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Rusted Blood: A Horror Novel
Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2021
3 people are currently reading
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About the author
Lucas Mangum
51 books127 followersLucas Mangum is an author currently living in Austin, TX.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 4, 2025
I really enjoyed Mangum's Extinction Peak, but I didn't enjoy Pandemonium or this one at all. The reason I'm referencing Pandemonium is that I felt very strongly that the story basically fell apart. What could have been an absolute blast, just wasn't. There were too many characters, the story jumped around way too much, and by the time it ended, you were left unsure of what you just read. This was exactly the same, but was fortunately less than half the length. Rusted Blood even contained some really trite professional wrestling references (Again, Pandemonium flashback) that felt out of place. I thought some of the ideas from the book synopsis sounded fun, but the execution was just not done well. Sure, there were a few enjoyable moments, and the actual writing quality was there, but that was about it for me. The ending also wasn't bad, but after such a struggle getting through the book, I was left fairly uninterested in the conclusion. I'm left unsure if I will revisit Mangum's works after this.
October 31, 2021
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09...
What is a supernatural, technological horror?
Well, as someone over 40, my opinion is as follows: A universal remote.
Yip, I had a friend who thought it would make a good gift because, as we all know, working more than one fucking finger at a time is scaring the millennials, especially if you have to switch between two electronic devices. Don’t get me wrong, I am not an ungrateful person, but the thing that got me was when he left and I had nothing but the manual to figure out how to 1) set it up and 2) actually use it. So I thanked said friend from the bottom of my heart and blocked the bastard on my phone.
In the business I am in, there is a saying:
When all else fails, RTFM!
For the uninformed, it stands for READ THE FUCKING MANUAL! And that in itself wouldn’t be a problem, but the pictures in the manual looks different than the actual remote. I tell you, by the time I managed to switch from one device to the next successfully, I was drenched in sweat and shaking like a bomb-disposal expert with a hangover. It took many hours of my life, and what happened?
The supernatural element kicked in and the remote disappeared. Which means…
I had to go out and buy myself another one. Of course, I couldn’t get one exactly like the one I received as a present, and when I got home, there was a different set of instructions to follow for this one, FUCK!
A few drinks and even more hours later, everything was set up. It was a victory, of sorts, to get everything working and understanding exactly what to do and when to do it, and three days later, just as I was considering unblocking the friend who started this shit, I got home to find an elated wife, who told me she’d bought a smart TV and we would only need one remote control from now on.
It sounds bad, I know, but my therapist says I am getting so much better, especially now that my drinking problem is under control.
What does this have to do with the story? Not a fucking thing. This story is totally unpredictable and I have no idea what to tell you without giving anything away. Just think SAW meets CUBE meets THE RATS meets PERSONS UNKNOWN meets LOST…and then you’ll have a rough idea about the first half of this book.
Mangum is one of those writers whose horror stories has a little bit more to it than you think, if only you are willing to look a little deeper.
If supernatural, techno horror is your thing, I can recommend this and almost guarantee you will not figure it out. Give it a go…
What is a supernatural, technological horror?
Well, as someone over 40, my opinion is as follows: A universal remote.
Yip, I had a friend who thought it would make a good gift because, as we all know, working more than one fucking finger at a time is scaring the millennials, especially if you have to switch between two electronic devices. Don’t get me wrong, I am not an ungrateful person, but the thing that got me was when he left and I had nothing but the manual to figure out how to 1) set it up and 2) actually use it. So I thanked said friend from the bottom of my heart and blocked the bastard on my phone.
In the business I am in, there is a saying:
When all else fails, RTFM!
For the uninformed, it stands for READ THE FUCKING MANUAL! And that in itself wouldn’t be a problem, but the pictures in the manual looks different than the actual remote. I tell you, by the time I managed to switch from one device to the next successfully, I was drenched in sweat and shaking like a bomb-disposal expert with a hangover. It took many hours of my life, and what happened?
The supernatural element kicked in and the remote disappeared. Which means…
I had to go out and buy myself another one. Of course, I couldn’t get one exactly like the one I received as a present, and when I got home, there was a different set of instructions to follow for this one, FUCK!
A few drinks and even more hours later, everything was set up. It was a victory, of sorts, to get everything working and understanding exactly what to do and when to do it, and three days later, just as I was considering unblocking the friend who started this shit, I got home to find an elated wife, who told me she’d bought a smart TV and we would only need one remote control from now on.
It sounds bad, I know, but my therapist says I am getting so much better, especially now that my drinking problem is under control.
What does this have to do with the story? Not a fucking thing. This story is totally unpredictable and I have no idea what to tell you without giving anything away. Just think SAW meets CUBE meets THE RATS meets PERSONS UNKNOWN meets LOST…and then you’ll have a rough idea about the first half of this book.
Mangum is one of those writers whose horror stories has a little bit more to it than you think, if only you are willing to look a little deeper.
If supernatural, techno horror is your thing, I can recommend this and almost guarantee you will not figure it out. Give it a go…
November 15, 2021
Firstly, the description of this book got me right away, I had to have it. Cube meets Rats, count me in.
The story was an absolute thrill ride full of twists and turns. By the end, my jaw was in the floor. What a fantastic start to what I can assume will be an epic universe.
A must read!
The story was an absolute thrill ride full of twists and turns. By the end, my jaw was in the floor. What a fantastic start to what I can assume will be an epic universe.
A must read!
October 28, 2021
Genuinely creepy
I was looking for a new series to get lost in and lucked out big time by coming across Rusted Blood. Mangum has an uncanny ability to really set the scene for you.
Highly recommend this unique start to what looks to be a series. (Hope so. I need more!)
I was looking for a new series to get lost in and lucked out big time by coming across Rusted Blood. Mangum has an uncanny ability to really set the scene for you.
Highly recommend this unique start to what looks to be a series. (Hope so. I need more!)
November 10, 2021
If you have read Lucas Mangum’s Gods of the Dark Web, it won’t take you long to see that these books tie in. You don’t need to have read it to read and enjoy Rusted Blood, but if you haven’t read it, you should.
Like Gods of the Dark Web, Rusted Blood is a disturbing and compelling read fu8ll of gut-clenching suspense and horrifying imagery. But in spite of the elements that connect the two books (no spoilers), the stories themselves are quite different. In Rusted Blood, Mangum drops you directly into the thick of it and does character reveal along the way. Strap in and hang on, this carnival ride has dangerous turns and even the characterization is not a safe lull.
And the characters … Mangum’s skill with writing relatable and realistic characters is at its best in this one. You get to know these people. You feel with them and for them. The tension is incredible. It makes the whole book a (sometimes unpleasant) sensory experience.
But the story’s the thing. Rusted Blood is more than amusement park/carnival horror. It’s part of a terrifying horror mythos (hopefully myth, hopefully fictional) the author has created. It’s dark and evocative and drags your mind and emotions into levels of terror only Lucas Mangum can create.
Like Gods of the Dark Web, Rusted Blood is a disturbing and compelling read fu8ll of gut-clenching suspense and horrifying imagery. But in spite of the elements that connect the two books (no spoilers), the stories themselves are quite different. In Rusted Blood, Mangum drops you directly into the thick of it and does character reveal along the way. Strap in and hang on, this carnival ride has dangerous turns and even the characterization is not a safe lull.
And the characters … Mangum’s skill with writing relatable and realistic characters is at its best in this one. You get to know these people. You feel with them and for them. The tension is incredible. It makes the whole book a (sometimes unpleasant) sensory experience.
But the story’s the thing. Rusted Blood is more than amusement park/carnival horror. It’s part of a terrifying horror mythos (hopefully myth, hopefully fictional) the author has created. It’s dark and evocative and drags your mind and emotions into levels of terror only Lucas Mangum can create.
November 20, 2021
Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Six strangers wake from a unusual slumber only to find themselves inside an abandoned ice cream parlor. Surrounded by vintage frozen treat devices and game machines, the small group venture out and discover the sights, scents and sounds of a dead nostalgic amusement park. The group of unknowns quickly realize the struggle for survival is eminent as the gloomy fairgrounds quickly become a dangerous distortion of reality.
Lucas Mangum affixes his unique talents to a carnival atmosphere where ominous motivations inhabit vintage carnival tents, sketchy park rides and haunted freak shows. Trapping a cast of diverse characters within chain-link fences and cinder block walls, Mangum conjures up an unexpected house of horrors within the pages of his novella.
