Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid

by James G. Carlson

There is a city that occupies the space between life and death. Once a wondrous realm, it has been corrupted by a malevolent presence known as the Carrion Kid—a demon that crossed over on the soul of a young boy. Now, guided by a talking cat, a chosen few must come together to restore light, safety, and sanity before it’s too late. This includes Alistair and Eden, a newly arrived couple, and a ragtag group of survivors who reside in a subterranean lair called Haven Below. But bringing about a new dawn in this strange and terrifying place is an undertaking that will test their bonds and cost some of them dearly.

“A fast-paced and wonderfully weird journey! Highly recommended!” — Jeff Strand, author of SICK HOUSE

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2021

About the author

James G. Carlson is an award-winning author of horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy. His short stories have appeared in various anthologies. He has released three collections of dark fiction: Seven Exhumations, The Ever-Descending Staircase, and Underwater Typewriter and Other Tales. He has also released three novellas: The Legion Machine, Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid, and Red Falls (in the book Hacked in Two, with Daemon Manx, and then in Underwater Typewriter and Other Tales). In 2023, Carlson teamed up with fellow author Michael R. Collins for Miracles for Masochists, a collection featuring one collaborative tale and three shorts by each author. And in 2024, his novel The Eleventh Door hit bookstore shelves and digital marketplaces. From the weird state of Pennsylvania, James drinks too much coffee and writes at a desk surrounded by animals and family in the mad zoo he calls home.

Reviews

[Horror DNA]

There is a fearlessness to how James G. Carlson writes stories that needs to be recognised and applauded. It is clear that his goal, above everything else, is to tell the story he felt compelled to write, allowing himself the freedom of wherever his imagination will take him. This is not an easy task. It is all too tempting (or imposed) for writers to fall into the trap of writing the story they think the public or publisher demands. Fear of failure and sales targets can sometimes drive the shape and direction a book travels, rather than the telling of a story for the love of the art. With Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid, it seems that Carlson’s goal was to tell the story that he wanted to write without fear.

And he succeeds in doing it.

You can read Joe's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Jack]

One of the absolute joys of being an indie author has been discovering the greater writing community at large, both locally and across multiple social media platforms. Folks from pretty much every genre have been ridiculously warm and welcoming to this new face. But the thing that surprised me the most (though it really shouldn’t have) is that the indie authors in the horror community have been the most inviting and helpful of all.

This group of folks may have the most twisted and perverse of imaginations, but horror writers genuinely do have the biggest hearts.

Which brings us to Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid. I’ve been following Gloom House Publishing for a couple of months now, ever since spying their skull-motif logo. I’m kind of a skull-head as it is, so I naturally gravitated towards their imprint.

So, imagine my surprise when the founder of Gloom House, Mr. James G. Carlson, asked if I wanted to review his newest short in exchange for an honest opinion. Reviews bring in the views, and I’m all about supporting the underdogs. So far, 2022 has been the year of the short story for me, and needless to say I leapt at the opportunity to support a fellow indie.

And, dear readers, I have to admit that MitCotCK is arguably the most beautifully ugly thing I have ever read.

This is no backhanded compliment. I am absolutely enamored with this short, even though it is brutal, unflinching, and unforgiving. A literary kick in the nuts…but somehow the pain is exquisite.

As with all of my reviews, I will attempt to keep spoilers to a minimum. This would be a difficult story to explain regardless but going in blind is certainly the best choice. If it’s not mentioned in the official synopsis, I will do my best to avoid mentioning it here.

There are, essentially, three major reasons why MitCotCK impressed me like it did.

First, the writing is absolutely on point. Mr. Carlson has a mastery of the English language akin to heavyweights like Joe Hill and Patrick Rothfuss. He is incredibly skilled at describing people, places, and things, but his writing also has an occasional poetic quality about it. It skirts the edge of purple prose at times but never actually crosses that controversial line. When an author can take lesser used words and assemble them into a sentence where their meaning is inherently clear…that’s talent.

He brings the blasted remains of the In-Between, the location where the story transpires, to vibrant life, imbuing a sense of familiarity; every reader will be instinctively familiar and wary of such a locale.

Second, the size of the story is like the Three Bears’ porridge - just right. The tale never overstays its welcome, ending right when it needs to. And believe me...there's an art to this. Not every writer can, or should, tackle the short-story format. But the more I delve outside of my comfort zone, the more I am discovering an immutable fact:

There is an inherent strength in shorter stories; a power in parsimonious prose.

Mr. Carlson understands this, allowing his creation to unfold at the perfect pace. There were no skimmable segments. I was never bored. Everything just clicked.

Third, there is an incredible amount of imagination on display here. Coupled with his descriptive style, the desolate locations and disgusting denizens of MitCotCK came very much to decrepit and repulsive life. The various creatures are most certainly nightmare-fuel. And the entire concept of the In-Between, and its reason for existing, were unique and engaging.

I fully expected to not be able to identify very well with the main character, but by the end of the story I was completely invested in his plight, his emotions, and his catharsis. The supporting cast shine as bright as they can given the shortness of the tale. But by and large, they were entertaining and varied.

My nitpicks, if they can be called that, are few. The climax of the story is appropriately awesome, but I feel like I missed exactly why this one person (they who shall not be named) was the one to confront the chaos. It’s entirely possible that I missed their import…or maybe Mr. Carlson was intentionally leaving their identity vague. I wanted ever so slightly more of a “why” for them. And that’s it actually.

Soooooo…yeah. Color me impressed. VERY impressed. I can actually see myself going back and re-reading this one a few times. And that, my friends, is the mark of a good story!

If you’re in the mood for something dark and twisted yet short and sweet, look no further. Midnight in the Garden of the Carrion Kid will scratch that itch (with clawed and diseased fingers, but I digress) most heartily!

[Daemon Manx]

I just finished reading Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid by James G. Carlson and let me tell you, this is one exciting, dark, and excellent piece of storytelling. After a most unfortunate turn of events, the story's protagonist, Alistair wakes to find himself in a horrifying, dystopian version of the city he left behind. This dilapidated world called the In-Between is filled with nightmarish creatures, life-threatening dangers, and one interesting character after the next. As Alistair races to find his missing girlfriend he learns more about the In-Between and its inhabitants than he bargains for. To even get an idea of what horrors await you in this story try to imagine a world made up of Sin City, Silent Hill, and Lewis Carroll's worst nightmare.
But it isn't just the subject matter or this incredibly original idea that sets Carlson apart from other authors. Although that's a big part of it, it's the style in which this author crafts his sentences and paragraphs, and ultimately his pages that make this tale pop off the paper from which it is printed. Carlson's command of the written word and the style in which he goes about delivering it sets him in a league of his own. There is a whole lot more going on here than an indie author publishing just because he can. James G. Carlson is a New York Times best seller in the making, mark my words.
Five out of Five Demonic Nuns!!!! I wish I could give more, but they are just too damn creepy!!

[J.W. Donley]

**Note: I was provided a copy of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.**

You can also read my review here: https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book...

What happens when evil infiltrates paradise? James G. Carlson gives us a glimpse. In his novella, Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid, our protagonist, Alistair, drops into a drug-induced coma and discovers a city of horrors which exists in a liminal place between here and the afterlife.

This other world introduces us to nightmarish creatures and landscapes, such as a trio of monstrous nuns and creatures who reach from the shadows. Here, Alistair wants to find his girlfriend and make sure she is safe as other denizens prepare for an assault against the evil corrupting this once paradise.

Not a page goes by without novel and lusciously dark worldbuilding. I wanted to spend more time and luxuriate with both the world and the characters, but the pace quickly moved along, leaving little time for character or setting exploration.

Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid is still a fun read. I’m curious to see what nightmares the author will provide in the future.

[Candace Nola]

James Carlson has once again enthralled me with his creativity and imagination in his tale of a purgatory that lies beyond our earthly realm and the next. A city all of its own, on the verge of madness and ruin as the infection at its center grows ever stronger. The Carrion Kid, a rotting half-demon, half-human soul of rage and hate has appeared here and is intent on making this its new empire.

