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Hellbound
Bart is a greedy morgue attendant with money on his mind. He gets more than what he bargains for when he chances upon a pain-letter, one he must pass on or bear the consequences of his inaction.
- GenresHorrorCollections
96 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2012
2 people want to read
About the author
Su Halfwerk
13 books27 followersSu Halfwerk writes both horror and paranormal romance. From a tender age, the written word left a strong impression on Su. Later on, terrifying, blood chilling books became the object of her interest. Somehow, in her mind, the blossoming of romance in the midst of that mix was only natural.
Her style in horror combines shuddery terror with an element of surprise; some would even call it an enigmatic twist. However, in the world of paranormal romance, she transforms the desire to scare into a quest to seduce and tantalize.
Despite having another hobby (Trailer Design,) Su can't stop writing. So, if you wake up late in the night to quench your thirst...pause and listen carefully, you might be her neighbor and hear her tap, tap, tapping away on her keyboard.
Read her rambling here: http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/
Her style in horror combines shuddery terror with an element of surprise; some would even call it an enigmatic twist. However, in the world of paranormal romance, she transforms the desire to scare into a quest to seduce and tantalize.
Despite having another hobby (Trailer Design,) Su can't stop writing. So, if you wake up late in the night to quench your thirst...pause and listen carefully, you might be her neighbor and hear her tap, tap, tapping away on her keyboard.
Read her rambling here: http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 16, 2012
There’s a new name in Horror and it’s Su Halfwerk! Hellbound is my first read by this author, but definitely not my last. In fact, before I completed Hellbound, I was already looking up other titles by Ms. Halfwerk. After reading this novel, I am only too proud to be a part of the elite group known as women because in 2012 female authors are dominating the horror genre and this masterpiece is a prime example!
Hellbound focuses on three stories centered around…what else? Hell. In one way or another, the main characters have either condemned themselves to hell, have connections to hell, or rightfully belong in hell. I enjoyed every one of these stories, but my favorite by far was the first tale, The Deadening. This story was downright creepy and had me sleeping with my nightlight on well into the wee hours of dawn.
Su Halfwerk has an amazing voice! She’s pretty hardcore and delightfully twisted! Until recently, I’ve always been a fan of hardcore authors like Edward Lee but after reading more books that focused on testing my gag reflex with the gore factor than with telling a great story – I thought the art of great story telling in the horror genre was lost. Su Halfwerk has reinstated my faith in this genre and again, has made me proud to wear a bra!
Do not pass up this demented little gem! Trust me, if you’re a fan of horror, you’ll soon become a fan of Su Halfwerk after reading this macabre collection. (Originally Reviewed for The Reader's Roundtable)
Hellbound focuses on three stories centered around…what else? Hell. In one way or another, the main characters have either condemned themselves to hell, have connections to hell, or rightfully belong in hell. I enjoyed every one of these stories, but my favorite by far was the first tale, The Deadening. This story was downright creepy and had me sleeping with my nightlight on well into the wee hours of dawn.
Su Halfwerk has an amazing voice! She’s pretty hardcore and delightfully twisted! Until recently, I’ve always been a fan of hardcore authors like Edward Lee but after reading more books that focused on testing my gag reflex with the gore factor than with telling a great story – I thought the art of great story telling in the horror genre was lost. Su Halfwerk has reinstated my faith in this genre and again, has made me proud to wear a bra!
Do not pass up this demented little gem! Trust me, if you’re a fan of horror, you’ll soon become a fan of Su Halfwerk after reading this macabre collection. (Originally Reviewed for The Reader's Roundtable)
July 16, 2012
Su starts this story with a preface, a letter to the reader about how this book started. I really loved it, a little glimpse into her mind. So if you check out this book, be sure not to skip over that part!
Hellbound is a collection of three stories. They are definitely creepy, gory, and all things wonderful that go bump in the night. Or in the dead of day, you can take your pick. Either way, I flew through this book. Some of it was very grotesque and scary. Su really has a way with words that makes you want to be in a certain place, and not want to be there at all, all at the same time!
In The Deadening Bart works in the morgue, and he has a bit of a sticky finger problem. Well now that problem has come to bite him in the end. Martin Robinson comes in. Apparent suicide via train, or at least that’s what the papers will read. It doesn’t matter that Martin is mangled and bloody, Bart decides that stealing from him is a good idea.
Oh, you poor fool, Bart. What he stole is not actually money, but a pain-letter. Sort of like a chain-letter, but a million times worse. I really loved this twist. I’ve received a few chain letters in my time, and thankfully none of this promised the things that this pain-letter promised – because I didn’t forward them on!
Su Halfwerk’s style of horror is excellent, you will definitely get your creep-meter filled in this story!
Next was The Substitute. I think this story was definitely my favorite of the three. Stan is an egomaniac type of guy, and he’s just passed out in a stalled elevator on his way up to his office where is channels ghosts for the people who feel they need to continue communication with the dearly departed. Except for one thing, Stan is a total freaking fraud. And he has no qualms about who he charges for his bogus services. I hate to say it, but I kind of feel like he got what was coming to him in this story! Karma is a bitch, and well, when you meet the Big Bad guy from Downstairs, you’d better not cross him.
Joanne is a ghost who has presented Stan with an offer he can’t refuse… mostly because she is making his life a living hell in order to force his decision. It works, and then the real nightmare begins. This story definitely has some shock value in it. But you may think twice about finding yourself naked in the woods at night, summoning who knows what from who knows where after you read this story!
Lastly, we have Scorned. They say Hell hath no fury, and they were right. Troy gallantly rescues a woman from some nasty fellas. And then the girl, Jenna, rescues him right back. It’s like a dream come true from a nightmare of reality. They end up dating, and marrying, and life is just peachy keen. Well, until its not. Then its absolutely horrid.
Troy turns into a major jerk, and that is the nicest way I can put it. He becomes abusive and just a terrible human being. Jenna could deal with that, she’s not exactly a stranger to the darker things in life. But when Troy decides to flaunt his infidelity in her face, well… Troy isn’t going to have the type of life he had always dreamt of after that. When Lilith (yes, the Lilith) gets involved, you know a fun time is about to be had. Haha, at least for Lilith and Jenna!
This story had a great vengeance theme throughout, and any woman who has been scorned (ahem…) will probably take a bit of pleasure in this one. Maybe that’s wrong of me? Nah!!!! The story was fantastic!
If you like some gruesome horror, you should definitely check this out. The cover (shown giant here because it is so beautiful!) will draw you in, but Su’s writing will definitely keep you coming back for more!
March 22, 2012
Hellhound by Su Halfwerk
My thoughts on the book Hellbound by Su Halfwerk which is three short stories all stemming from Hell. After reading this book the first thoughts about Su is that dang she is truly one disturbed individual and that she is totally deranged. The second thought was "Guess What?". I must be to because I totally loved these stories. The first story called The Deadening. The main character is Bart, he works in the morgue of the hospital. His life takes a turn for the worse when a suicide comes in. The main concept of this story is the old adage that "Karma is a Bit**". He created the sequence of events that went totally wrong.
The second story is called The Substitute. This stories main character is Stan. He owns his own business where he is acting as a medium. He tells his clients what try want to hear so the will keep making appointments with him. Life gets a little dicey for him hen he meets Jo. She introduces him to a world he has never known. She tries seducing him by threatening him. He is a fraud as a medium but she is a necromancer and makes his life a truly living hell. But he is greedy and gets caught up in web of lies that there is no escape from.
The final story is Scorned. The main characters are Troy and Jenna. They have a chance meeting where he attempts to save her from a dangerous situation. This throws them into a tailspin of a so called romance. She was willing to give up everything for him, her job, even herself. After being together for seven years he became very abusive and threatening to get another wife. This throws her into a fit and she makes the decision to go back to her job and asks her boss Lilith to take her back. The lesson that Troy should learn is that no woman should be treated as he did her and that pay back is so so sweet.
I definitely give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to my truly twisted fellow book lovers. I am going to be getting more from Su Halfwerk to get more thrilling adventures from her.
My thoughts on the book Hellbound by Su Halfwerk which is three short stories all stemming from Hell. After reading this book the first thoughts about Su is that dang she is truly one disturbed individual and that she is totally deranged. The second thought was "Guess What?". I must be to because I totally loved these stories. The first story called The Deadening. The main character is Bart, he works in the morgue of the hospital. His life takes a turn for the worse when a suicide comes in. The main concept of this story is the old adage that "Karma is a Bit**". He created the sequence of events that went totally wrong.
The second story is called The Substitute. This stories main character is Stan. He owns his own business where he is acting as a medium. He tells his clients what try want to hear so the will keep making appointments with him. Life gets a little dicey for him hen he meets Jo. She introduces him to a world he has never known. She tries seducing him by threatening him. He is a fraud as a medium but she is a necromancer and makes his life a truly living hell. But he is greedy and gets caught up in web of lies that there is no escape from.
The final story is Scorned. The main characters are Troy and Jenna. They have a chance meeting where he attempts to save her from a dangerous situation. This throws them into a tailspin of a so called romance. She was willing to give up everything for him, her job, even herself. After being together for seven years he became very abusive and threatening to get another wife. This throws her into a fit and she makes the decision to go back to her job and asks her boss Lilith to take her back. The lesson that Troy should learn is that no woman should be treated as he did her and that pay back is so so sweet.
I definitely give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to my truly twisted fellow book lovers. I am going to be getting more from Su Halfwerk to get more thrilling adventures from her.
June 3, 2012
A delightful anthology of really creepy stories.
THE DEADENING tells the tale of a morgue attendant with a penchant for robbing the dead. When he helps himself to a note in the pocket of his latest customer he gets more than he bargained for - a LOT more.
THE SUBSTITUTE: Stan Malcovich was making a good living as a medium before he met Joanna. But when Joanna doesn't get what she wants he finds the dead really begin to speak through him and they don't say the things his clients want to hear. What does Joanna really want? And why does she have such tremendous power over him?
SCORNED: When Troy sees a trio of roughnecks follow an attractive redhead out the bar, he does the chivalrous thing and follows them. Sure enough, he finds them threatening the girl and wades in to defend her honour. Of course, Troy has an ulterior motive but then, so does Jenna............
If you enjoy horror you will love this book. Ms Halfwerk is an accomplished writer who takes you to places you never wanted to go. Each of these stories tells of one person's journey to Hell. Trust me. You really don't want to go there!
THE DEADENING tells the tale of a morgue attendant with a penchant for robbing the dead. When he helps himself to a note in the pocket of his latest customer he gets more than he bargained for - a LOT more.
THE SUBSTITUTE: Stan Malcovich was making a good living as a medium before he met Joanna. But when Joanna doesn't get what she wants he finds the dead really begin to speak through him and they don't say the things his clients want to hear. What does Joanna really want? And why does she have such tremendous power over him?
SCORNED: When Troy sees a trio of roughnecks follow an attractive redhead out the bar, he does the chivalrous thing and follows them. Sure enough, he finds them threatening the girl and wades in to defend her honour. Of course, Troy has an ulterior motive but then, so does Jenna............
If you enjoy horror you will love this book. Ms Halfwerk is an accomplished writer who takes you to places you never wanted to go. Each of these stories tells of one person's journey to Hell. Trust me. You really don't want to go there!
October 16, 2012
It's been a long time since I've read any really dark horror stories (I suppose my tastes have mellowed as I've aged) but I was drawn to the cover of Hellbound from the first time I saw it and knew I had to read it.
What an amazing mind this author must have. She seems to have plucked characters from her worst nightmares and breathed life into them as she weaves incredible stories around them. Around Bart, the greedy morgue attendant in The Deadening and his sinister Pain-letter; around Stan, the phony medium in The Substitute, suddenly 'blessed' with second sight; and around Troy whose lust for Jenna brings out his true nature - and hers. Each story is layered with complexity to be unpeeled like a toxic, eye-stinging onion.
Su Halfwerk builds up the atmosphere with the horror and just when you think you've reached the peak (or should I say nadir?) in each story, she plunges you deeper still until, like so many of the characters, you get a true taste of Hell.
Thanks, Su Halfwerk - I've no idea how I'm going to sleep after reading this!!
What an amazing mind this author must have. She seems to have plucked characters from her worst nightmares and breathed life into them as she weaves incredible stories around them. Around Bart, the greedy morgue attendant in The Deadening and his sinister Pain-letter; around Stan, the phony medium in The Substitute, suddenly 'blessed' with second sight; and around Troy whose lust for Jenna brings out his true nature - and hers. Each story is layered with complexity to be unpeeled like a toxic, eye-stinging onion.
Su Halfwerk builds up the atmosphere with the horror and just when you think you've reached the peak (or should I say nadir?) in each story, she plunges you deeper still until, like so many of the characters, you get a true taste of Hell.
Thanks, Su Halfwerk - I've no idea how I'm going to sleep after reading this!!
August 20, 2013
Let me first say that the author gave me an ARC for an honest review.
Second, I'm basing this review off of her strength of writing and words, as well as overall forward momentum in the plot, etc.
Third, I'm a total horror virgin. This was my first real experience with horror stories, and my first honest impression is that it was a normal experience. I think I was so creeped out I couldn't stop, and I'm assuming that people read horror for that particular thing. If that's what you're wanting, Hellbound will deliver.
The author's writing is quite sound. The only time I felt it disappointed was in the ending of the first story. I felt as if the story was really rolling forward, and came to an abrupt ending. That's a compliment to her writing in one way, however, because I wanted to find out more about the fate of this young man. I was a bit jarred and wanted to know more. The initiation in the second story was also a tad strong for my liking, but that comes from my background of YA fantasy, so take that opinion FWIW. I don't think horror lovers would bat an eye at things that made me hide my face behind my hands.
As a writer myself, and also as someone who likes to help self-published authors, my inner critic is often on and I can't turn it off. I didn't have that problem as much with Hellbound. The characters aren't exactly likable, which was good, because then you don't really care about the fate they meet. They were consistent in their less-than-desirable traits, which is more important to me as a horror reader than liking them, since they'll probably become lifeless zombies anyway.
On a scale of creeped-out factor, I would rate this a 9/10. There is sufficient paranormal creepiness and zombie-like flesh-wasting descriptions to satisfy any horror lover.
Second, I'm basing this review off of her strength of writing and words, as well as overall forward momentum in the plot, etc.
Third, I'm a total horror virgin. This was my first real experience with horror stories, and my first honest impression is that it was a normal experience. I think I was so creeped out I couldn't stop, and I'm assuming that people read horror for that particular thing. If that's what you're wanting, Hellbound will deliver.
The author's writing is quite sound. The only time I felt it disappointed was in the ending of the first story. I felt as if the story was really rolling forward, and came to an abrupt ending. That's a compliment to her writing in one way, however, because I wanted to find out more about the fate of this young man. I was a bit jarred and wanted to know more. The initiation in the second story was also a tad strong for my liking, but that comes from my background of YA fantasy, so take that opinion FWIW. I don't think horror lovers would bat an eye at things that made me hide my face behind my hands.
As a writer myself, and also as someone who likes to help self-published authors, my inner critic is often on and I can't turn it off. I didn't have that problem as much with Hellbound. The characters aren't exactly likable, which was good, because then you don't really care about the fate they meet. They were consistent in their less-than-desirable traits, which is more important to me as a horror reader than liking them, since they'll probably become lifeless zombies anyway.
On a scale of creeped-out factor, I would rate this a 9/10. There is sufficient paranormal creepiness and zombie-like flesh-wasting descriptions to satisfy any horror lover.
September 24, 2013
Whoa. This book... wow. If you are in the least bit squirmish, this may not be the book for you. I consider myself to have a strong stomach, and this book was almost too much for me to handle. It's incredibly detailed and graphic. That being said, I can say that it was excellently written. If your tastes lean more toward the demonic and creepy, then you will definitely enjoy this book! There are three short stories and each one follows a different person or group. I did find it very fascinating. I'm not someone who even gets scared of horror movies and this book had me thinking about it long after I was done reading and I was scared of the nightmares it would bring. This might be the perfect book if you're looking for something to get you into the mood for Halloween. I admire the author's creativity and approach and I can honestly say I've never read a book like this before. I can also say it was a bit of a shock when I read it because the book I'd just finished before had been a clean YA novel. :) I did enjoy it though and recommend it for anyone looking for something dark. Maybe I'm not just as much of a horror fan as some other people, but this was definitely new for me. Read this review here: http://paperbacksandfrosting.com
August 12, 2012
This short novel is actually a collection of three people's journey to Hel. We have Bart the greedy mortician, Stan the lying medium, and Troy the do-gooder-wife-beater. And let me tell you, their stories on how they ended up in Hell aren't pretty.
The best comparison I can give this book is comparing it to the Final Destination movies. I love those movies only because of the bizarre outcomes (and the special effects). This book definitely has a lot of bizarre outcomes, and it is very descriptive. There were definitely some parts where I was laughing (instead of cringing) because the description was a little too gruesome to imagine.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. I'd recommend it to people who like horror or reading gruesome details. It definitely makes you think twice before deciding to be a 'bad' person.
The best comparison I can give this book is comparing it to the Final Destination movies. I love those movies only because of the bizarre outcomes (and the special effects). This book definitely has a lot of bizarre outcomes, and it is very descriptive. There were definitely some parts where I was laughing (instead of cringing) because the description was a little too gruesome to imagine.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. I'd recommend it to people who like horror or reading gruesome details. It definitely makes you think twice before deciding to be a 'bad' person.
June 9, 2012
A collection of three horror stories connected by references and small appearances of the same characters in each. Well-written, easily chilling, thoroughly enjoyable. If there’s any complaint, it’s that they’re not long enough! I found myself wanting to know…What happened after that? A demand for a full-length novel from this author seems de rigueur and a genuine request.
Hellbound is available from Double Dragon Publishing, www.double-dragon-ebooks.com
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
Hellbound is available from Double Dragon Publishing, www.double-dragon-ebooks.com
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
March 26, 2012
I wrote this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews