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The Darkness in the Pines: The Beast of Fallow Pines
THE DARKNESS IN THE PINES
THE BEAST OF FALLOW PINES After the tragic death of his wife, Howard Ward returned to Fallow Pines to live a life of quiet seclusion. When Howard comes across the mangled remains of a bear in the woods, he discovers that something he thought only existed in campfire legends is stalking the darkness of the pines.
THE BEAST OF FALLOW PINES After the tragic death of his wife, Howard Ward returned to Fallow Pines to live a life of quiet seclusion. When Howard comes across the mangled remains of a bear in the woods, he discovers that something he thought only existed in campfire legends is stalking the darkness of the pines.
- GenresHorror
85 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2021
26 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Harlan Graves
14 books17 followersI'm Harlan Graves. I write hard-edged, straight-for-the-throat horror stories. Check me out if you like dark tales full of doom, gloom and so much splatter you'll need a face shield to read them!
Contact:
harlangraveshorrors@gmail.com
Contact:
harlangraveshorrors@gmail.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 4, 2021
Great story and very exciting.
July 1, 2024
1st of three
Well, just finished the first in the series so now I have to read the middle. Lol. Fun read for sure, especially if you are a bigfoot fan.
Well, just finished the first in the series so now I have to read the middle. Lol. Fun read for sure, especially if you are a bigfoot fan.
June 13, 2021
4.5/5
The cryptid craziness continues!
I've been a fan of Harlan Graves since reading The Beast of Fallow Pines, and this story didn't disappoint.
Set before the events of The Beast of Fallow Pines, this short story follows Howard (David's dad) as he lives his days out in Fallow Pines. His simple off the grid life is shattered when a strange being in the pines wreaks havoc on the land. Can Howard figure out what the creature is and hunt it down, or will he end up like that mangled bear carcass he found in the forest?
I really loved this story. We've seen two terrifying tales of these cryptids, and this one took a somewhat new spin on it especially with the character choice.
Howard was a great MC. He was smart, self-sufficient, and quick on his feet. I also love how much depth we got in such a short time. He suffers from PTSD from being in the Vietnam War, and I enjoyed exploring what triggered his PTSD and made him who he is without any crazy info dumps.
The plot was similar in nature to The Beast of Fallow Pines but with enough distinct differences to make most of it seem new. I will admit that the beginning felt a bit repetitive to the other stories and their beginnings, but that quickly changed when things started hitting the fan. There were also some exciting and troubling revelations in this story that really made things riveting and kept me blazing through the pages.
This was a great continuation of the Fallow Pines saga, and I can't wait to see what harrowing stories Graves has in store for us!
The cryptid craziness continues!
I've been a fan of Harlan Graves since reading The Beast of Fallow Pines, and this story didn't disappoint.
Set before the events of The Beast of Fallow Pines, this short story follows Howard (David's dad) as he lives his days out in Fallow Pines. His simple off the grid life is shattered when a strange being in the pines wreaks havoc on the land. Can Howard figure out what the creature is and hunt it down, or will he end up like that mangled bear carcass he found in the forest?
I really loved this story. We've seen two terrifying tales of these cryptids, and this one took a somewhat new spin on it especially with the character choice.
Howard was a great MC. He was smart, self-sufficient, and quick on his feet. I also love how much depth we got in such a short time. He suffers from PTSD from being in the Vietnam War, and I enjoyed exploring what triggered his PTSD and made him who he is without any crazy info dumps.
The plot was similar in nature to The Beast of Fallow Pines but with enough distinct differences to make most of it seem new. I will admit that the beginning felt a bit repetitive to the other stories and their beginnings, but that quickly changed when things started hitting the fan. There were also some exciting and troubling revelations in this story that really made things riveting and kept me blazing through the pages.
This was a great continuation of the Fallow Pines saga, and I can't wait to see what harrowing stories Graves has in store for us!
September 11, 2021
Enjoyable.
I like the story and the writer's knowledge of survival but it ended suddenly. I could read more of this adventure.
I like the story and the writer's knowledge of survival but it ended suddenly. I could read more of this adventure.
October 8, 2021
Great story!
This story grabs you at the beginning and holds you until the very end. You won’t be able to put it down!
This story grabs you at the beginning and holds you until the very end. You won’t be able to put it down!
September 6, 2021
Bigfoot book
I have read several Bigfoot books and I count this one as one of the better ones . It is a short read,but well written.
I have read several Bigfoot books and I count this one as one of the better ones . It is a short read,but well written.
September 6, 2021
Great book
I think this author deserved a good rating, I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.Thank you
I think this author deserved a good rating, I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.Thank you
October 2, 2021
The Beast
Well another book bites the dust! Same as the other two, great story to read and you'll won't put this story down. Until you finished it. The author, Harlen Graves, should be proud about his work. I known I would be too! I advise and encourage anyone to pick up these short stories and read them. Thanks Mr. Graves for your adventure in the "DARK PINES/WOODS".