Two young lovers in the earthly realm, taken too soon by addiction, find themselves lost here amongst the travelers, those with a foot in and foot out of this in-between place as they wait for the finality of death, or the reward of a second chance. As they try to find each other and make sense of this place, they meet others that dwell there, others that are trying to defeat the Carrion Kid and his sickness that is threatening to condemn them all. 

With vivid imagery, and highly creative details, James brings his version of purgatory to life with one of the most unique storylines that I have read in recent years. A tragic tale lies within, but buried underneath is one much more hopeful than you would expect from this city of nightmares and ruin.  

4.5 stars for “Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid.”

[Pan | Book Reviews and Recommendations]

One of those special times that you finish a book and actually hug it for a few minutes with your eyes closed, thinking ' wow, that was incredible' and 'how the hell am I going to start a new book? I need more of this'.

The awesome people of Gloom House Publishing were awesome enough to send me a copy of James G. Carlson's, 'out of this realm' novella, 'Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid' for review.

Dear reader, get ready to immerse yourself into a wonderful and bizarre realm; a city that occupies the space between life and death. A city, now stripped from its previous glory, corrupted by Carrion Kid, a malevolent demonic presence that managed to cross over on the soul of a young boy.

As the 'forces of light' assemble to fight the Carrion Kid, friendships, alliances and even life will be put to the test.

What follows is a magical journey of a tale. A beautifully written story with enough unique and creative weirdness along with horrors, suspense and a pace that flows faster than a windmill through a hurricane.

Delicious first person POV, intense scenes and the authors ability to evoke feelings throughout the story will take you on a literary joyride.

A wonderful blend of bizarro, paranormal adventure with supernatural elements infused with enough tragedy and love to make this version of Purgatory a reading delight.

I will definitely keep my eyes open for more of James G. Carlson's and Gloom House Publishing literary offerings.

[Lisa Lee]

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid by James G. Carlson, it’s my first by Carlson, but I soon discovered this is one of those reads where every interruption, no matter how important, inspires a knee-jerk reaction of “Oh my gosh, WHAT?!” I was originally going to just read a few pages to get a feel for the story, but then I didn’t want to stop reading.

On Carson’s writing … The daring first person, present tense is done beautifully (and that is no easy task). I heard the guy’s voice, saw what he saw, experienced what he experienced, felt, smelled, touched. It’s immersive. The reveal of who he is and what he became and where he is now, the contrast, the juxtaposition of inherent human duality … the irony and horror and sorrow. Carlson’s writing style is incredible.

And let us talk about the story itself. Midnight is much more than the synopsis suggests. At its heart, it’s about life, death, and what lies between. But it is also about choices and consequences, love and fear … regret. It flows with action and terror and suspense, and Carlson weaves all these things into a gripping tale like a master.

Carlson calls Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid bizarro meets paranormal adventure, and that is pretty apt, but I would add supernatural terror in there as well because this powerful and evocative tale transcends labels. Highly recommended.

[Kira Seamon]

WOW-what a powerful read!!! Carlson has such a pronounced gift for incredible descriptions. Each paragraph is laden with such pointed and descriptive sentences that you feel like you’re living right there inside the story. I was extremely moved and touched by the love he showed Eden.
Carlson has an extremely dry wit that is intoxicating. I really loved his narrative voice! I was extremely invested in the story and that’s due to his mastery of plot and storyline. I thought the plot was very creative and I would most definitely want to read all of his other works. A MUST-READ!!

[Bandit]

Purgatory. Bardo. Limbo. James G. Carlson had his choice and came up with The In-Between. Similar concept, different name.
The In-Between is a place where a habitual junkie ends up after OD’ing with his gf. He sets of looking for her while making new friends and trying to navigate the hostile terrains of this strange place.
It’s basically a journey through dark to the light, rendered very, very vividly in a visceral sort of way. Very nightmarish. Lots of nightmares are lurking around The In-Between courtesy of a demon that’s taken over a place a while back. Lots to navigate indeed. Not a lot of time to do it in – everyone’s clock is ticking plus the book is only a novella, so chop-chop…in every way possible.
Read this one mostly because it was a freebie and came with Jeff Strand’s recommendation. Not quite my thing, too heavily concentrated on the visceral aspects, too in your face, but the writing was pretty good, so decent enough of a read and a quick one.

[The Wintermute System]

It's a quick, but fun read. When Alistair and his girlfriend, Eden, overdose, they find themselves in the In-Between, a corrupted version of limbo where people wait to find out if their bodies survive or their spirit moves on. The Carrion Kid is a child who was possessed by a demon when he ended up int he In-Between, the demon a willing passenger.

The demon is the corrupting the In-Between and Alistair wakes up to find Eden gone, the world around him a darker mirror of his own city. Unaware of what's happening at first, his only thought is to find and save Eden.

When he's saved by Miles and Nico, Alistair has to face where he is, what happened, and the part he played in bringing not only himself, but the person he loves to this demonic haven. The real question is there anything that can save the In-Between?

Look, the back mentions a talking cat, too and I was like 'ooooh.' That plot line was more important than I expected, but Mister, the cat in question, has very little page time and I was confused as to why he was so prominent on the back in the way he was. It wasn't a huge thing but I still have questions, and occasionally it brought me out of the story, thus the four instead of five star review.

I love horror. I tend to lean towards the extreme stuff, but I bought this book partially because of the cover and title. Carrion Kid is such a cool moniker! Look at that cover! I will pull shit like this and am mostly right. (I did read the back cover, fyi, just a lot of the draw was the title and cover even after that.) This book mostly lived up to what I had hoped for and I think lack of cat covers how it didn't. I didn't mind the fact that this is horror, but not extremely gory. I enjoy that, too, although I find the gorier, the more extreme, the more the catharsis I find. This had enough creepy imagery to satisfy me, and I kinda loved when we finally meet the Carrion Kid. I wasn't sure exactly what I was expecting him - the demon and kid combo - to be, but I loved it, and I loved the resolution and ending.

There is some very mild gore and I was surprised at how much I liked this given the lack of other things I usually like - but I did. I have three other books I want to get to by this author and then I'll probably go back for more.

[Brian James Lewis]

Midnight In The City of The Carrion Kid
James G. Carlson
Gloom House Publishing
November 2, 2021
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello again dear readers, it’s your old pal Skull with a full review of the great new speculative novella Midnight In The City Of The Carrion Kid by James G. Carlson. As I mentioned in my New Year’s post, this is so good that I couldn’t wait to finish reading it, so I won’t keep you in suspense. That way you can grab a copy of your own and enter this terrifying and magical city yourself!
Carlson’s story begins with a down and out couple sitting in a neglected sedan. They’re waiting for their heroin dealer to show up so they can turn on and stop being so miserably dopesick. Alistair the narrator and his girlfriend Eden are about as far away from paradise as people can get. Especially when their only “relief” is to hop aboard the drug train until it stops moving again. However, the trip they take this time is much different from others. Alistair awakes to find himself alone in the car and that his environment has changed, but it also hasn’t. Despite being an addict and a criminal, Alistair is a good guy deep down, so his first thought is to find Eden and make sure she’s okay. But as he ventures out into a city he thought he knew, Alistair realizes that the changes haven’t been for the better. Usual things of relative safety or goodness are now entirely evil.
After nearly being killed in a laundromat, Alistair is rescued from a bunch of evil nuns by two dudes in a van. Because when a couple of guys in a van offer you a ride, it’s always a wise idea to hop aboard, right? But since everything’s topsy-turvy, Nico and Miles are actually good people who want to help. They take Alistair home to their safe space called “Haven Below” to grab a little rest and get their thoughts together. The journey to Haven Below is one of my favorite things in the book. Carlson uses existing city structures like parking garages, maintenance tunnels, and sewers to create epic urban wildscapes of a dangerous concrete jungle. Nico explains that they’re existing in a place called the In-Between, where souls go to hang out while their bodies’ fates are decided. A long time back, The In-Between was a really nice place to chill, everything safe and lovely. Then The Carrion Kid arrived and changed all that, turning a safe space into a dangerous hell. Alistair might want to go blasting through the city to find his love, but without help he’s more likely to end up as another miserable puppet of the Carrion Kid.
Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates Midnight In The City Of The Carrion Kid 5 STARS OUT OF 5 and also gives it a home on the Wall of Fame! James G. Carlson is a great writer who delivers a powerful, fast-paced story that’s populated with characters you’ll be rooting for. There’s two love stories, talking cats, terrifying monsters, and maybe even a few chances at redemption. Seriously, this is a boss read that everyone can enjoy and take something away from. Carlson writes in the tradition of many of our favorite speculative authors, giving us many stories to follow within the larger one. A few bonuses: Nico and Miles are not only a couple of nice guys, they are a couple. The residents of the secret hideaway Haven Below might seem lacking at face value, but as the story progresses you’ll be delighted to see their secret superpowers unleashed. Our world is often too quick to judge people and sadly, think them the lesser for their differences. But even a brain damaged elderly man is capable of great bravery to save those he loves.
Incidentally, I wanted to mention here that this author and book have been nominated for the 2023 Splatterpunk Awards in the novella category. “Midnight In The City Of The Carrion Kid” met the requirements with things like its laundromat creature made of vermin, a monster that guards the meat fields, and nuns so disgusting you’ll be scared for Alistair. Those are just a few of the splatterpunk elements, and there are plenty more. Here's hoping that Carlson brings home the win with this very special novella!
Thanks again for stopping by to hang out with your old pal Skull. It’s always nice to see some friendly faces at the Skullcave and I’m always looking for more followers of my blog www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com James G. Carlson is also in charge of Gloom House Publishing. For more information about that check him out at : gloomhouse@yahoo.com See you soon!

[Dave Higgins]

Carlson interweaves images of inhumanity and weirdness with fast-paced action, creating a horror tale that evokes a sense of evil and the afterlife that avoids both excessive moral angst and ethical lecturing.

Lives blighted by drugs, Alistair and Eden seek escape in drugs. However, when Alistair’s trip ends, Eden is missing and the world seems an actual ruin. Rescued from a pack of twisted mockeries of nuns, Alistair learns he is in a liminal zone between this life and whatever comes after; a region that should be a peaceful space for shedding burdens but has become tainted by the Carrion Kid, the remains of a possessed child. His rescuers want him to join them in their resistance. But, with souls supposedly only able to return to their lives as long as the body still breathes, staying to fight likely means giving up his one chance to find Eden and return to their life.

Carlson blends together post-apocalyptic tropes, body horror, and the surreal, creating a world that feels like an afterlife corrupted by some dark power without collapsing into confirming a single religion is the truth; thus, while the evil that those trapped in the realm face is perhaps too comprehensible to make this unequivocally cosmic horror, there is a sense of a universe vaster and more incomprehensible than the characters (and by extension readers) percieve.

Set in a realm where those too flawed to move on wait, the plot asks not merely how damaged souls might defeat a demon but why they would strive to. Avoiding the almost stereotypical redemption arc of Alistair finding a sense of worth and purpose beneath the oblivion of his habit and thus becoming the hero needed, Carlson presents the more prosaic truth that drug users aren’t actually seeking death so will fight if out of options.

Many readers might find the conclusion is at least adjacent to a deus ex machina. Depending on whether readers enjoy experiencing how a character reacts to circumstance or require that the protagonist be a major factor in victory, this might seem like an entirely suitable answer to a demon ex machina challenge or a bit of a cop out.

Although the brutality and gore are in service to the portrayal of a hellscape that seeks to pervert the soul rather than being merely gratuitous extremism, this is not a book for readers who dislike graphic horror.

Alistair is a well-crafted portrayal of an addict, driven by the immediate desire to gain pleasure or escape pain rather than any virtue or longer term strategy. Even his love for Eden is tainted by a willingness that her life be destroyed by drugs rather than she not be in his life. Therefore, readers will likely sympathise with a human facing unspeakable horrors rather than feel he deserves success.

The supporting cast are similarly imperfect, more willing to fight against evil than Alistair is when he arrives, but limited by ordinary human skills and flaws rather than possessed of a superlative heroism.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a story about ordinary people struggling against actual evil.

[Lezlie The Nerdy Narrative]

I have been eyeing this novella since it hit the market last year. The cover always catches - and holds - my attention, but the premise is also arresting. A demon that crosses over into the realm between Life and Death by piggybacking on the soul of a child? A TALKING CAT? (Okay, it was the talking cat that got me the most...)

What was it that finally got me to pick this one up? Two things, actually: 1) The author reached out to me to see if I was interested in reading a copy in exchange for an honest review. 2) This story has been nominated for a 2022 Splatterpunk Award. I just had to know if it deserved the nomination.

Short answer - YES. Emphatically yes. I have always been a huge fan of stories utilizing Good vs Evil, Angels vs Demons - so we have that, but throw in the fantastic Dystopian setting of the In Between, the realm that exists between Life and Death, where souls await to see if they'll return to the land of the living or will be guided instead to the Black Door. Just the world building alone makes this one a stellar read, but GOOD FREAKING GRACIOUS at the character development and growth of our main character Alistair. It was tragic, heartbreaking, courageous, hopeful and inspirational...I have chills over my entire body just thinking of the change he underwent over the course of this tale.

I really enjoyed James G. Carlson's writing style and am very much looking forward to reading more of his work, which luckily I have more of waiting here for me to read. While I feel he nailed the pacing and length, it was just as long as it needed to be to tell the story, I do wish the encounter with the Carrion Kid had packed a bit more of a punch. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the resolution...I just wanted a bit more of a display. (I'm a greedy girl, I know!)

Fans of Chad Lutzke's Wallflower will thoroughly enjoy this story as well as fans of Dystopian, post apocalyptic settings...or if you're like me, talking cats and demons!

[Anya Josephs]

Midnight in the City of the Carrion Kid is a wonderful, short read. The style is very literary, so it made a nice deviation from my beloved epic fantasy style--it reminded me of something like José Saramago's Blindness in terms of using a fantastic premise to explore character and theme in a deep way.

One critique, such as it is: the main character and his partner are both drug users, and I felt the book's depiction of substance use was at times based more on stereotypes about addiction than informed knowledge about the many experiences that lead people to substance use. So if that's a subject you're sensitive to, a content warning might be in order.

Otherwise, my only criticism is that I wish it were longer! I would have loved to spend more time in Carlson's rich, inventive world.

[Kelly]

This is my second read by James G Carlson and it won't be my last. His writing style is impeccable, his stories complex and immersing and his characters have incredible depth. It takes skill to do all this in a short story or novella, but this author can do it and do it very well. I look forward to reading a full length novel of his. This one I felt could have been a full length as there was so much to it. The story was a wild adventure with a band of misfit characters who you can't help but love, set in a dark and disturbing world that will quite possibly give you nightmares (I mean killer nuns, come on!). This is so much more than just a horror story, its a story of hope, of love, of life or overcoming darkness. The carrion kid is such a cool antagonist and the story has both gore and psychological horror elements. I'd highly recommend this novella.

[Trey Martin]

Fun, nice little "horror" book. Quick read. Author is a pretty decent writer, with just a couple editing mistakes. The only issue was he really could have fleshed out the entire story a little more. I assume he likes the novella form (as some of his other works follow the same length), but the climax was anti-climatic and over in an instant and too quickly. Nonetheless, it was a nice diversion from some of the lengthier books I'm embroiled in.

[Lance Loot]

A darkly beautiful tale bolstered by vivid, powerful writing and imagery. Definitely conjured up strong ‘90s OVA anime vibes for me overall (which I will eternally welcome with open, eager arms).

Bravo, James — this is a story that is going to stick with me for a long, long time.

[Stephen Cooper]

Not really my kind of story but loved the writing style. Will try more of his work.