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Forging a Nightmare
FBI agent Michael Childs is tasked with tracking down a serial killer with an obsession for victims born with twelve fingers and toes. But he discovers something much more startling about himself…The only link between a series of grisly murders in New York City is that the victims were all born with twelve fingers and twelve toes. These people are known in occult circles as the Nephilim, a forsaken people, descendants of fallen angels. After a break in the case leads to supposedly killed-in-action Marine sniper Anaba Raines, Michael finds the soldier alive and well, but shockingly no longer human. Michael then discovers that he is also a Nephilim, and next on the killer’s list. Everything Michael once thought of as myth and magic starts to blur the lines of his reality, forcing him to accept a new fate to save the innocent, or die trying.File Urban Fantasy [ Four Horsemen | Heaven and Hell | Ride the Storm | Inferno ]
528 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 23, 2021
35 people are currently reading
1513 people want to read
About the author
Patricia A. Jackson
16 books60 followersPatricia A. Jackson is a high school Language Arts teacher in Pennsylvania. Her debut novel, Forging A Nightmare, an urban fantasy, is due out November 2021 from Angry Robot Books.
She has also published a number of short stories in the Star Wars Universe for the WestEnd Games quarterly Star Wars Adventure Journal. Her best known works are Black Sands of Socorro, a smugglers’ sourcebook about people of color for Star Wars: The Role-Playing Game, and The Final Exit, a short story about a dark Jedi’s redemption.
When not writing, she’s gaming. Her favorite pastimes being Witcher III, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect. If she’s not grading an endless pile of flash fiction from students, Patricia runs a Dungeons & Dragons club at her high school to promote the next generation of players, writes fanfiction for her favorite Japanese anime, Psycho Pass, and rides show horses in hunter/jumper competition.
She has also published a number of short stories in the Star Wars Universe for the WestEnd Games quarterly Star Wars Adventure Journal. Her best known works are Black Sands of Socorro, a smugglers’ sourcebook about people of color for Star Wars: The Role-Playing Game, and The Final Exit, a short story about a dark Jedi’s redemption.
When not writing, she’s gaming. Her favorite pastimes being Witcher III, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect. If she’s not grading an endless pile of flash fiction from students, Patricia runs a Dungeons & Dragons club at her high school to promote the next generation of players, writes fanfiction for her favorite Japanese anime, Psycho Pass, and rides show horses in hunter/jumper competition.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 31, 2023
This book starts off feeling like a gritty serial killer thriller with Agent Michael Childs is investigating a series of murders of people who have 12 fingers and toes. He soon discovers that there are forces at play that are not of this earth and finds himself in a dark battle against angels and fighting in the streets of hell.
Michael finds out he is the son of the archangel and grandson of Enoch. He was also born with 12 fingers and toes though his were surgically removed. However that makes him a target. He enlists his mother's help with the case since she's a brilliant scholar familiar with the sigils written at the crime scene.
While Michael enjoys horses having been raised on a farm and enjoying jousting on the side he's not quite ready to command a nightmare who breaths fire and brimstone. Former marine, Anaba Raines was supposed to be killed in action but instead is still alive in a not quite human form.
Forging a Nightmare took me much longer to read than expected because I had a lot going on and it's so complex it wasn't a book I could just fly through. Which isn't a bad thing. It just takes some time to find it's footing and there's a lot to absorb. I have a very basic understanding of the theology and mythologies that this book was inspired by for it's mythos so there were new things I was learning about different gods and the archangels.
Michael was interesting and we follow him through this journey where he's grappling with his father's abandonment and coming to terms with everything he thought he knew being a lie. However Anaba was my favorite. She is fierce! She's not afraid to fight anyone and she's loyal. I really enjoyed seeing them learn to trust each other and their relationship growing. I didn't see it getting romantic at first because she is technically his horse though she didn't freely choose him, she was forged for that purpose; but I wasn't mad when it happened. I enjoyed their waltz scene at Lucifer's ball.
This is a very action packed tale that felt fast-paced despite the first few chapters feeling a little overly long. After the rocky start it finds it's footing and becomes a book that's hard to put down.
I received an arc from Angry Robot in exchange for an honest review.
See full review here
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
Michael finds out he is the son of the archangel and grandson of Enoch. He was also born with 12 fingers and toes though his were surgically removed. However that makes him a target. He enlists his mother's help with the case since she's a brilliant scholar familiar with the sigils written at the crime scene.
While Michael enjoys horses having been raised on a farm and enjoying jousting on the side he's not quite ready to command a nightmare who breaths fire and brimstone. Former marine, Anaba Raines was supposed to be killed in action but instead is still alive in a not quite human form.
Forging a Nightmare took me much longer to read than expected because I had a lot going on and it's so complex it wasn't a book I could just fly through. Which isn't a bad thing. It just takes some time to find it's footing and there's a lot to absorb. I have a very basic understanding of the theology and mythologies that this book was inspired by for it's mythos so there were new things I was learning about different gods and the archangels.
Michael was interesting and we follow him through this journey where he's grappling with his father's abandonment and coming to terms with everything he thought he knew being a lie. However Anaba was my favorite. She is fierce! She's not afraid to fight anyone and she's loyal. I really enjoyed seeing them learn to trust each other and their relationship growing. I didn't see it getting romantic at first because she is technically his horse though she didn't freely choose him, she was forged for that purpose; but I wasn't mad when it happened. I enjoyed their waltz scene at Lucifer's ball.
This is a very action packed tale that felt fast-paced despite the first few chapters feeling a little overly long. After the rocky start it finds it's footing and becomes a book that's hard to put down.
I received an arc from Angry Robot in exchange for an honest review.
See full review here
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
January 1, 2022
3.5 stars. I was really looking forward to reading this, and there was so much good in the story. I loved the world the author has made here and there are great characters. The plot was exciting with a lot of layers to it, and the writing is great.
However, the execution is a little rough. The story moves from this thing to the next to the next quickly, sometimes a little too much too fast, and there were things I just had trouble buying the timing on But honestly, I think a lot of it is first-book issues and the author is only going to get better. Also, none of the issues I had kept me from enjoying the story, so there's that.
