Mark of the Witchwyrm

by Steve Van Samson

Rander Belmorn is far from home. He searches tirelessly for the one man who might be able to cure his dying son, but time is running out. The road has led to a frozen waste at the very edge of the world. But what this simple river man never learned on that long, lonely road was the answer to the last question. The only question. How do you kill a witch?

390 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2021

About the author

Steve Van Samson is the author of "The Unpleasant Mister SNif", “Mark of the Witchwyrm”, "The Bone Eater King" and "Marrow Dust" and of the collections "Year of the Rattlesnake" & "Black Honey and Other Unsavory Things".

A strong proponent of character diversity & of avoiding cliché like the plague, his short stories have appeared in anthologies including “SLAY: Stories
of the Vampire Noire”, “More Lore From the Mythos volumes 1 & 2” and in the comic book anthology series “Gore Shriek: Resurrectus”.

Steve is also the co-host of the Retro Ridoctopus podcast and watches entirely too many black and white monster films.

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Van Samson is an author who has a very distinctive voice. It is hard to find an author whose rhythm and writing style can easily and immediately transport you into their world. Where you are not just seeing black letters on a white page but a fully colorful movie in your head. Van Samson does just this. And each character he writes is given their own distinct aria in this symphony of a story.

The world is definitely distinct and fresh without being bogged down with laborious unnecessary descriptions. The characters are very true to themselves and their distinct natures. And the creatures! Oh god, do I love a good monster! And he creates some truly epic ones for his world.

This is a fast easy read which doesn't skimp on the adventure or feeling of haste as the main character is rushing the whole world over to find a way to save his son. I managed to devour this book in a day (granted a whole day and maybe a bit into the wee hours of the next) because I COULD NOT put it down! I HAD to know how it all played out!

The ending does leave you needing and wanting more so be warned for that though its definitely not a true cliffhanger. But all and all spending your days in the world of Mark of the Witchwyrm is definitely not just a pleasure but an honor.

Bravo Mr. Van Samson! I can't wait to gobble up whatever you serve us next!

[Paul McNamee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover declares this story to be "a monstrous tale of Axes & Alchemy"--and that is exactly what Samson delivers. Belmorn is a different character than usually thrust into such tales. He's a blackfoot--a fisherman whose occupation involves harpooning giant eels and other beasts from a river so wide, none are sure what exists on the other side. Out in a world that becomes more alien to him the farther he travels, he encounters characters and places that are presented in ever-intriguing layers. A wandering alchemist, a bandit chief, a corrupt city guardsman, and a homeless waif. The "witch" in question is no old hag but a dragon who has laid waste a countryside. The world building is excellent and efficient. The reader is never bogged down by info dumps.

This story has a bit more optimism than I expected. I went in thinking it was 'grimdark' but I would declare it to be sword-&-sorcery. Though novel length, it hits all the notes; high personal stakes, and a fairly small cast of characters. Robert E. Howard with a bit more heart than darkness. Highly recommended!

[Caleb A · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like classic fantasy adventures, then this is the book for you. One man on a quest to save his child and one on a quest to slay a beast. They meet while on a long journey and the rest, well you'll have to read the book to find out. A fun plot, a truly awesome monster, great characters, and some amazing fight scenes wait for you.

[Christopher Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely fell in love with this book and the characters. The author Steven was able to ride that fine line between seriousness and humor, all the while telling an incredibly dark and epic story. I am looking forward to seeing what other stories come from this universe. Great job and thank you for the excellent storytelling!

[Danny Brzozowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely transporting!