Bone Cider

by Lucas Mangum

A bizarre family tradition. A sudden tragedy. A dark odyssey on a late autumn night. From two-time Splatterpunk Award nominee Lucas Mangum comes a story about loss of innocence and the futility of recollection.

ebook

Published October 19, 2021

About the author

Lucas Mangum is an author currently living in Austin, TX.

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was different...





You wouldnt expect a Splatterpunk Award Nominated author to go the more
gentle root, but I am really glad Mangum did. It was a really
pleasant surprise to have this very short almost coming of age
horror feeling to a story, but it was written well and I think I
enjoyed it so much because it was so unexpected.





Now, I have to make this very clear, I am giving this a 5 star rating if
this is a set-up for a larger story in the future. This was a good
way to plant some roots. However, if not, my rating will be lower,
because it raised so many unanswered questions.





Lets see what happens from here...

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great little story that fully captured the chill of fall and the spirit of Halloween. I was reminded of the work of Ray Bradbury, and I was glad to read in the Author's Note that Ray Bradbury was an influence. Several current extreme authors' names appear in this story, as town, street and establishment names, which was very refreshing. The story is about childhood, magic, fear and understanding. I enjoyed every word, and plan to read more by Lucas Mangum.

[John The Crippledgimp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn this was a cool story. Lucas Mangum is a awesome storyteller. This story just had a chilly creepy kinda vibe that settled in like a dense fog that just surrounds you and pulls you into this story. I really just liked the story the picture and the vibe the author was able to pull off in this short story. I will be buying more Mangum for sure.

[Rayne Havok · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nice, slow creep of wonder and mysticism. The ambience was perfect. The story was an excellent fit for the season. Put your eyes on this, you guys!

P.S. Wow, thank you, Lucas. I'm flattered and freaking the fuck out at your kindness!

[Rachel M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little story! I have had this sat on my kindle since last October, I should have read it then, this will make a perfect Halloween quick read.

[Jamie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to have found this little gem on Godless. Lucas is a favorite of mine as I just enjoy the style and flow of his writing. This one was no different. Reading it late at night, alone and in the dark absolutely creeped me out! There is no gore or violence, and it wouldn’t be the same unsettling and uncomfortable adventure if it had those things. Don’t sleep on this one if you’re a fan of Lucas. And make sure to ask grandma what is in her homemade cider next time you see her….

[Tim Eagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was impressed with this tale of lore, myth, and the underlying darkness that comes from it. Lucas mentions he typically writes "splatterpunk", but in this tale, he stepped outside that form of storytelling, and the shoe fit. This was a dark, descriptive piece of fiction, that gives everyone a break from the extreme nature that is "splatterpunk" and it was refreshing to read. Keep the shoes on for awhile, Lucas, and entertain another audience, but only if the shoes are comfortable. This was a great read and should definitely be a Halloween read, every season.

[Ami Beyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story endearing and creepy; however, the story felt rushed to me. This definitely could have been longer (and I didnt miss the more extreme elements).

The descriptions were very poetic and I really enjoyed the premise.

[Alexa · Rating 2 out of 5]

TLDR: Young boy likes to drink his grandpappy's bone juice so much and he ends up grave robbing his friend's ashes.

All jokes aside, the writing wasn't bad at all; it's just…what was the point? There's a whole cast of characters that appears and intends to give the boy a message and strike fear into him, but that's really it. What was the message they wanted to give? Why does the grandmother only make bone juice on Halloween? Do the parents know??? I'd assume so because it's labeled as a family tradition, but it's never discussed, and if it is, it's very vague.