I look forward to more from Patricia Jackson. For a debut novel this is damn good.
However, the execution is a little rough. The story moves from this thing to the next to the next quickly, sometimes a little too much too fast, and there were things I just had trouble buying the timing on But honestly, I think a lot of it is first-book issues and the author is only going to get better. Also, none of the issues I had kept me from enjoying the story, so there's that.
I look forward to more from Patricia Jackson. For a debut novel this is damn good.
June 21, 2021
Beautifully written! Takes you on a beautiful adventure with some twist you don't see coming! You laugh, cry, and feel everything in between! You won't be disappointed!
July 1, 2021
An awesome novel that puts a new spin on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, with a Black-led cast, a plot brimming with action, and banter reminiscent of Good Omens. I read an ARC for the purposes of blurbing, and offered this quote:
"Christian, Greek, and Norse mythologies combine to create a stunning depiction of Heaven and Hell in this action-packed novel about an apocalypse angel and a special-ops officer turned warrior horse. You won’t want to miss this hell of a ride!"
"Christian, Greek, and Norse mythologies combine to create a stunning depiction of Heaven and Hell in this action-packed novel about an apocalypse angel and a special-ops officer turned warrior horse. You won’t want to miss this hell of a ride!"
July 11, 2021
This honest review is based on an Advance Reader Copy.
FORGING A NIGHTMARE has everything I love: mythology, sympathetic and imperfect characters, horses, a little bit of gore and plenty of wit. Jackson hooks you on page one and takes you on a ride you won't soon forget.
FORGING A NIGHTMARE has everything I love: mythology, sympathetic and imperfect characters, horses, a little bit of gore and plenty of wit. Jackson hooks you on page one and takes you on a ride you won't soon forget.
July 8, 2021
(This review is based on an Advance Reader Copy.) Patricia A. Jackson's debut novel Forging a Nightmare immerses the reader in a world of menace--fallen angels and demigods whose history of alliances and resentments stretch to the beginning of time. Jackson puts a fresh spin on biblical characters like Gabriel and Lucifer by turning them into FBI agents, a parish priest, a homeless preacher and other seemingly ordinary folks who pursue ancient vendettas in modern day New York City.
On the surface, the story is about a series of grisly murders. But underneath, it is about much more: a son grappling with his father's abandonment, the persecution of "the other" and the revelation that maybe Hell isn't the unremittingly evil place we thought it was.
The book is full of unexpected twists and turns. Even the characters are unexpected. The hero is FBI Agent Michael Childs, a Black man who competes in jousts (at the opening of the book, he shows up at the scene of a grisly murder clad in medieval armor) and who (unbeknownst to him) descends from divinity. His sidekick is another surprise: Anaba Raines, a Black woman, former Marine and the eponymous Nightmare, whose transformation into a fierce and hellish horse makes her a formidable foe to angels seeking to do Michael harm.
This is an original page-turner from a talented new voice.
On the surface, the story is about a series of grisly murders. But underneath, it is about much more: a son grappling with his father's abandonment, the persecution of "the other" and the revelation that maybe Hell isn't the unremittingly evil place we thought it was.
The book is full of unexpected twists and turns. Even the characters are unexpected. The hero is FBI Agent Michael Childs, a Black man who competes in jousts (at the opening of the book, he shows up at the scene of a grisly murder clad in medieval armor) and who (unbeknownst to him) descends from divinity. His sidekick is another surprise: Anaba Raines, a Black woman, former Marine and the eponymous Nightmare, whose transformation into a fierce and hellish horse makes her a formidable foe to angels seeking to do Michael harm.
This is an original page-turner from a talented new voice.
November 29, 2021
Forging A Nightmare is an amazing tale and that won’t let you go long after you’ve read it. Simply fantastic!
October 11, 2021
I was *extremely* excited to read Forging a Nightmare, but alas I DNFed at the 18% mark. Black women writing innovative fantasy is usually my jam. And my inner horse girl was all the more amped. And this cover is GORGEOUS. And c'mon, an FBI agent secretly descended from an angel and being hunted by the same sect of serial murder angels he's been investigating? Yes, please.
The concept was there, but the execution was all over the place. After an excellent, creepy, and terrifying prologue of one of the murder victims being slain, Jackson jumps into the thick of the plot with minimal preamble. Barely into the book and the protagonist has already learned he's an angel and being hunted by another rogue set of angels. Like, really being hunted. By the point I stopped, Michael had already survived 4+ near-death-experience combat scenes. I don't need that many combat scenes. Especially when they all make AMPLE use of specialized equestrian, horse anatomy, mediaeval, ren-faire terminology. Why? Because it's briefly mentioned that Michael is inexplicably super into jousting as a hobby...
Then there's the religion. Obviously religious mythology was going to be central to the plot and world building, but there's a dearth of explanation for readers without master's degrees in religion, Christianity, Biblical theology, mythology, or at least an upper lever undergrad course. Just because the main character's mom is a famous (lol, that's unrealistic) academic specializing in pagan religions, doesn't mean readers are.
This may be getting too nit-picky as the author may have rectified this impression later on in the book, but I found it pretty off-putting that the main female character turns into a horse that Michael rides around, pretty much without her consent (which he explicitly violates at times). She's branded, some guy in hell thinks she's his property, and everyone acts like it's Michael's right to use her as a helpmate companion and mode of transportation because his Dad's a bigwig angel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for giving me advance access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
The concept was there, but the execution was all over the place. After an excellent, creepy, and terrifying prologue of one of the murder victims being slain, Jackson jumps into the thick of the plot with minimal preamble. Barely into the book and the protagonist has already learned he's an angel and being hunted by another rogue set of angels. Like, really being hunted. By the point I stopped, Michael had already survived 4+ near-death-experience combat scenes. I don't need that many combat scenes. Especially when they all make AMPLE use of specialized equestrian, horse anatomy, mediaeval, ren-faire terminology. Why? Because it's briefly mentioned that Michael is inexplicably super into jousting as a hobby...
Then there's the religion. Obviously religious mythology was going to be central to the plot and world building, but there's a dearth of explanation for readers without master's degrees in religion, Christianity, Biblical theology, mythology, or at least an upper lever undergrad course. Just because the main character's mom is a famous (lol, that's unrealistic) academic specializing in pagan religions, doesn't mean readers are.
This may be getting too nit-picky as the author may have rectified this impression later on in the book, but I found it pretty off-putting that the main female character turns into a horse that Michael rides around, pretty much without her consent (which he explicitly violates at times). She's branded, some guy in hell thinks she's his property, and everyone acts like it's Michael's right to use her as a helpmate companion and mode of transportation because his Dad's a bigwig angel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for giving me advance access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2021
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review
I'm having trouble finding the right sentence to use in starting this review.
The first line of this book is entrapping. It kept me in a suspension. I began wondering what was happening.
You see what Patricia A Jackson does in this book is that, she takes you by the hand and throws you through the Vestibule road and smiles because she knows you're going to be riding through one Hell (pun intended) of a journey.
When you pick this book, you have to will your imagination to explore questions of what would happen if the creation story went this other way? What happened to this part of the creation story and why did we really never talk about the antagonist in the story. Patricia A Jackson, is willing to help you out in figuring an answer to this questions we sometime find ourselves asking.
The Forging A Nightmare, follows a 28 year old FBI special agent with a thick celestial heritage and history he doesn't really know much about. When he and his partner are called to debunk the mysterious maimed bodies with twelve fingers and twelve toes, popping around the city. Michael J Childs soon begins to uncover deep secrets engulfing his whole existence.
This story takes you back and forth, riling and tempting your imagination to take a leap of faith, to trust the characters, to actually believe in their own stories.
Every scene has its own importance, nothing is ever there without a reason and everything has a role to play regardless of how insignificant it might seem.
The Characters have this thick layer of mystery, you'll find yourself trying to rip apart so you can see that humanity in them. I so much enjoyed the diversity of characters, from a main black man as the protagonist, to an LGBT protagonist, to the Asian and Hispanic hints in other characters.
The diversity definitely made this book special because it's a story told through a black woman for the BIPOC world of readers.
I just reviewed Forging a Nightmare by Patricia A. Jackson. #ForgingaNightmare #NetGalley
I'm having trouble finding the right sentence to use in starting this review.
The first line of this book is entrapping. It kept me in a suspension. I began wondering what was happening.
You see what Patricia A Jackson does in this book is that, she takes you by the hand and throws you through the Vestibule road and smiles because she knows you're going to be riding through one Hell (pun intended) of a journey.
When you pick this book, you have to will your imagination to explore questions of what would happen if the creation story went this other way? What happened to this part of the creation story and why did we really never talk about the antagonist in the story. Patricia A Jackson, is willing to help you out in figuring an answer to this questions we sometime find ourselves asking.
The Forging A Nightmare, follows a 28 year old FBI special agent with a thick celestial heritage and history he doesn't really know much about. When he and his partner are called to debunk the mysterious maimed bodies with twelve fingers and twelve toes, popping around the city. Michael J Childs soon begins to uncover deep secrets engulfing his whole existence.
This story takes you back and forth, riling and tempting your imagination to take a leap of faith, to trust the characters, to actually believe in their own stories.
Every scene has its own importance, nothing is ever there without a reason and everything has a role to play regardless of how insignificant it might seem.
The Characters have this thick layer of mystery, you'll find yourself trying to rip apart so you can see that humanity in them. I so much enjoyed the diversity of characters, from a main black man as the protagonist, to an LGBT protagonist, to the Asian and Hispanic hints in other characters.
The diversity definitely made this book special because it's a story told through a black woman for the BIPOC world of readers.
I just reviewed Forging a Nightmare by Patricia A. Jackson. #ForgingaNightmare #NetGalley
December 6, 2021
Wonderful!! Action packed, exciting and full of all the feels (and I felt them all!!). Jackson wrote true character traits into each chapter. I felt like I knew each person in the novel intimately because their responses to each other and their situations were real and honest. I enjoyed some of them so much that I can only hope she will continue to share their stories. (Of course Ziri....and I just love Loki'el !) I am in AWE of the insight and knowledge in this book!! So So Good!!
November 1, 2021
I had much higher hopes for this, but the execution was so messy. I really struggled to get through it which was rather surprising because there are so many things going on. The story didn't ultimately end up going where I thought it would. The serial killer storyline was really just the first chapter, the bad guys get revealed very early on, and then it goes all over the place after that. I didn't feel like there was a coherent story arc in place, though I did like the ideas in general with the angels, serial killer, horsemen of the Apocalypse, and how various beings from mythology are involved here. Some of this did feel innovative and fun. However, I did feel like there was too much happening and that it would have been better to spread these things out over multiple books to really explore some of the events and characters in more detail.
I felt like there were issues with telling instead of showing - there were lots of times where characters just lectured for info dumps which was often boring. Knowing who the villains were also led to a serious lack of suspense, and they were also the "oh ho, let me explain my plans in detail" type.
I didn't really like any of the characters. Michael is an Extra Special Chosen One and while I don't mind the chosen one trope in general, this was just one reveal after another in a short span of time. We don't really get to absorb the details of each reveal before yet another reveal is thrown at us. Anaba is ok. She's a Marine, and I did like her abilities as a Nightmare (and thought that this was a cool idea in general). She's often abrasive, though once she decides that someone is ok, she's very protective of them. I absolutely HATED the romance that developed and had serious issues with it:
We do also have a lot of angels, and I did like that the Horsemen make an appearance here. It's certainly a cool way to weave the story in. There's also some nice diversity here. The main characters are black, and we have a lot of characters of color in general. The author is also quite good at writing about horses, so these sections felt very realistic.
Generally, there were some great ideas here, but I think this could have used some restructuring and more development for me to really connect with it. This was a miss for me, but it seems like others are loving it more, so I'd encourage checking out more reviews if the premise sounds interesting.
I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley - thank you! All opinions are my own.
I felt like there were issues with telling instead of showing - there were lots of times where characters just lectured for info dumps which was often boring. Knowing who the villains were also led to a serious lack of suspense, and they were also the "oh ho, let me explain my plans in detail" type.