Rusted Blood: Digital Darkness - Book One features tragic and strange disoriented visions of conjoined twins, twisted Tilt-A-Whirls and predatory creatures. There are plenty of jump scares conjured up of faded faced clowns, ravenous rats and of course haunted Ferris Wheels that harken warped eerie music. I’m really looking forward to what awaits inside the next fictional gospel of the grotesque provided by this talented storyteller.
Known for oozing dark vibes by means of written word, Mangum once again provides the reader with an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and enjoy his dark carnival ride. So after purchasing your one way ticket to Mangum’s Rusted Blood, it’s important to keep in mind the probability of surviving this reading adventure increases if you follow these simple words of advice…”Exit Through The Freakshow.” A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Six strangers wake from a unusual slumber only to find themselves inside an abandoned ice cream parlor. Surrounded by vintage frozen treat devices and game machines, the small group venture out and discover the sights, scents and sounds of a dead nostalgic amusement park. The group of unknowns quickly realize the struggle for survival is eminent as the gloomy fairgrounds quickly become a dangerous distortion of reality.
Lucas Mangum affixes his unique talents to a carnival atmosphere where ominous motivations inhabit vintage carnival tents, sketchy park rides and haunted freak shows. Trapping a cast of diverse characters within chain-link fences and cinder block walls, Mangum conjures up an unexpected house of horrors within the pages of his novella.
Rusted Blood: Digital Darkness - Book One features tragic and strange disoriented visions of conjoined twins, twisted Tilt-A-Whirls and predatory creatures. There are plenty of jump scares conjured up of faded faced clowns, ravenous rats and of course haunted Ferris Wheels that harken warped eerie music. I’m really looking forward to what awaits inside the next fictional gospel of the grotesque provided by this talented storyteller.
Known for oozing dark vibes by means of written word, Mangum once again provides the reader with an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and enjoy his dark carnival ride. So after purchasing your one way ticket to Mangum’s Rusted Blood, it’s important to keep in mind the probability of surviving this reading adventure increases if you follow these simple words of advice…”Exit Through The Freakshow.” A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
November 9, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. As I began the book, I formed initial impressions of the characters and thought I knew where the story was headed. I was quickly thrown curveball after curveball as my impressions of the characters were blown away and the story went places I wasn’t expecting. For me, the best aspect of this story, and any story, is the relatable character. I found myself caring about each and every one. Also, the ending was great and left me pumped for the next instalment in this series.
November 11, 2021
Rusted Blood, Lucas Mangum’s most recent novella, is a worthy addition to his impressive and growing bibliography. It is brief, but packed with well developed characters, who find themselves stuck in a hallucinatory situation and must learn the new rules of reality in order to survive. When Mangum is on-point, reading one of his stories is like chugging a full glass of extra pulpy orange juice; the acidity bites, and the pulp gets stuck in your teeth. Definitely read this if you liked Saint Sadist, The Final Gate, Extinction Peak, or any of his other books. It’s well worth the price of admission.
A review copy of this book was provided by the author.
A review copy of this book was provided by the author.
January 29, 2022
WTF????????
I have no idea what I just read.
The only positive thing I can say is that it was quick and highly readable. I guess if you are a fan of the movie “ Escape Room”, you may like this. It made about as much sense as that movie and maybe less so (if that is possible). The other issue is that the description of this novel is highly misleading, so if you are expecting enigmatic puzzles, look elsewhere. You will also be extremely frustrated with the lack of a plot that makes any kind of sense. Honestly… when I finished reading, all I could come up with was WTF?????
I have no idea what I just read.
The only positive thing I can say is that it was quick and highly readable. I guess if you are a fan of the movie “ Escape Room”, you may like this. It made about as much sense as that movie and maybe less so (if that is possible). The other issue is that the description of this novel is highly misleading, so if you are expecting enigmatic puzzles, look elsewhere. You will also be extremely frustrated with the lack of a plot that makes any kind of sense. Honestly… when I finished reading, all I could come up with was WTF?????
March 18, 2022
I picked this up because the story seemed interesting. And indeed it was. Mangum has created a very creepy, very unsettling world, bringing the digital universe straight into the physical one – or the other way round? Great characterization, cinematic descriptions, and the plot, though not the grossest or the strangest, kept me intrigued to the end. Some allusions to the Cube movie, the Escape Rooms, Saw, all combined with some disturbing imagery of Mangum’s own. This has a lot of potential, so let’s see how grim it gets. It’s a mystery where this is going but I want to be there!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews