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Harker and Blackthorn #11.5
Carrion Comfort
Tool, noun
1) A device which aids in accomplishing a task
2) A means to an end
3) A person who is manipulated or controlled by others
Chancer. Trickster. Manipulator. Friend?
Harker & Blackthorn know him as Don Robinson, Evergreen Agent turned ally. But that was never his real name, which was lost like so many other things inside an Evergreen Youth Institute. But what does that matter compared to the skills he gained? After all, he was one of the strong ones. He survived the brutal training regime.
Recovering from his most recent escape, Don is at war with his past and everything he believes about himself. Unable to leave the museum and helpless to escape from his own dark thoughts, Don finally begins to talk. He has a tale to tell, full of blood and darkness, a mysterious white beast and a man wrestling with his faith.
Change is painful but perhaps if he can explain the mission where cracks first began to appear in his programming, he might finally emerge into the light…
(CW: child endangerment, grooming, torture, harm to a minor)
1) A device which aids in accomplishing a task
2) A means to an end
3) A person who is manipulated or controlled by others
Chancer. Trickster. Manipulator. Friend?
Harker & Blackthorn know him as Don Robinson, Evergreen Agent turned ally. But that was never his real name, which was lost like so many other things inside an Evergreen Youth Institute. But what does that matter compared to the skills he gained? After all, he was one of the strong ones. He survived the brutal training regime.
Recovering from his most recent escape, Don is at war with his past and everything he believes about himself. Unable to leave the museum and helpless to escape from his own dark thoughts, Don finally begins to talk. He has a tale to tell, full of blood and darkness, a mysterious white beast and a man wrestling with his faith.
Change is painful but perhaps if he can explain the mission where cracks first began to appear in his programming, he might finally emerge into the light…
(CW: child endangerment, grooming, torture, harm to a minor)
ebook
Published November 29, 2024
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Ironside
59 books357 followersUrban fantasy and historical fiction author J.A. Ironside masquerades by day as member of the county library service, which strangely enough has less to do with books than you would think.
Jules grew up in Dorset in a house full of books, which probably explains a lot about how her mind works. You might think that folklore, fringe science, history, physics, magic and supernatural mystery wouldn’t go all that well together, but she’s hell bent on proving they do. Her urban fantasy series Harker & Blackthorn is now ten books long and counting. It features a sentient museum because someone needs to keep track of what’s going on. Unveiled – another UF series set in the same universe – is now complete.
Jules is also determined to show that historical fiction can be both factually correct and funny. The King’s Knight series is set during the tumultuous reign of Richard II, while the sweeping Oath and Crown Duology – co-authored with Matthew Willis – follows the events leading up to and around the Battle of Hastings.
When pried her away from her books, Jules enthusiastically engages in martial arts and playing the piano, although never at the same time. At least not yet. She lives on the edge of the Cotswold way with her boyfriend creature and two hell’s kittens. Find out more at www.jaironside.com
Jules grew up in Dorset in a house full of books, which probably explains a lot about how her mind works. You might think that folklore, fringe science, history, physics, magic and supernatural mystery wouldn’t go all that well together, but she’s hell bent on proving they do. Her urban fantasy series Harker & Blackthorn is now ten books long and counting. It features a sentient museum because someone needs to keep track of what’s going on. Unveiled – another UF series set in the same universe – is now complete.
Jules is also determined to show that historical fiction can be both factually correct and funny. The King’s Knight series is set during the tumultuous reign of Richard II, while the sweeping Oath and Crown Duology – co-authored with Matthew Willis – follows the events leading up to and around the Battle of Hastings.
When pried her away from her books, Jules enthusiastically engages in martial arts and playing the piano, although never at the same time. At least not yet. She lives on the edge of the Cotswold way with her boyfriend creature and two hell’s kittens. Find out more at www.jaironside.com
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 29, 2025
Carrion Comfort is a dark take of one of Evergreen's most loyal agents or was he? For all Don’s faults and the self imposed title of a bad man in everything he tells in each story and recounting of his horrific molding and reconditioning he always had that little bit of compass that put him just a touch on the side of right despite his protests. Did he do bad things as an Evergreen agent yes he did. However, he was not as devoid of humanity as he believed. His take is cautionary dark and compelling and brings me back to a long anticipated world of the the one of my favorite series. I also love seeing the long anticipated side of enemy turned allie. And I truly love his hypothesis that in part his change might be due to the the place that keeps Harker and Blackthorn shielded from prying eyes. Or maybe just maybe a horn playing a beautiful tune reminiscent of a summer day’s or ocean’s lyrical song might be it? Is this perhaps the other side, the light against the darkness of loadstone? Oh how I wish to know more! Absolutely fantastic short in this series and I can’t wait to see where the team goes from here as the watchful eyes of Evergreen are once more turned ever so slightly their direction. Can the team bring down the child institutions or will Don be lost to Evergreen once more? Totally recommend this but do read in order as this glimpse in time has it’s place within the overall story arc!
December 9, 2024
Great to learn more of Don's backstory, as hard as some of it was to read. A worthy addition to the series, although definitely not the book to start with if you haven't read any Harker & Blackthorn. Looking forward to seeing the mysteries mentioned in this book fleshed out in the future!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews