Status Updates From The Rise: Tales From The Gu...

The Gulpepper Institute of Health and Wellbeing - 4/5 - As palette cleansers go, that worked. Mega star Evie Chill checks in for some R&R to soothe her brain. She'll probably need more therapy for what ensues. Good creeps, icks. Sexual assault attempted but thwarted in a satisfying way.

Vitulinum - 5/5 - Fuck me dead, that one hurt. This one comes with a content warning - extreme bigotry, racism, homophobia, transphobia, domestic violence, sexual abuse (adult and child). Connor will do anything to make sure his sister is safe. He finds them a way out, but there's no telling yet what the true cost will be.

I'm going to need to sit with this one for a few before I can move on to the next tale.

Sunlight on Clear Water - 5/5 - You know you're in for something when the young couple gets naked in a secret oasis. And this was something. Not for arachnophobes. Dog is still OK.

Strange Leaves - 4/5 - Another strong starter. A weed deal goes bad and the rest of Adam's day is not much better. Chrissy and Co are laying groundwork to prepare the town for something, but will it be enough? I've got a softer place for the drug stories when revenants are involved, apparently.

Unbelievable - Vitulinum is an ugly piece of writing executed perfectly - what a writer.

The Rise (2/3 into final story): the game is afoot…the jig is up…all or nothing, baby…in for a penny, in for a pound…
Hang on tight! Friday’s coming!

This story has that last scene in Thelma and Louise vibe!
But without the tears!

The Rise( 1/3 thru this final story): what we’ve all been waiting for? Is Alan Baxter going to give up the full goods on Gulpepper and all its weirdness?

The Gulpepper Institute of Health and Wellbeing (end): over-the-top cringy gruesomeness. Nice to see the ladies rise to the occasion.

The Gulpepper Institute of Health and Wellbeing (1/2 home):
Nothing creepy about a fix-it-all rehab place for rich goth chicks in Gulpepper, right? Nothing weird at all. ☠️❣️

Let's gooooooo

Vitulinum (end): Gruesome, grotesque, and grim. Gain the end feels not like ending. Those lines bindings between stories grow tighter.

Vitulinum (2/3 done): while the language is harsh, this story still reminds me of the old Goosebumps tales. Probably because of all the kids.

Vitulinum (1/3done): love that Alan Baxter had the forethought to provide a warning to readers before this one. Sometimes you need really bad actors, but you don’t need to spring them on folks without warning.