Another Version of Hell | Sci-Fi Book Review | AstraDaemon

Hired to investigate a violent, vampiric attack on a distant mining planet, Grayson and his fellow Vagabonds ship offworld to fulfill a desperate contract.

Regulated by glo, a super human substance injected into all Vagabonds, the team believes they are more than capable of handling the attack on their own.

Little do they know that what awaits them is beyond anything they've ever encountered, and the horror of their discovery takes them to places of unimaginable terror.

VAGABONDS by Elias Witherow claims to be the author's first science fiction novel, and, while this story is heavy with the sci-fi element, the author still delivers the nightmare landscape and hellish creatures fans have come to expect from him. In fact, if you've read THE LAST TOWER and THE FINAL SKY, you're going to love this one.

The characters have some rather dark backstories to them, and the alternating POV keeps the suspense steady from beginning to end. This is so much more than a simple invasion story, and "vampiric" doesn't even begin to describe the horrific nature of the off-worlders.

I'm quite happy with the ending as-is, but I would love a sequel focused more on the glo. Maddie tosses in an unexpected angle I'd like to see Witherow explore.

Even if you're not usually into sci-fi, I'm still recommending this one to horror fans.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Taking Out The Trash

OUTLAST YOUR GODS by Elias Witherow is dark like THE THIRD PARENT, but without the supernatural entity. This time, the trouble comes in the form of a new neighbor, Sawyer, who attempts to influence the impressionable mind of Rowan. The poor kid is determined to be a good person, but, with everyone and their dog antagonizing him, Sawyer's way of thinking seems to make sense.

Unfortunately, the thirteen year old is dragged into a waking nightmare by the raging drunk, and he's lost all hope of escaping. Everyone has an event which changed them forever...this summer will either be Rowan's rebirth or his last stand. Once again, Witherow horrifies readers with the monsters among us.

I also recommend THE LAST TOWER by Witherow, a family drama set in a sci-fi post-apocalypse.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Forget Adventure, Choose Your Own Death

FINAL SKY by Elias Witherow is unlike anything I've ever read before, even the author's previous work. The concept of a world held by a chain over a void is mind-boggling, not to mention the explosive Rockflesh disease which releases poisonous gas. I have no idea how the author creates such a complex dystopian fantasy with so much brutal detail, and I'm not sure I want to know. Witherow's imagination is quite frightening at times, and this story is no exception.

The action scenes are both thrilling and terrifying, but there is one scene in particular which requires a strong stomach. When Liam and Desmond finally meet, prepare yourself for a horror which makes Game of Thrones look tame. As if surviving Desmond's cruelty isn't enough of a challenge, Liam loses what is left of his mind when he discovers what is on the other end of The Chain. Witherow surpasses Lovecraft with the Old Horns.

If you are looking for something more earth-bound, I recommend THE THIRD PARENT, which used to be my favorite story by Witherow, until I read this novel.

As always,
AstraDaemon