I didn't really like any of the characters. Michael is an Extra Special Chosen One and while I don't mind the chosen one trope in general, this was just one reveal after another in a short span of time. We don't really get to absorb the details of each reveal before yet another reveal is thrown at us. Anaba is ok. She's a Marine, and I did like her abilities as a Nightmare (and thought that this was a cool idea in general). She's often abrasive, though once she decides that someone is ok, she's very protective of them. I absolutely HATED the romance that developed and had serious issues with it:
We do also have a lot of angels, and I did like that the Horsemen make an appearance here. It's certainly a cool way to weave the story in. There's also some nice diversity here. The main characters are black, and we have a lot of characters of color in general. The author is also quite good at writing about horses, so these sections felt very realistic.
Generally, there were some great ideas here, but I think this could have used some restructuring and more development for me to really connect with it. This was a miss for me, but it seems like others are loving it more, so I'd encourage checking out more reviews if the premise sounds interesting.
I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley - thank you! All opinions are my own.
September 24, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
~the natural enemy of the angel is the fiery demonhorse
~it’s not the forces of Hell you need to be worried about
~never piss off a Marine
~especially an ex-sniper Marine
~the spear. the magic spear. the spear only the chosen one may wield. the spear–
Forging a Nightmare was one of my most-anticipated reads of the year, but it is, to put it mildly, a trainwreck.
It starts out pretty strong – the prologue was a bit gruesome for me, but showcasing your serial killer in the prologue is pretty standard. Chapter one introduces Michael, our MC, who arrives at the crime scene in a full-on suit of armour after coming from jousting practice – cool hobby, I approve. I was a bit uneasy – the dialogue seemed very forced, the characters speaking in a way that didn’t feel natural so as to give the reader information we needed, but okay, it’s the first chapter, that kind of bump in the road isn’t too big a deal. But then the jump from chapter one to two left me dizzy – I thought at first my ARC might be missing a chapter, the transition was so sudden and apparently random, only explained later – and chapter three? Reveals the identity and motivations of the bad guys. From their POV, as well.
I mean…what? Cool, I now have almost no incentive to keep reading. And double-cool, the reason the bad guys aren’t going after Michael? Is Because Reasons. It’s literally ‘because I said so’ from the in-charge bad guy.
Yeah, that doesn’t fly with me. You’ve revealed the bad guys, and also the Big Secret behind Michael’s heritage (via Very Heavy Hint, one the reader can’t possibly miss) within the first 60 pages. I mean…what do I have to care about now?
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
~the natural enemy of the angel is the fiery demonhorse
~it’s not the forces of Hell you need to be worried about
~never piss off a Marine
~especially an ex-sniper Marine
~the spear. the magic spear. the spear only the chosen one may wield. the spear–
Forging a Nightmare was one of my most-anticipated reads of the year, but it is, to put it mildly, a trainwreck.
It starts out pretty strong – the prologue was a bit gruesome for me, but showcasing your serial killer in the prologue is pretty standard. Chapter one introduces Michael, our MC, who arrives at the crime scene in a full-on suit of armour after coming from jousting practice – cool hobby, I approve. I was a bit uneasy – the dialogue seemed very forced, the characters speaking in a way that didn’t feel natural so as to give the reader information we needed, but okay, it’s the first chapter, that kind of bump in the road isn’t too big a deal. But then the jump from chapter one to two left me dizzy – I thought at first my ARC might be missing a chapter, the transition was so sudden and apparently random, only explained later – and chapter three? Reveals the identity and motivations of the bad guys. From their POV, as well.
I mean…what? Cool, I now have almost no incentive to keep reading. And double-cool, the reason the bad guys aren’t going after Michael? Is Because Reasons. It’s literally ‘because I said so’ from the in-charge bad guy.
Yeah, that doesn’t fly with me. You’ve revealed the bad guys, and also the Big Secret behind Michael’s heritage (via Very Heavy Hint, one the reader can’t possibly miss) within the first 60 pages. I mean…what do I have to care about now?
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
September 13, 2021
Thanks, Netgalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review!
It was a fantastic experience! I love books that actually paint both evil and good in the shades of gray!
It's an interesting reimagining of biblical mythology - with angels and demons living in the real, contemporary world. The story takes interesting twists when you least expect it and presents rich and complex characters. I loved the read!
It was a fantastic experience! I love books that actually paint both evil and good in the shades of gray!
It's an interesting reimagining of biblical mythology - with angels and demons living in the real, contemporary world. The story takes interesting twists when you least expect it and presents rich and complex characters. I loved the read!
May 12, 2024
This is my favourite urban fantasy book of all time. One of the coolest authors I've ever had the pleasure to speak with. Selling 100 copies of this title has been a really incredible experience and achievement. I highly, HIGHLY recommend. Here's my vibe list.
-Christian Mythology
-Black Main Character
-Bisexual Rep
-Magical Horses
-Truly Epic Battles
-Loki randomly appears as he is wont to do
-Christian Mythology
-Black Main Character
-Bisexual Rep
-Magical Horses
-Truly Epic Battles
-Loki randomly appears as he is wont to do
November 19, 2025
3.5 rounded down.
First thing for me is that the book was too long. It definitely could have been condensed. A lot of the terminology/niche vocabulary was lost on me and I glossed over a lot without taking it in and just focused on the dialogue and action rather than descriptions. I did appreciate the world building in Michael’s domain though.
As a fan of Supernatural, Lucifer and even the Thor/Loki segments of the MCU, I loved recognising all the familiar names of angels in this book, and the appearance of Loki’el too. I would have loved more of him, he was a breath of fresh air. I really had to force myself through the first 150 pages of this but after that I really started to enjoy it - just as I’d said to myself one more chapter and i’ll DNF. That was the chapter that got me
Even though the story for me doesn’t resemble Supernatural at all, as a lot of reviews hinted at, it was interesting to see totally different representations of the characters whose names I know from other projects/stories.
Also the main love story didn’t hit the mark for me, I was never invested in it as a romance, it felt very forced. I loved EJ and Wyrmwood though and Ziri and Jesse could have been cute
First thing for me is that the book was too long. It definitely could have been condensed. A lot of the terminology/niche vocabulary was lost on me and I glossed over a lot without taking it in and just focused on the dialogue and action rather than descriptions. I did appreciate the world building in Michael’s domain though.
As a fan of Supernatural, Lucifer and even the Thor/Loki segments of the MCU, I loved recognising all the familiar names of angels in this book, and the appearance of Loki’el too. I would have loved more of him, he was a breath of fresh air. I really had to force myself through the first 150 pages of this but after that I really started to enjoy it - just as I’d said to myself one more chapter and i’ll DNF. That was the chapter that got me
Even though the story for me doesn’t resemble Supernatural at all, as a lot of reviews hinted at, it was interesting to see totally different representations of the characters whose names I know from other projects/stories.
Also the main love story didn’t hit the mark for me, I was never invested in it as a romance, it felt very forced. I loved EJ and Wyrmwood though and Ziri and Jesse could have been cute
March 8, 2025
Thanks, Netgalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review. However I DNFed the story half way through. The premise sounded great but unfortunatley I cound not connect with the characters and as the plot began to meander, I struggled to push through and evetually gave up.
November 22, 2021
I would like to thank Angry Robot Books for hosting this book tour and providing the review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Forging a Nightmare by Patricia A. Jackson is an interesting urban fantasy that was packed with various mythologies and biblical characters. It gives off the Supernatural and Lucifer vibes. This novel got my attention because of its cool cover illustration, and when I read the synopsis, I was sold. There were lots of things that I liked about this book, but there were also some things that did not work for me.
The story followed FBI Agent Michael Childs as he investigated a series of murders where all victims possessed a unique trait — all of them were born with twelve fingers and twelve toes which was attributed to the Nephilim, offspring of humans and angels. Because of this, Michael was thrusted headfirst to a millennium conflict involving different races and creatures.
I would mention all the things that I liked first. The novel started really strong. It had a pretty gruesome first scene, and I was hooked and got an impression that I would be on a wild chase of a serial killer since I really enjoyed police procedural aspects in crime books. Also, this book heavily combined different mythologies and biblical references that made the plot more complex and intriguing. I also enjoyed the idea of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and their companions and how they were not actually the bad guys. The plot has a lot of battle scenes. Moreover, it also has diverse characters that many readers could definitely connect and relate to.
Now, these are the things that did not work for me. First, some of the transitions were too sudden. There were times that I had to go back to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Second, in the first half, the narrative just went way too fast. There were too many things that were happening that there was no time to pause and breathe. In addition, the characters, especially the protagonist, quickly accepted the major changes in their lives without giving it too much thought or at least questioned those shifts. Third, like I mentioned the book was heavy on mythologies but some did not have or lack explanations so they might cause confusion to some who were not very familiar to them. Lastly, I was not a fan of the romance since it felt forced.
Overall, Forging a Nightmare had a really intriguing premise and it would be much better if the execution was improved. This is the author’s debut novel if I’m not mistaken so I know that she could create more incredible stories. I recommend this to fans of fast-paced plot and biblical mythology enthusiasts.
3/5 stars!
Forging a Nightmare by Patricia A. Jackson is an interesting urban fantasy that was packed with various mythologies and biblical characters. It gives off the Supernatural and Lucifer vibes. This novel got my attention because of its cool cover illustration, and when I read the synopsis, I was sold. There were lots of things that I liked about this book, but there were also some things that did not work for me.
The story followed FBI Agent Michael Childs as he investigated a series of murders where all victims possessed a unique trait — all of them were born with twelve fingers and twelve toes which was attributed to the Nephilim, offspring of humans and angels. Because of this, Michael was thrusted headfirst to a millennium conflict involving different races and creatures.
I would mention all the things that I liked first. The novel started really strong. It had a pretty gruesome first scene, and I was hooked and got an impression that I would be on a wild chase of a serial killer since I really enjoyed police procedural aspects in crime books. Also, this book heavily combined different mythologies and biblical references that made the plot more complex and intriguing. I also enjoyed the idea of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and their companions and how they were not actually the bad guys. The plot has a lot of battle scenes. Moreover, it also has diverse characters that many readers could definitely connect and relate to.
Now, these are the things that did not work for me. First, some of the transitions were too sudden. There were times that I had to go back to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Second, in the first half, the narrative just went way too fast. There were too many things that were happening that there was no time to pause and breathe. In addition, the characters, especially the protagonist, quickly accepted the major changes in their lives without giving it too much thought or at least questioned those shifts. Third, like I mentioned the book was heavy on mythologies but some did not have or lack explanations so they might cause confusion to some who were not very familiar to them. Lastly, I was not a fan of the romance since it felt forced.
Overall, Forging a Nightmare had a really intriguing premise and it would be much better if the execution was improved. This is the author’s debut novel if I’m not mistaken so I know that she could create more incredible stories. I recommend this to fans of fast-paced plot and biblical mythology enthusiasts.
3/5 stars!
July 21, 2022
This book is pretty far outside my comfort zone, being a fantasy version of a police mystery, with a lot of rather gory fight scenes that had me putting it down running away for a few weeks, because I'm wimpy like that. Clearly the author is very good at action description! The angelic hierarchies and conspiracies were fascinating, although a little hard to follow (see me hiding the book from myself for weeks at a time).
The vocabulary used is conspicuously extensive, which oddly was also true of the last book about angels I read. However, this time Jackson knows exactly what the words mean -- I'm not sure I would have always used the five dollars words in place of their cheaper near-synonyms, but in this case she used them skillfully, aware of the exact meaning and nuance, so they enhanced the scene or in the worst cases didn't distract from it. I really liked the glyphs and characters at the start of each chapter, even when I was too lazy to check them against the glossary.
Anyway, this book does what it says on the tin, and does it pretty well. I'm glad I got a copy from the author (she was incredibly gracious when we met on a walk and at the end she presented me with this book) and I'm glad I read it, but it's not really to my taste because I am a wimp.
The vocabulary used is conspicuously extensive, which oddly was also true of the last book about angels I read. However, this time Jackson knows exactly what the words mean -- I'm not sure I would have always used the five dollars words in place of their cheaper near-synonyms, but in this case she used them skillfully, aware of the exact meaning and nuance, so they enhanced the scene or in the worst cases didn't distract from it. I really liked the glyphs and characters at the start of each chapter, even when I was too lazy to check them against the glossary.
Anyway, this book does what it says on the tin, and does it pretty well. I'm glad I got a copy from the author (she was incredibly gracious when we met on a walk and at the end she presented me with this book) and I'm glad I read it, but it's not really to my taste because I am a wimp.
January 16, 2022
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“And the four shall be separate, but as One.”
Listen! This book was SO. DAMN. GOOD. When I say I was absolutely riveted from the first page to the last, I meant it! Patricia A. Jackson has skyrocketed to my favorite author list, and Forging A Nightmare is now on my all time favorite books list. It was just that good!
Forging A Nightmare begins with a string of murders that are happening all around NYC. The victims all have one thing in common: they have 12 fingers and 12 toes. All of the bodies were found with weird ritualistic things done to them, and it turns out that the victims also have something else in common: they are all Nephilim, descendants of angels who mated with humans. Seen as abominations, they are being hunted. Enter: FBI agent Michael Childs. Michael gets wrapped up in an unholy war that features Watchers, fallen angels, archangels, Hell, and the Four Horseman. And did I mention that the majority of the characters are Black?? Hell yeah!
I devoured this book. I’ve always loved fiction that employed biblical elements. I’m not religious at all, but you can’t deny that the Bible and Christianity have some truly spooky and cool elements up for grabs. But you know, now that I think of it, this is the first time that most of the major players have been Black, at least that I’ve encountered. The feeling that you get when you can see yourself in a work of fiction, especially within myths that nine times out of ten are filled with white characters, it is a wonderful feeling. It was just so damn cool to see the Horsemen of Death as a Black man. The archangels Raphael, Michael and Gabriel as Black men. Enoch as a Black man. There weren’t a lot of Black women, this is unfortunately true, just two mains, but this is something that I’m willing to overlook for now because I just really loved the story as a whole. And the relationship that is introduced is also between two Black people! This is the type of representation that you get when a Black woman is at the helm of a work of art, and I will forever be grateful to Jackson for providing it.
Another thing that I loved: the pacing. It was breakneck but never felt overwhelming, simply from the sheer talent on display from Jackson. Every single element of the plot was interesting as hell, and all of the characters were nuanced and well-developed. She perfectly married extreme action with superb characters and the result was intoxicating. Jackson not only pulled from Christianity, but a slew of other myths and pantheons, and while this could have caused the story to feel too full, it just…didn’t. It was a perfectly entertaining who’s who, and never have I seen an author pull from so much and not have the plot get muddied and bogged down. Genius shit, I fear!
As I’m writing this I’m a little upset, because I don’t have access to my eARC of this anymore! I was sharing a friend’s Kindle account, but now I’m not and I don’t have any of my notes and highlights. So, if this review seems a little…simple and generalized, that’s why. NetGalley has since archived the book, so I can’t re-download it either, which sucks. Angry Robot Books, if you’re reading this (you’re probably not lol), a physical copy would be splendid! Anyway, if you’re into biblical myths and want to see them reworked and refreshed by a supremely talented Black author: pick up this book!
**eARC provided by the publisher, Angry Robot Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
“And the four shall be separate, but as One.”
Listen! This book was SO. DAMN. GOOD. When I say I was absolutely riveted from the first page to the last, I meant it! Patricia A. Jackson has skyrocketed to my favorite author list, and Forging A Nightmare is now on my all time favorite books list. It was just that good!
Forging A Nightmare begins with a string of murders that are happening all around NYC. The victims all have one thing in common: they have 12 fingers and 12 toes. All of the bodies were found with weird ritualistic things done to them, and it turns out that the victims also have something else in common: they are all Nephilim, descendants of angels who mated with humans. Seen as abominations, they are being hunted. Enter: FBI agent Michael Childs. Michael gets wrapped up in an unholy war that features Watchers, fallen angels, archangels, Hell, and the Four Horseman. And did I mention that the majority of the characters are Black?? Hell yeah!
I devoured this book. I’ve always loved fiction that employed biblical elements. I’m not religious at all, but you can’t deny that the Bible and Christianity have some truly spooky and cool elements up for grabs. But you know, now that I think of it, this is the first time that most of the major players have been Black, at least that I’ve encountered. The feeling that you get when you can see yourself in a work of fiction, especially within myths that nine times out of ten are filled with white characters, it is a wonderful feeling. It was just so damn cool to see the Horsemen of Death as a Black man. The archangels Raphael, Michael and Gabriel as Black men. Enoch as a Black man. There weren’t a lot of Black women, this is unfortunately true, just two mains, but this is something that I’m willing to overlook for now because I just really loved the story as a whole. And the relationship that is introduced is also between two Black people! This is the type of representation that you get when a Black woman is at the helm of a work of art, and I will forever be grateful to Jackson for providing it.
Another thing that I loved: the pacing. It was breakneck but never felt overwhelming, simply from the sheer talent on display from Jackson. Every single element of the plot was interesting as hell, and all of the characters were nuanced and well-developed. She perfectly married extreme action with superb characters and the result was intoxicating. Jackson not only pulled from Christianity, but a slew of other myths and pantheons, and while this could have caused the story to feel too full, it just…didn’t. It was a perfectly entertaining who’s who, and never have I seen an author pull from so much and not have the plot get muddied and bogged down. Genius shit, I fear!
As I’m writing this I’m a little upset, because I don’t have access to my eARC of this anymore! I was sharing a friend’s Kindle account, but now I’m not and I don’t have any of my notes and highlights. So, if this review seems a little…simple and generalized, that’s why. NetGalley has since archived the book, so I can’t re-download it either, which sucks. Angry Robot Books, if you’re reading this (you’re probably not lol), a physical copy would be splendid! Anyway, if you’re into biblical myths and want to see them reworked and refreshed by a supremely talented Black author: pick up this book!
**eARC provided by the publisher, Angry Robot Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
October 12, 2022
I don’t really have the words to express how deeply thought out this book was. It has many layers woven together that I don’t normally see in literature and the story is well written. It truly doesn’t lack anything in the plot. We have true crime, mythos, a little romance and even humor among the massive celestial battles.
I think that this book should be on everyone’s reading list and I can’t wait to see what is next for the characters. They were all likable and even their faults felt real. I can’t say that I have ever experienced a connection to the characters like I did with this book.
10/10 would recommend to everyone.
I think that this book should be on everyone’s reading list and I can’t wait to see what is next for the characters. They were all likable and even their faults felt real. I can’t say that I have ever experienced a connection to the characters like I did with this book.
10/10 would recommend to everyone.
December 31, 2022
Forging a Nightmare
by Patricia A. Jackson
Urban Fantasy Fiction
✔️ High Action
✔️ Morally Grey Characters
✔️ The Four Horsemen and Angels
An action packed novel that merges myth and religion to bring a Four Horsemen and angelic battle to the streets of New York City. The characters are flawed and most have a great morally grey twist to them. I wanted more for one character in particular but I feel it's spoiler potential if I go into detail. I enjoyed this one a lot and look forward to more from Jackson!
Thank you Angry Robot Books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review!
by Patricia A. Jackson
Urban Fantasy Fiction
✔️ High Action
✔️ Morally Grey Characters
✔️ The Four Horsemen and Angels
An action packed novel that merges myth and religion to bring a Four Horsemen and angelic battle to the streets of New York City. The characters are flawed and most have a great morally grey twist to them. I wanted more for one character in particular but I feel it's spoiler potential if I go into detail. I enjoyed this one a lot and look forward to more from Jackson!
Thank you Angry Robot Books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review!
December 5, 2021
Forging a Nightmare is about as full of action as a book can get. The story pits an FBI agent and his friend/warhorse against beings from multiple mythologies (Norse, Middle Eastern, and Greek). It was a lot of fun to read!
March 11, 2022
Slow start but very interesting. I'm a sucker for new twists to old stories.
abandoned
August 14, 2023DNF- The protagonist was too overpowered and unchallenged for it to be interesting.
March 6, 2024
"The forging of a nightmare begins in shadow and in fear. A billowing blast of cruelty to produce the blackest tear. A modicum of desperation will bring about a sweat. With just a dash of devilment, bleed the soul and leave it wet." This is the incantation to forge a nightmare. If you were able to read it without rolling your eyes, this might be the book for you.
I really REALLY wanted to like this book. I mean, look at that cover! Check out the awesome summary! But the author mis-stepped in so many places that it's hard to pick the ONE thing that bothered me the most about this book.
First off, I imagine the author did a lot of research into various religions, mythologies, languages, serial killings, etc, etc, to write the book. I wish ANY of that information could have been worked in organically. The glossary at the back was literally twelve pages long. That's too much. The main character, Michael, was just as confused as I was. I swear you can turn to any page and find the following conversation:
"We need to go meet with [insert word] and get the [insert word]."
"Oh, what's that?"
"It's [insert new word]."
"Where can we find them?"
"In the [insert random location]. It's next to [other random location]. And here is the long backstory of it."
I got so tired of it that I completely stopped flipping to the glossary about halfway through and just nodded along anytime I read a new ridiculous word/weapon/person/location. Most of them never came up again.
Second, this book cannot take one single second to breathe. It was a breakneck pace from start to finish, but since the pacing was so fast, it made the whole book drag. If your only speed is 100 MPH, we'll eventually just get used to it and it's the new normal.
Third, the characters were incredibly vast and mostly nonsensical. Honestly, there were way to many characters to even keep track of. A whole suite of half-angels, archangels, fallen angels, nightmares, demons, devils, gods, monsters, mythological creatures, murderers, robbers, priests, orphans, parents, siblings, children, etc. It's utterly endless. Instead of a glossary, I could have used a family tree.
Then, there's Michael and I say with great sarcasm that he's "the absolute best character who ever lived!" He's so cool that He's the only half-angel who can wield the magic water spear, embarrass Lucifer at his own party, summon a Leviathan to do his bidding, save himself from poison, revitalize the garden of Eden, save all the half-angels, solve the murder, lead the FBI task force, win the race, win the jousting competition. Honestly, I have no idea how anyone got anything done without him before this.
Right alongside Michael, we have Anaba. She's a Marine that died and had her soul turned into the coolest bestest Nightmare on the face of the planet. Despite being a literal human being and a "talking" horse, she's going to need a bit in her mouth and a saddle on her back so Michael can ride her. It never made sense to me the way this horse-and-rider relationship was handled. Anaba can talk to everyone while she's in her Nightmare horse form, but she and Michael don't communicate like people. He treats her like an animal the whole time. I was expecting a vibe like How to Train Your Dragon, but I got a bizarro mix of dominance and equestrian play. It was very hard to like and a huge missed opportunity since I thought their relationship was going to be the major selling point.
I admire the author's willingness to kill off two young children for the plot, but even that felt token and only for shock value as it did very little to drive Michael or Anaba forward. Even the gruesome murders that we started with get left behind in the face of info-dumping and bringing in a ton of cameo for angels, demons, and monsters. The book trucked along with or without anyone's input at 100MPH. Everything streaked past in a big blur that didn't make too much sense when you stop to look closer.
It's such a shame when a book you're totally excited about proves to be a major stinker. 2/5
I really REALLY wanted to like this book. I mean, look at that cover! Check out the awesome summary! But the author mis-stepped in so many places that it's hard to pick the ONE thing that bothered me the most about this book.
First off, I imagine the author did a lot of research into various religions, mythologies, languages, serial killings, etc, etc, to write the book. I wish ANY of that information could have been worked in organically. The glossary at the back was literally twelve pages long. That's too much. The main character, Michael, was just as confused as I was. I swear you can turn to any page and find the following conversation:
"We need to go meet with [insert word] and get the [insert word]."
"Oh, what's that?"
"It's [insert new word]."
"Where can we find them?"
"In the [insert random location]. It's next to [other random location]. And here is the long backstory of it."
I got so tired of it that I completely stopped flipping to the glossary about halfway through and just nodded along anytime I read a new ridiculous word/weapon/person/location. Most of them never came up again.
Second, this book cannot take one single second to breathe. It was a breakneck pace from start to finish, but since the pacing was so fast, it made the whole book drag. If your only speed is 100 MPH, we'll eventually just get used to it and it's the new normal.
Third, the characters were incredibly vast and mostly nonsensical. Honestly, there were way to many characters to even keep track of. A whole suite of half-angels, archangels, fallen angels, nightmares, demons, devils, gods, monsters, mythological creatures, murderers, robbers, priests, orphans, parents, siblings, children, etc. It's utterly endless. Instead of a glossary, I could have used a family tree.
Then, there's Michael and I say with great sarcasm that he's "the absolute best character who ever lived!" He's so cool that He's the only half-angel who can wield the magic water spear, embarrass Lucifer at his own party, summon a Leviathan to do his bidding, save himself from poison, revitalize the garden of Eden, save all the half-angels, solve the murder, lead the FBI task force, win the race, win the jousting competition. Honestly, I have no idea how anyone got anything done without him before this.
Right alongside Michael, we have Anaba. She's a Marine that died and had her soul turned into the coolest bestest Nightmare on the face of the planet. Despite being a literal human being and a "talking" horse, she's going to need a bit in her mouth and a saddle on her back so Michael can ride her. It never made sense to me the way this horse-and-rider relationship was handled. Anaba can talk to everyone while she's in her Nightmare horse form, but she and Michael don't communicate like people. He treats her like an animal the whole time. I was expecting a vibe like How to Train Your Dragon, but I got a bizarro mix of dominance and equestrian play. It was very hard to like and a huge missed opportunity since I thought their relationship was going to be the major selling point.
I admire the author's willingness to kill off two young children for the plot, but even that felt token and only for shock value as it did very little to drive Michael or Anaba forward. Even the gruesome murders that we started with get left behind in the face of info-dumping and bringing in a ton of cameo for angels, demons, and monsters. The book trucked along with or without anyone's input at 100MPH. Everything streaked past in a big blur that didn't make too much sense when you stop to look closer.
It's such a shame when a book you're totally excited about proves to be a major stinker. 2/5
January 19, 2024
The last read of 2023 and I couldn’t have picked a better book.
You work for the CIA and find out that you’re the fourth horseman of the apocalypse replacing Famine. Who also rides warhorses forged in hell from damned human souls..
Special agent Michael Childs is on a case to find a serial killer only to figure out it’s connected to him and his family in ways you couldn’t imagine.
At first, you’ll be bogged down by a ton of information in the beginning but it goes at breakneck speed afterwards.The plot is dense but so good! And what thorough world building! You can tell the author did a lot of research on heaven and hell. I loved how she described and envisioned how hell would be. This even has an enemies to lovers subplot I was secretly rooting for. Really loved how unique this book is and it’s damn near an all black cast! It’s a mix of Christian and Norse mythology that was well thought out and fun to read.
Take your time with this one, you can’t just blow through it. Which is why I aggressively annotated it so much 😂.
You work for the CIA and find out that you’re the fourth horseman of the apocalypse replacing Famine. Who also rides warhorses forged in hell from damned human souls..
Special agent Michael Childs is on a case to find a serial killer only to figure out it’s connected to him and his family in ways you couldn’t imagine.
At first, you’ll be bogged down by a ton of information in the beginning but it goes at breakneck speed afterwards.The plot is dense but so good! And what thorough world building! You can tell the author did a lot of research on heaven and hell. I loved how she described and envisioned how hell would be. This even has an enemies to lovers subplot I was secretly rooting for. Really loved how unique this book is and it’s damn near an all black cast! It’s a mix of Christian and Norse mythology that was well thought out and fun to read.
Take your time with this one, you can’t just blow through it. Which is why I aggressively annotated it so much 😂.
November 13, 2021
Thrilling, fun, gruesome and exciting. This book is a wild ride with a great concept, a cast of fantastic characters, and plenty of snark and one-liners to keep you grinning throughout.
November 24, 2021
I really, really wanted to like this Forging a Nightmare — I mean, the premise and the cover had me hooked and hyped. Sadly, this wasn’t something I enjoyed.
Forging a Nightmare begins with a brutal torture/murder (trigger warning for male-on-female violence), and — even though I’ve got quite a strong stomach — this made me feel quite sick. After that, we are introduced to our protagonist (Michael) and everything started to go downhill for me. I really couldn’t connect with Michael at all, nor our titular Nightmare, Anaba. The dialogue and characterisation feel very stilted and forced, whilst the structure and plot themselves are choppy and full of tropes. Chosen One? Check. Telling rather than showing? Check. Divine parentage revelations? Check. And more.
Then there was a completely unbelievable timeline (mostly everything happens within one day!), and very stereotypical representations of angels, demons, mythical figures and creatures (if you’re going to use these, please make them interesting/different!). How Anaba is treated whilst in her Nightmare form just screamed issues of consent to me, which made me deeply uncomfortable. Yes, the book was fast-paced but this was also too extreme — there were no opportunities for rest, integration, or anything for the characters, so it felt like a constant barrage of revelation after revelation, danger after danger, and so on. There was nowhere to take a breath. I found I really didn’t care about what happens at all. Best skipped.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Angry Robot, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Forging a Nightmare begins with a brutal torture/murder (trigger warning for male-on-female violence), and — even though I’ve got quite a strong stomach — this made me feel quite sick. After that, we are introduced to our protagonist (Michael) and everything started to go downhill for me. I really couldn’t connect with Michael at all, nor our titular Nightmare, Anaba. The dialogue and characterisation feel very stilted and forced, whilst the structure and plot themselves are choppy and full of tropes. Chosen One? Check. Telling rather than showing? Check. Divine parentage revelations? Check. And more.
Then there was a completely unbelievable timeline (mostly everything happens within one day!), and very stereotypical representations of angels, demons, mythical figures and creatures (if you’re going to use these, please make them interesting/different!). How Anaba is treated whilst in her Nightmare form just screamed issues of consent to me, which made me deeply uncomfortable. Yes, the book was fast-paced but this was also too extreme — there were no opportunities for rest, integration, or anything for the characters, so it felt like a constant barrage of revelation after revelation, danger after danger, and so on. There was nowhere to take a breath. I found I really didn’t care about what happens at all. Best skipped.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Angry Robot, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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