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The Beyond
Moon Song’s brother has gone missing in the town of Blackrock, Pennsylvania. Worried that her brother has slipped back into addiction and desperate for answers, Moon hires private investigator Ben Sawyer to help her uncover the truth. Together they discover what the people of Blackrock refuse to acknowledge: something terrible has happened inside the coal mine that defies all logical explanation, and it threatens the lives of every single person in town. Bodies are piling up at the funeral home, and many others have seemingly vanished.
Moon’s only hope of finding answers rests in the hands of a local professor who knows the mine’s horrible secrets. But the professor has problems of his own, and unless he can confront the creature that’s hunting him, Moon’s chances of making it out of town alive are darker than a seam of coal.
Dive into Ken Brosky’s horror-fueled nightmare and find out what’s in The Beyond!
Moon’s only hope of finding answers rests in the hands of a local professor who knows the mine’s horrible secrets. But the professor has problems of his own, and unless he can confront the creature that’s hunting him, Moon’s chances of making it out of town alive are darker than a seam of coal.
Dive into Ken Brosky’s horror-fueled nightmare and find out what’s in The Beyond!
- GenresHorror
298 pages, Paperback
Published February 15, 2022
10 people are currently reading
3028 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 6, 2023
My thanks to Timber Ghost Press, Ken Brosky and Netgalley. I was tickled pink by how deeply I enjoyed this damn story! I didn't have a clue about what was going on! Somewhere around the 40% mark, a couple of women were fighting, and one said "I'm going to kill you." The other said something along the lines of " you just killed me yesterday. " Me? I'm wondering, what the hell? Yeah, it gets a bit strange! This whole entire story worked for me. It's something I'd recommend. I especially want to read more from this author. 4 1/2 rounded ☝ to 5.
February 21, 2025
I had waited a bit for this book to come out, and was not disappointed. The author goes big with his concept, which is very reminiscent of Jordan Peele’s Us. But I actually enjoyed this premise and execution better than the aforementioned film. While on the subject, there were quite a few horror film references subtly placed throughout the story, which I always love to see. My only tiny gripes was that the big explosion at the end was very underwhelming, and there were times that it was hard to follow who was who. That may sound confusing, but, as always, I’m being very general and nonspecific, as to not spoil anything for other readers. But otherwise, the characters were all balanced nicely, the story had a good amount of development and pace, and the ending was satisfactory, too. I felt like certain plotpoints were forgotten from early on in the book, but they were all addressed appropriately towards the big finale, which was a big relief. This was my first read from Ken Brosky and will definitely not be my last.
January 11, 2022
Moon Song and her brother Hye were very close. Even after his drug use and other problems caused a rift between Hye and their parents, the siblings stayed in frequent contact until one day he stopped answering his phone and never returned calls. It is for this reason she hires Ben Sawyer, a private investigator who generally spends his time in lackluster stake outs of cheating spouses in between his vacation time. She accompanies Ben to the mining town of Blackrock, her brother's last known residence and place of employment. There they find some very strange goings on but no sign of Hye.
I didn't care much for Ben at first, but he grew on me and I loved Moon Song and her fierce love for her brother. I loved the way she faced her fears.
Nothing creeps me out more than people acting out of character or beyond the norm, and there seems to be nothing normal in Blackrock. Personalities have changed drastically. A professor who reports to the dean that a student has made inappropriate sexual advances toward him is basically told to go for it. And that's just the start of these bizarre happenings. Don't get me started on the clinic, or the funeral home. What does all of this have to do with the reopened coal mine? You'll have to read to find out.
Recommended highly to all horror readers and especially to those who enjoy Bentley Little novels. I am a huge fan of small town horror where the last remaining normal people turn into unlikely heroes, and that is just part of the reason this fast paced story was a hit with me.
My thanks to Timber Ghost Press for the review copy.
I didn't care much for Ben at first, but he grew on me and I loved Moon Song and her fierce love for her brother. I loved the way she faced her fears.
Nothing creeps me out more than people acting out of character or beyond the norm, and there seems to be nothing normal in Blackrock. Personalities have changed drastically. A professor who reports to the dean that a student has made inappropriate sexual advances toward him is basically told to go for it. And that's just the start of these bizarre happenings. Don't get me started on the clinic, or the funeral home. What does all of this have to do with the reopened coal mine? You'll have to read to find out.
Recommended highly to all horror readers and especially to those who enjoy Bentley Little novels. I am a huge fan of small town horror where the last remaining normal people turn into unlikely heroes, and that is just part of the reason this fast paced story was a hit with me.
My thanks to Timber Ghost Press for the review copy.
December 22, 2021
I would like to thank Timber Ghost Press, Ken Brosky and BookSirens for allowing me to read this ARC free for an honest review. Professor Saladin Zewail notices that things in the small mining town of Blackrock, where he teaches, are getting pretty weird. They become very weird when he meets with and talks to one of his students, Aaron Brooke, who Saladin knows for a fact has already died. Shortly thereafter, private investigator Ben Sawyer and his client, Moon Song, arrive in Blackrock to try to find her missing brother, Hye. Hye works at the coal mine but hasn’t been in contact with Moon for a while so she’s worried about him. Moon does find him, but he just doesn’t seem to be the same person she remembers. You’ll have to read the book to find out why. I found The Beyond a very imaginative and unique story and I liked it. I liked the characters Saladin, Ben and Moon a lot and thought they were interesting and full of surprises. And there is a gang of coal miner ghosts on page 153, so it is a ghost story (Ghost Story Challenge).
March 20, 2022
After her brother, Hye, goes missing, Moon Song hires private detective Ben Sawyer to discover what happened. The paramount concern is that Hye, a recovering addict, has fallen off the wagon or befell an accident in the coal mine where he's secured employment. While bad, either option would likely be preferable to the secrets Moon and Ben ultimately uncover in the town of Blackrock, Pennsylvania and the horrors unfolding within the mine itself.
In The Beyond's dedication, Ken Brosky acknowledges a formative point in his early life when his father showed him John Carpenter's The Thing when he was much too young. It's clear that film was an important touchstone in Brosky's crafting of this story, and Carpenter's inspiration is not only apparent but abundant as Moon and Ben's investigation takes shape. Brosky clearly relishes the transformative aspects of body horror and the uncertainty of identity that were hallmarks of Carpenter's arctic terror classic, and he puts his own neat spin on things here.
The most deft spin, perhaps, comes in Brosky's shifting of identity concerns to a struggle of interiority, as Ben grapples with premature onset of dementia. Early on, we're shown that what Ben grapples with may or may not be real, and this concern is an ever-present threat to his self-assuredness. It's a terrific concept, but also one that I wish Brosky had done more with and more fully utilized to ramp up the stakes. It does present an intriguing aspect to Ben's character and personal history, but never goes far enough to make the detective an unreliable player in the events at Blackrock, nor does it ever give readers enough reason to distrust the words on the page. I would have liked to have seen Ben's struggle with dementia have a deeper impact on the narrative, or for Brosky to use it to play some mind games with readers and force us to question just how much of the narrative is actually happening. With the shifting points of view between Ben, Moon, and a local professor, Saladin Zewail, we can never real doubt the reality of the story itself, its progression, or its characters.
Swapping the Antarctic for Pennsylvanian coal country circa 2019, however, is a fantastic move, and one that allows for some clever subtextual commentary on the death of coal mining as an industry and the dangers inherit to both the workers and ecology of the region (think Centralia, PA, which has become a ghost town thanks to an underground coal fire that has been burning since the 60s). While The Beyond doesn't overplay its hand politically, it does provide yet one more compelling reason for America's energy independence in the form of cosmic horror and transdimensional rifts. And although Blackrock's miners celebrate Trump's vow to reignite America's reliance on dirty energy, the townsfolk aren't exactly "winning, winning, winning," as the then-president so eagerly (and falsely) proclaimed. The dangers and dirtiness of coal mining, and the potential unknowns of what, exactly, these workers may be digging toward make for a natural bedfellow with horror. This isn't the type of story that would make a whole lot of sense with solar farms and clean, reliable energy, you know? It's really hard to be afraid of windmills, despite Trump's best efforts at cancer-related fear-mongering...
While 2019 promised the return and transformative power of coal mining to communities, the people of Blackrock don't exactly reap the benefits in the way they had necessarily imagined. Readers fare much better, though, and can rest easy that they'll be getting much more than a lump of coal for their efforts here. Fans of The Thing are sure to appreciate Brosky's riffs and expansions on familiar tropes, and The Beyond at times feels like a lost entry in Carpenter's Apocalypse Trilogy, which is always appreciated in works so heavily inspired by the Horror Master himself.
In The Beyond's dedication, Ken Brosky acknowledges a formative point in his early life when his father showed him John Carpenter's The Thing when he was much too young. It's clear that film was an important touchstone in Brosky's crafting of this story, and Carpenter's inspiration is not only apparent but abundant as Moon and Ben's investigation takes shape. Brosky clearly relishes the transformative aspects of body horror and the uncertainty of identity that were hallmarks of Carpenter's arctic terror classic, and he puts his own neat spin on things here.
The most deft spin, perhaps, comes in Brosky's shifting of identity concerns to a struggle of interiority, as Ben grapples with premature onset of dementia. Early on, we're shown that what Ben grapples with may or may not be real, and this concern is an ever-present threat to his self-assuredness. It's a terrific concept, but also one that I wish Brosky had done more with and more fully utilized to ramp up the stakes. It does present an intriguing aspect to Ben's character and personal history, but never goes far enough to make the detective an unreliable player in the events at Blackrock, nor does it ever give readers enough reason to distrust the words on the page. I would have liked to have seen Ben's struggle with dementia have a deeper impact on the narrative, or for Brosky to use it to play some mind games with readers and force us to question just how much of the narrative is actually happening. With the shifting points of view between Ben, Moon, and a local professor, Saladin Zewail, we can never real doubt the reality of the story itself, its progression, or its characters.
Swapping the Antarctic for Pennsylvanian coal country circa 2019, however, is a fantastic move, and one that allows for some clever subtextual commentary on the death of coal mining as an industry and the dangers inherit to both the workers and ecology of the region (think Centralia, PA, which has become a ghost town thanks to an underground coal fire that has been burning since the 60s). While The Beyond doesn't overplay its hand politically, it does provide yet one more compelling reason for America's energy independence in the form of cosmic horror and transdimensional rifts. And although Blackrock's miners celebrate Trump's vow to reignite America's reliance on dirty energy, the townsfolk aren't exactly "winning, winning, winning," as the then-president so eagerly (and falsely) proclaimed. The dangers and dirtiness of coal mining, and the potential unknowns of what, exactly, these workers may be digging toward make for a natural bedfellow with horror. This isn't the type of story that would make a whole lot of sense with solar farms and clean, reliable energy, you know? It's really hard to be afraid of windmills, despite Trump's best efforts at cancer-related fear-mongering...
While 2019 promised the return and transformative power of coal mining to communities, the people of Blackrock don't exactly reap the benefits in the way they had necessarily imagined. Readers fare much better, though, and can rest easy that they'll be getting much more than a lump of coal for their efforts here. Fans of The Thing are sure to appreciate Brosky's riffs and expansions on familiar tropes, and The Beyond at times feels like a lost entry in Carpenter's Apocalypse Trilogy, which is always appreciated in works so heavily inspired by the Horror Master himself.
February 15, 2022
I received an e-Galley ARC of The Beyond, authored by Ken Brosky, from publisher Timber Ghost Press for review consideration. Edits: Beverly Bernard. Cover art/design: Greg Chapman. Interior design: Firedrake Designs. What follows is my honest opinion, given freely.
Certain set ups for a story just guarantee I’d be, not on high alert, but paying attention if I was there myself. Space, water related activities for example are big ones for me. Caves and tunnels too, I’ve found, because creepy things can happen, but also they can collapse or you can get stuck, and that is terrifying. Sarah Lotz’s The White Road has a scene, a few actually, with a cave system that is not for the faint of heart, it adds a whole layer of horror to that novel. So I dove into this one ready to be bothered, happily so. Horror fans love to poke the bear. Imagine the bear being a pinata filled with reactions to what you are reading, you never know what will fall out, not really. It’s a fun game.
So I was thrown a bit by how casually Trump was mentioned in relation to the coal industry, in just a small tiny part of the beginning. And it struck me, that it was happening, the start of his presidency being part of a time stamp in fiction that we read, and that’s all it has to be, can be. It felt surreal, it felt a little wrong as well, and then I went to the next sentence and kept reading. That opening scene of walking down into the mine is a great hook for the whole novel, would be a great cinematic shot if ever made into a movie. By the time you start to worry about what’s going on it’s already too late, once you’ve noticed the red glow you’re not leaving the tunnel.
I think this has a story that you can enjoy as deeply as you want, you can read it through and be done, thinking that was a good twisty book. Or, you can start thinking of the doorway in the tunnels and the choices that went into putting us where we found ourselves in the novel. It wasn’t infinite universes, we had very specific path a and path b, and I find myself thinking on that often, if there is a reason, and how it was tied up in the tunnels. I think this is a book that many will enjoy, horror, thriller, small town horror and suspense would be accurate genres to place it in. Brosky has written a town to stay away from, things to fear and people to mourn. I look forward to reading his next work.
Certain set ups for a story just guarantee I’d be, not on high alert, but paying attention if I was there myself. Space, water related activities for example are big ones for me. Caves and tunnels too, I’ve found, because creepy things can happen, but also they can collapse or you can get stuck, and that is terrifying. Sarah Lotz’s The White Road has a scene, a few actually, with a cave system that is not for the faint of heart, it adds a whole layer of horror to that novel. So I dove into this one ready to be bothered, happily so. Horror fans love to poke the bear. Imagine the bear being a pinata filled with reactions to what you are reading, you never know what will fall out, not really. It’s a fun game.
So I was thrown a bit by how casually Trump was mentioned in relation to the coal industry, in just a small tiny part of the beginning. And it struck me, that it was happening, the start of his presidency being part of a time stamp in fiction that we read, and that’s all it has to be, can be. It felt surreal, it felt a little wrong as well, and then I went to the next sentence and kept reading. That opening scene of walking down into the mine is a great hook for the whole novel, would be a great cinematic shot if ever made into a movie. By the time you start to worry about what’s going on it’s already too late, once you’ve noticed the red glow you’re not leaving the tunnel.
I think this has a story that you can enjoy as deeply as you want, you can read it through and be done, thinking that was a good twisty book. Or, you can start thinking of the doorway in the tunnels and the choices that went into putting us where we found ourselves in the novel. It wasn’t infinite universes, we had very specific path a and path b, and I find myself thinking on that often, if there is a reason, and how it was tied up in the tunnels. I think this is a book that many will enjoy, horror, thriller, small town horror and suspense would be accurate genres to place it in. Brosky has written a town to stay away from, things to fear and people to mourn. I look forward to reading his next work.
December 30, 2024
Great book! Unique plot, a few concepts were a bit confusing but nothing that prevented me from enjoying it
November 22, 2021
Thanks to Booksirens and Timber Ghost Press for an advanced copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.
I enjoyed the book. It was well-paced with some interesting characters although it was confusing at times. Overall I rated it at 3-3.5 stars but I rounded it up for the lead female's name, Moon Song.
I enjoyed the book. It was well-paced with some interesting characters although it was confusing at times. Overall I rated it at 3-3.5 stars but I rounded it up for the lead female's name, Moon Song.
July 16, 2022
The Beyond by Ken Brosky is a fun thriller horror tale successfully placed in today’s socioeconomic and political issues. The issues are shown with some of the results we have come to expect from them (like having three leads of different ethnicities).
More than larger landscape Brosky provides a look at the inner landscape people are facing from their own pasts. The decisions made, the paths taken or not, the pain we try to leave behind but still carry.
Brosky tells the story with multiple third person points of view. We see the events from the character relating the events. It is limited to their senses, and includes their feelings and emotions based on their past experiences they are facing. This is effective in build the theme of a second chance, even when those who are sharing their portion of the tale end up not getting the results they desire.
The Beyond is written in present tense. Everything is happing now. We are being told the events as they unfold not by the narrator relating the story from days past. I was leery when I noticed this at the start of the book. I’ve had some bad experiences with stories told in the present tense. Mostly because the author kept slipping into past tense and then returning to the present. Brosky doesn’t do that.
Combining the present tense and the poor outcome of some of the non-lead characters in the chapters from their point of view gives an excellent buildup of the dread the lead characters are facing. There are no assurances any of the characters we are following are going to make it through to the end.
I recommend The Beyond for mature readers who like horror and a strong theme.
You can read the complete review at http://guildmastergaming.blogspot.com...
More than larger landscape Brosky provides a look at the inner landscape people are facing from their own pasts. The decisions made, the paths taken or not, the pain we try to leave behind but still carry.
Brosky tells the story with multiple third person points of view. We see the events from the character relating the events. It is limited to their senses, and includes their feelings and emotions based on their past experiences they are facing. This is effective in build the theme of a second chance, even when those who are sharing their portion of the tale end up not getting the results they desire.
The Beyond is written in present tense. Everything is happing now. We are being told the events as they unfold not by the narrator relating the story from days past. I was leery when I noticed this at the start of the book. I’ve had some bad experiences with stories told in the present tense. Mostly because the author kept slipping into past tense and then returning to the present. Brosky doesn’t do that.
Combining the present tense and the poor outcome of some of the non-lead characters in the chapters from their point of view gives an excellent buildup of the dread the lead characters are facing. There are no assurances any of the characters we are following are going to make it through to the end.
I recommend The Beyond for mature readers who like horror and a strong theme.
You can read the complete review at http://guildmastergaming.blogspot.com...
January 17, 2022
If you are a fan of Stephen King or Lovecraft type writing, then this is the story for you. The story description grabbed me, and I was not disappointed.
Moon Song is concerned that she hasn't heard from her brother, Hye, in a few weeks. They are very close and it's not like him to not return her calls. Hye moved awhile back to the town of Blackrock Pennsylvania to work at the local coal mine. A recovering addict, he needed the stable work and to get away from any temptations.
Moon hires Ben Sawyer, a local PI, to help her find him. They travel together to Blackrock and immediately sense that the town is off. There is no sign of her brother. A local professor, Saladin, tracks Ben down and starts to tell him about what is going on in the town. The townspeople aren't who, or what, he thinks they are. Something has happened in the coal mine. Something awful, something with no name.
There are many twists and turns in this macabre story. Given what's going on in the town, you don't know who to trust which adds a level of horror in and of itself. I really liked the relationship between Ben and Moon. The relationship is believable and consistent throughout. The addition of the Professor is interesting, and I felt all the characters were well rounded.
The story itself is a complex but in a way that makes sense. I wasn't sure how well it was going to wrapped up in the end, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was. The descriptions are vivid and at times intense. I love a good horror story especially one set in a small town. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
Moon Song is concerned that she hasn't heard from her brother, Hye, in a few weeks. They are very close and it's not like him to not return her calls. Hye moved awhile back to the town of Blackrock Pennsylvania to work at the local coal mine. A recovering addict, he needed the stable work and to get away from any temptations.
Moon hires Ben Sawyer, a local PI, to help her find him. They travel together to Blackrock and immediately sense that the town is off. There is no sign of her brother. A local professor, Saladin, tracks Ben down and starts to tell him about what is going on in the town. The townspeople aren't who, or what, he thinks they are. Something has happened in the coal mine. Something awful, something with no name.
There are many twists and turns in this macabre story. Given what's going on in the town, you don't know who to trust which adds a level of horror in and of itself. I really liked the relationship between Ben and Moon. The relationship is believable and consistent throughout. The addition of the Professor is interesting, and I felt all the characters were well rounded.
The story itself is a complex but in a way that makes sense. I wasn't sure how well it was going to wrapped up in the end, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was. The descriptions are vivid and at times intense. I love a good horror story especially one set in a small town. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
March 16, 2022
I'd never heard of the author, but the title, cover, and blurb made this sound like an intriguing horror story. I won't spoil anything here, but the story did go a totally different way then I anticipated. The concept's been used many times, but this was a different twist on it which I appreciated.
I liked Ben Sawyer as the hero, and he's a more complicated guy then the usual protagonists. His fears of suffering the same fate as his father and inheriting dementia were really well described and felt genuine. Also credit to the author for having a man/woman main character pairing without feeling the need to work in some ridiculous romance angle like so many others do.
On the flip side, I'll never be a fan of present tense writing. It just feels awkward to read. Also way too much profanity with f-bombs left and right. Was expecting some with a story focusing on a mining town, but it's just way too much even outside of dialogue. Unnecessary. The ending was pretty abrupt and didn't really give a lot of closure of how the rest of the world would react to the events of Blackrock and how the situation would be cleaned up.
Its a light horror story that'll kill a few hours. Not particularly memorable, but there's enough here I'll check out the author's future work.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and BookSirens for the free ARC. This review was written honestly and voluntarily.
I liked Ben Sawyer as the hero, and he's a more complicated guy then the usual protagonists. His fears of suffering the same fate as his father and inheriting dementia were really well described and felt genuine. Also credit to the author for having a man/woman main character pairing without feeling the need to work in some ridiculous romance angle like so many others do.
On the flip side, I'll never be a fan of present tense writing. It just feels awkward to read. Also way too much profanity with f-bombs left and right. Was expecting some with a story focusing on a mining town, but it's just way too much even outside of dialogue. Unnecessary. The ending was pretty abrupt and didn't really give a lot of closure of how the rest of the world would react to the events of Blackrock and how the situation would be cleaned up.
Its a light horror story that'll kill a few hours. Not particularly memorable, but there's enough here I'll check out the author's future work.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and BookSirens for the free ARC. This review was written honestly and voluntarily.
January 30, 2022
An electronic copy of this book was given to me by the author for a free and unbiased review.
I don’t read a lot of horror, but I was intrigued by the blurb and I wasn’t disappointed-this book is more than your just bog-standard horror with thrills and scares ( but don’t worry there are plenty of thrills and scares in The Beyond). There is a science-fiction edge to this book that I loved but to add any details would broach this review into spoiler territory, but it does elevate this book to a different level.
This is also a book about second chances and regret that feeds into the overall story
The story is mainly told from the points of view of Moon, Ben and Saladin and they are all relatable with realistic issues. The plot is faced paced and finished the book in two sittings and will admit to being ‘proper’ scared at varied points. I also liked the fact that romance has not been shoehorned in but the mutual friendship we see developing between the main characters was more realistic.
Content warning.
Gore (it is a horror story), references to addiction ( off-page), use of racist terms (one-off)
Perfect for fans
Who love horror with underlying emotion and twists, the book did remind of some of Stephen King’s very early work.
I don’t read a lot of horror, but I was intrigued by the blurb and I wasn’t disappointed-this book is more than your just bog-standard horror with thrills and scares ( but don’t worry there are plenty of thrills and scares in The Beyond). There is a science-fiction edge to this book that I loved but to add any details would broach this review into spoiler territory, but it does elevate this book to a different level.
This is also a book about second chances and regret that feeds into the overall story
The story is mainly told from the points of view of Moon, Ben and Saladin and they are all relatable with realistic issues. The plot is faced paced and finished the book in two sittings and will admit to being ‘proper’ scared at varied points. I also liked the fact that romance has not been shoehorned in but the mutual friendship we see developing between the main characters was more realistic.
Content warning.
Gore (it is a horror story), references to addiction ( off-page), use of racist terms (one-off)
Perfect for fans
Who love horror with underlying emotion and twists, the book did remind of some of Stephen King’s very early work.
February 16, 2022
Excellent novel! I definitely want to see more from this author. Great writing style: suspenseful, absorbing, with strong characters and a plot full of twists and turns that keep the reader intrigued and interested. Although it's marketed as horror, the science-fiction element was a nice surprise. The story revolves around a missing case, Moon Song's brother has mysteriously vanished and she hires a PI, Ben Sawyer, to find him. They team-up and the book quickly develops into unexpected territory. The setting is gritty, realistic and the author doesn't hesitate to touch on issues of poverty, racism, addiction and the current political climate (though this quickly disappears as the story gets more and more complex!). Fortunately, there's no romance involved - it would certainly take away from the pace of the story. Then there is Professor Saladin Zewail: I really liked this character and his insecurities were handled very well. The ending was a bit rushed, but this is usual for such a complex novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 22, 2023
The book starts quickly, throwing you into the meat of the plot while at the same time feeding you the reveals slowly. The pacing was good though there were a few times I wondered about how much time passed in the story as some events seems to occur rather swiftly one after another. Still, the story and the trials the protagonists faced were compelling to me.
The protagonists were likable even with some of their faults and the author provides a diverse collection of characters which was nice to see. As far as the antagonists, without giving away spoilers, I felt little sympathy toward their reasons for their actions. There are many facets to the events but I was less inclined to relate to the situation the antagonists faced. I will add, there are a number of POV changes in the story. Most add to the overall plot and upon looking back, a lot of what occurred comes into focus once the major reveals are made.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. There were a few typos but nothing all that distracting from the story. The concept of the plot was quite unique.
The protagonists were likable even with some of their faults and the author provides a diverse collection of characters which was nice to see. As far as the antagonists, without giving away spoilers, I felt little sympathy toward their reasons for their actions. There are many facets to the events but I was less inclined to relate to the situation the antagonists faced. I will add, there are a number of POV changes in the story. Most add to the overall plot and upon looking back, a lot of what occurred comes into focus once the major reveals are made.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. There were a few typos but nothing all that distracting from the story. The concept of the plot was quite unique.
December 26, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
So, I usually read books at night, and had to stop reading this one, as it freaked the hell out of me … mission accomplished by the author, that's for sure. This is one of the few books, that have been put in the horror genre, that actually creeped me out, hence the long time to read this book, as I couldn't read it at night LOL.
Having said that, I really enjoyed this book, and cannot say more than that without giving any of the plot away.
Good character development and world building. Great likeable characters. Interesting plot.
Good job to the author, I will definitely be reading more of your books.
The only negative was there were quite a few grammatical issues, but not the worse by far.
Highly recommended for fans of horror, with something a little different and unexpected.
So, I usually read books at night, and had to stop reading this one, as it freaked the hell out of me … mission accomplished by the author, that's for sure. This is one of the few books, that have been put in the horror genre, that actually creeped me out, hence the long time to read this book, as I couldn't read it at night LOL.
Having said that, I really enjoyed this book, and cannot say more than that without giving any of the plot away.
Good character development and world building. Great likeable characters. Interesting plot.
Good job to the author, I will definitely be reading more of your books.
The only negative was there were quite a few grammatical issues, but not the worse by far.
Highly recommended for fans of horror, with something a little different and unexpected.
February 4, 2025
The first half of the book has an intriguing setup, even if the writing could use a little more pizazz here and there.
Unfortunately the 3rd quarter of the book was a bit of a slog. The mystery was solved way too quickly and there wasn’t enough of a breadcrumb trail left for the protags to follow. Also, the character of Saladin oddly starts acting like a completely different character one his plot converges with the main characters. Very odd.
Thankfully, the last quarter of the book really picked up for me. Wild climax and satisfying conclusion. Although I feel like the last chapter, and those character, should have been omitted entirely.
Overall 3 & 1/2 stars! Solid read with a few bumps in the road. Some larger than others.
Unfortunately the 3rd quarter of the book was a bit of a slog. The mystery was solved way too quickly and there wasn’t enough of a breadcrumb trail left for the protags to follow. Also, the character of Saladin oddly starts acting like a completely different character one his plot converges with the main characters. Very odd.
Thankfully, the last quarter of the book really picked up for me. Wild climax and satisfying conclusion. Although I feel like the last chapter, and those character, should have been omitted entirely.
Overall 3 & 1/2 stars! Solid read with a few bumps in the road. Some larger than others.
November 30, 2021
received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Moon Song's brother has disappeared and she hires private investigator Ben Sawyer to find out what's happened. They travel together to Blackrock where a horrific secret is revealed. Along with professor Dr. Saladin they must fight a dark conspiracy. The pace was fast, I read it in one day as the plot built. The main characters were likeable and the writing was clear. I enjoyed the twist on a basic horror theme. Cannot say much more without spoilers but it was a fun and enjoyable read. There is violence and gore so not for ever reader. I would recommend this novel to any horror fan.
August 6, 2022
Literally just spent all day finishing this book and I don't regret it at all. Such a fun read with some genuinely tense, creepy moments! Reminiscent of Jordan Peele's Up, with some anti-capitalism thrown in. I always thought the story of Centralia would make an excellent setting for a horror tale, and it felt good to finally have that itch scratched some.
Shout out to the fact that all the main characters are likeable as well, and that two of them are POC. It's something you still don't see enough of in horror.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Shout out to the fact that all the main characters are likeable as well, and that two of them are POC. It's something you still don't see enough of in horror.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 17, 2024
🤔 🫣 Mysterious and confused.
Patriot mine, 2019:
Hye Song buys several beers before heading to his job at the mine.
He finds two colleagues there and everyone goes down in the elevator, while enjoying their drinks.
Arriving at the bottom, they gave in to the tradition of kissing their crucifix for good luck before entering the tunnel...
*********
A dangerous and frightening adventure, and a mystery to solve for this thriller that I personally found confusing at times.
Despite a few scares, I didn't get too hung up on it and got lost several times.
To discover for fans of the genre.
Patriot mine, 2019:
Hye Song buys several beers before heading to his job at the mine.
He finds two colleagues there and everyone goes down in the elevator, while enjoying their drinks.
Arriving at the bottom, they gave in to the tradition of kissing their crucifix for good luck before entering the tunnel...
*********
A dangerous and frightening adventure, and a mystery to solve for this thriller that I personally found confusing at times.
Despite a few scares, I didn't get too hung up on it and got lost several times.
To discover for fans of the genre.
February 14, 2022
So…I have a bad habit of reading a few chapters before I go to bed at night. Oh… did I mention I live alone?
As I began reading, I was intrigued…by the time I got to:“The hands around his arms squeeze tighter. The cage light blinks on; Hye opens his eyes.
And screams.”,
I WAS HOOKED!!! I definitely recommend this book…but maybe not late at night with all the lights off.
This book was offered as an ARC for an honest review.
As I began reading, I was intrigued…by the time I got to:“The hands around his arms squeeze tighter. The cage light blinks on; Hye opens his eyes.
And screams.”,
I WAS HOOKED!!! I definitely recommend this book…but maybe not late at night with all the lights off.
This book was offered as an ARC for an honest review.
February 26, 2022
Another win by author Brosky! By far, his best book released. The twisting and turning plot follows the mysterious disappearance of a mine worker and the quest to find answers. People start vanishing and private investigator, Ben Sawyer, is looking for clues. Full of surprises, this nightmare leaves you wanting more! The descriptions and character development keep you hooked until the surprise ending. Don't miss this one.!
March 2, 2022
After the first few pages, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down, until I got to The End. Compulsive and gripping! Suspenseful, addictive and complex! Will keep you swiping the pages furiously. If you like absolutely unpredictable, twisted suspense as much as I do, you can't go wrong with this book!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
March 25, 2022
A Bit Slow, But Good
At first you're like, hmm, what's going on here? Is it a whodunit, missing person, accident at work, etc. Then you start going into the crazy road of a story. Nice.
I really did enjoy that. It's a very good read, and my first time reading this author. Will definteily be checking out his other stories/novels. On to the next! #HappyReading ♥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
At first you're like, hmm, what's going on here? Is it a whodunit, missing person, accident at work, etc. Then you start going into the crazy road of a story. Nice.
I really did enjoy that. It's a very good read, and my first time reading this author. Will definteily be checking out his other stories/novels. On to the next! #HappyReading ♥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 14, 2022
Twisty and fun
The Beyond by Ken Brosky is an enjoyable read with a plot that seems to be part horror part science fiction and all fun.
Ben, Moon and Saladin are interesting protagonists and the relationships between them help move the story forward and it would be fun to seem them again.
Fans of Bentley Little and Blake Crouch should find something to enjoy here--
Thanks to #BookSirens, #KenBrosky, #TimberGhostPress for the ARC copy of #TheBeyond.
The Beyond by Ken Brosky is an enjoyable read with a plot that seems to be part horror part science fiction and all fun.
Ben, Moon and Saladin are interesting protagonists and the relationships between them help move the story forward and it would be fun to seem them again.
Fans of Bentley Little and Blake Crouch should find something to enjoy here--
Thanks to #BookSirens, #KenBrosky, #TimberGhostPress for the ARC copy of #TheBeyond.
December 31, 2025
Great SF Horror
I very much enjoyed this novel with its fully fleshed out characters and a plot that keeps you thinking until the final page. I think I saw two grammatical errors, but they were inconsequential.
The story of a mine that breaks through into … something else, kept me so enthralled I completed the book in two days. In many ways it reminded me of the best of Stephen King.
If you like SF horror, this will scratch your itch just fine.
I very much enjoyed this novel with its fully fleshed out characters and a plot that keeps you thinking until the final page. I think I saw two grammatical errors, but they were inconsequential.
The story of a mine that breaks through into … something else, kept me so enthralled I completed the book in two days. In many ways it reminded me of the best of Stephen King.
If you like SF horror, this will scratch your itch just fine.
November 9, 2021
This is a well written book, with an absorbing storyline. I found this book a bit confusing at the start, but it quickly came together. This is a really enjoyable read. The story is well paced and builds well to the climax.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 23, 2021
3 1/2 STARS
Not a bad little read. Fairly mild horror with a few very creepy moments and descriptions. I liked the 3 main characters and did get a good feel of who they are. Not deep horror but more of a light snack. Would most likely make a decent quick "Blumhouse" movie.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Not a bad little read. Fairly mild horror with a few very creepy moments and descriptions. I liked the 3 main characters and did get a good feel of who they are. Not deep horror but more of a light snack. Would most likely make a decent quick "Blumhouse" movie.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 15, 2022
This was a little slow on the uptake for me due to the mix of characters, but once I reached the 'meat' of the story, I did not want to put it down. The ending leads me to believe that there may be another book in the not too distant future featuring the villains and/or the heroes.
I received a free Advance Reader Copy of The Beyond through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.
I received a free Advance Reader Copy of The Beyond through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.
August 15, 2023
This is a fantastically creepy novel, and I couldn't help devouring it once I'd begun. Fantastic writing, compelling story-telling and characters, and all of the atmosphere and horror to keep every page turning. I've already picked up another book by Brosky, I enjoyed this so much!
Absolutely recommended.
Absolutely recommended.
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