Synopsis

A new quirky young adult horror fantasy novel from the author of James Rhyder and the Cave of Dreams.

Sixteen-year-old Chase Addams just had the worst birthday of his entire life. He was terrorized at school by a death god, spent the evening in a haunted house, and even faced off with an urban legend in the flesh. If this wasn’t enough to ruin the average person’s day, it ended with his best friend and girlfriend, Asra Saitou, being dragged off into the abyss by a mysterious arm wreathed in flames. Chase soon discovers this kidnapping is part of a hidden war between the lands of the living and the lands of the dead. What’s even worse for the self-described uncoordinated, sarcastic, smartass is everyone thinks he’s something called a guardian —one of the heroic spirits who are summoned to not only fight in the war but keep the conflict from spilling out into the different realms of existence.

Now, Chase must come to terms with what it means to be a hero, avoid the terrors prowling in the lands of the dead, maneuver the politics of an interplanar war, and of course try to find Asra. All of this before a lurking darkness consumes both worlds. However, in this cosmic conflict, nothing is quite what it seems.

Amazon

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

Review

This book is billed as a quirky YA horror fantasy novel and I would have to agree 100%.

The town of Witchland harbors all sorts of creatures and no one seems to think twice about it until Chase’s girlfriend is kidnapped and he discovers he may be a Guardian which helps protect these creatures (or some of them anyway) and he sets off on a quest to find his girlfriend and rescue her from whoever is holding her. He runs into all sorts of creatures/beings on this journey and learns a lot about himself in the process.

I chuckled at different scenes as he is learning how to use his powers, especially his new “weapon” which is a ring. I found that the various creatures/beings that they encountered could be quite frightening or your new best friend.

This book is not short on action either and for only being 16, Chase manages to get himself out of many scrapes that could have turned out worse for him.

While billed as horror, I didn’t find it frightening (like Stephen King) but I can see how it has a horror twist to the story with the different species Chase encounters and what they might do to him.

While not my normal genre, this was a fun read and we give it 4 paws up.

About the Author

David Brooks is the author of over 100 middle-grade and young adult fantasy novels, only two of which have been written and released. That is to say, he is an author with an entire notebook bursting with ideas, and never enough time to get everything written. James Rhyder and the Cave of Dreams was his debut novel.