Well another book bites the dust! Same as the other two, great story to read and you'll won't put this story down. Until you finished it. The author, Harlen Graves, should be proud about his work. I known I would be too! I advise and encourage anyone to pick up these short stories and read them. Thanks Mr. Graves for your adventure in the "DARK PINES/WOODS".
July 16, 2021
4 Stars
Pretty good Bigfoot horror tale. Vietnam vet living off the grid comes face to face with a creature from his worst nightmare's.
Pretty good Bigfoot horror tale. Vietnam vet living off the grid comes face to face with a creature from his worst nightmare's.
January 1, 2022
I was hoping for a dinosaur
This was just a great story of a man facing a creature of the forest. The only thing about this creature is Bambi it ain't. At twenty-five pages it is not very long, but what a fifty-five pages. I can't wait to read the next two stories in this trilogy.
This was just a great story of a man facing a creature of the forest. The only thing about this creature is Bambi it ain't. At twenty-five pages it is not very long, but what a fifty-five pages. I can't wait to read the next two stories in this trilogy.
June 21, 2022
A Captivating Novella
The tension slowly rises as the protagonist, a mentally scared Vietnam veteran, deals with the inescapable presence of a growing threat in the woods surrounding his cabin. Culminating in a fight for survival that keeps the reader glued to the page, Graves keeps the action and tension growing to the last page.
The tension slowly rises as the protagonist, a mentally scared Vietnam veteran, deals with the inescapable presence of a growing threat in the woods surrounding his cabin. Culminating in a fight for survival that keeps the reader glued to the page, Graves keeps the action and tension growing to the last page.
May 12, 2024
The story is good. I listened to it, and it used AI to voice the narrator, and it just didn't feel right.
October 6, 2024
Cryptid horror at its best!
Fireside stories aren’t always just to scare youngsters, they serve as a warning of danger.
An active duty military vet is living nearly off-grid in a cabin in the mountains. He soon discovers that someone—or someTHING—is encroaching on his hunting grounds and takes action to protect his claim. His tactical background will serve him well, but will it be enough?….
The level of suspense is very well-done in this novella. (A perfect size for a quick read on the ferry, or an adolescent who may be daunted by thicker volumes.)
Although some of the dialogue is trite and the characters a bit stereotypical, the creature more than makes up for these shortcomings.
Can enthusiastically recommend.
Fireside stories aren’t always just to scare youngsters, they serve as a warning of danger.
An active duty military vet is living nearly off-grid in a cabin in the mountains. He soon discovers that someone—or someTHING—is encroaching on his hunting grounds and takes action to protect his claim. His tactical background will serve him well, but will it be enough?….
The level of suspense is very well-done in this novella. (A perfect size for a quick read on the ferry, or an adolescent who may be daunted by thicker volumes.)
Although some of the dialogue is trite and the characters a bit stereotypical, the creature more than makes up for these shortcomings.
Can enthusiastically recommend.
November 18, 2021
Violence and terror, all of our childhood horrors rolled into one. Even though we are adults, they all return to haunt us in the reading of this story.
Did not like to see the main man in the story die. I would recommend the read to anyone who listens for things that go bump in the night.
Did not like to see the main man in the story die. I would recommend the read to anyone who listens for things that go bump in the night.
October 16, 2022
Awesomeness!!
“The Darkness of the Pines:The Beast of Fallow Pines” was an awesome book. Fast paced and fingernail chewing, kept me on the edge of my seat straight through to the last page. Awesome writing Harlen Graves!!
“The Darkness of the Pines:The Beast of Fallow Pines” was an awesome book. Fast paced and fingernail chewing, kept me on the edge of my seat straight through to the last page. Awesome writing Harlen Graves!!
September 1, 2023
The only criticism I have of this is that it was far too short. I would gladly have read more of this excellent story, and I didn't want it to end. So, naturally, I have the next Fallow Pines story lined up ready to go!
March 25, 2022
Enjoyable Read !
Nice little read ! (Why do you have to have minimum amount of words to post an review ... Damn ! )
Nice little read ! (Why do you have to have minimum amount of words to post an review ... Damn ! )
November 6, 2022
novella
A really nice story for a novella. Too bad this guy does not ride a real book. I like his writing style if it was not so short.
A really nice story for a novella. Too bad this guy does not ride a real book. I like his writing style if it was not so short.
July 19, 2021
Had potential
Definitely had potential! Just so much repetition. Dark shape, black shape, glowing eyes, etc. A lot of unneeded filler also. Way too much detail given on stuff that didn't matter. Example: at one point, he lists everything in his Jeep.
Definitely had potential! Just so much repetition. Dark shape, black shape, glowing eyes, etc. A lot of unneeded filler also. Way too much detail given on stuff that didn't matter. Example: at one point, he lists everything in his Jeep.
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February 27, 20263.5 ⭐️
Overall good short story! Didn't care for the ending though...
Overall good short story! Didn't care for the ending though...
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews