. (5/5)
“Dante’s Tenth” - Dante, Arizona is a booming town with a lot of new people searching for silver. A reporter falls for a beautiful girl who seduces him after one day and then shows him what she really is. Amidst the demon stories, a vampire one threw me off, but it wasn’t bad, just...pretty abrupt and fast-paced. (4/5)
“The Devil You Know” - A fairly in-depth eerie story about how selfishness leads people to do awful things, like wishing for a child to be dead in lieu of her parents. We are not meant to like the main character, and I like that his behavior is pointed out by multiple people. And he is still not repentant. (4.5/5)
“Here Comes Mr. Herribone” - Super weird story about a costumed head actually being a creature of its own. (3/5)
“Good Samuel Rittan” - This is super short and disturbing. (1/5)
“The Known and True Story of the Djin” - This one doesn’t even seem like the author edited their own work (for example, “majesty” is spelled “magesty” TWICE, even after using the now-common spelling 1 or 2 times before that). The story has potential but then the writing felt insanely rushed and--even with the magic--a lot of things happened that felt forced and irrational. There is some neat history to the story’s events but even that didn’t capture me enough. (3/5)
Working with evil ALWAYS backfires.
“The Resurrection and the Life” - An interesting historical piece about a physician named Alec Duffy whose sister is ended up being murdered. He finds that the [Hippocratic] oath can’t always be followed...especially when one seems to have a demoness on their side. (3.75/5)
“The Black Rock” - This is also interesting and shows that you can’t just give evil away; someone has to be willing to take it...even if they don’t recognize the evil. Desperation is a real downfall. This is one that kind of had stilted writing (this was an author thing, not an editor one). (3/5)
“Genevieve and the Owl” - This was a weird twist on Cinderella (3.5/5)
“Saddie’s Choice” - This is a longer story on how running away from a contract gets you nowhere but dead and damned. I really liked some of the words on what it means to DIE vs. continue to live in the afterlife (4.5/5)
“Mary’s Story” - A historical piece on Mary Lincoln writing a letter about how she forced Abraham to sell his soul for “victory.” (2/5)
“Face It” - A too-short story (this would be much better fleshed out, no pun intended, but I hope Carol Gyzander does create a longer story from this in the future, for her sake) about how rash judgements can hurt more than help...and sometimes even repenting, if too late (and I’m not talking Confession), doesn’t prevent your fate. (3.5/5)
“The Plan” - Cops investigate a murder scene of a man who was well-liked at a local church. A former member knows better though, and exposes the demon within the other man. I loved the end with the man’s son is super awesome. (4/5)
“Identity Theft” - This is, by far, my favorite. It swaps between past and present extremely well. While I don’t like how the lead is an alcoholic, she found herself somehow damning herself without signing a contract, and has developed the ability to see beyond the veil if someone with a certain contract dies in front of her. There is actually hope there at the end, if she decides one day to fully say ‘no’ But there is a lot of teasing about the WRONG she has witnessed and, in a macabre way, I want to know what it is. (5/5)
“Dante’s Tenth” - Dante, Arizona is a booming town with a lot of new people searching for silver. A reporter falls for a beautiful girl who seduces him after one day and then shows him what she really is. Amidst the demon stories, a vampire one threw me off, but it wasn’t bad, just...pretty abrupt and fast-paced. (4/5)
“The Devil You Know” - A fairly in-depth eerie story about how selfishness leads people to do awful things, like wishing for a child to be dead in lieu of her parents. We are not meant to like the main character, and I like that his behavior is pointed out by multiple people. And he is still not repentant. (4.5/5)
“Here Comes Mr. Herribone” - Super weird story about a costumed head actually being a creature of its own. (3/5)
“Good Samuel Rittan” - This is super short and disturbing. (1/5)
“The Known and True Story of the Djin” - This one doesn’t even seem like the author edited their own work (for example, “majesty” is spelled “magesty” TWICE, even after using the now-common spelling 1 or 2 times before that). The story has potential but then the writing felt insanely rushed and--even with the magic--a lot of things happened that felt forced and irrational. There is some neat history to the story’s events but even that didn’t capture me enough. (3/5)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews