In the aftermath of Goliath’s murder spree in New Orleans, Nola Maor has committed herself to becoming a more skilled hunter in order to cope with the bloodshed in her city.
Confronted with tragedy in her life, but unwilling to process her own trauma and grief, she leaves her career as a New Orleans police detective behind and suffers in solitude. Nola’s lethal reputation has grown among the most savage and depraved for her unwavering resolve to eliminate the nightmarish creatures that stalk and feed on humans.
Dozens of missing people, along with an unnatural and grotesque murder, prompt Nola to travel to the small town of Dalyville, hundreds of miles away. A disturbing occurrence will push her skills as a private investigator, a hunter, and her humanity to their limits. The town’s history of wickedness is catching up with its residents as an evil force that simmers beneath the surface boils over with blood-thirsty intent. The past never dies. It festers. It cultivates in pain, waiting to rear its ugly head and inflict suffering, terror, and vengeance, bringing everyone around it to their knees.
Will Nola be able to identify the vicious beast’s origins and understand its motives before it destroys the town of Dalyville? Or will the entity eviscerate everything in its path and consume both the town and, eventually, Nola Maor?
Fifteen years after the Goliath murders, Nola Maor is back, but she's different. No longer a cop, Nola is now a monster hunter. She's stronger and more alert. But her life has come with a lot of loss. The loss continues when she is called to a small town called Dalyville. Several people have gone missing, and the townspeople don't know why.
Dalyville has a very dark past full of bloodshed, racism, forbidden love, and witchcraft. The past always comes back to haunt you, and it comes back with carnage. Once you discover Dalyvilles' past and who exactly has part of its evil, it's a roller coaster ride that you won't want to get off it!
The 2nd book in the series was well done! We really get to see more of Nolas family life and her struggle with drinking. Nola is a badass character! She doesn't take anything from anyone and she's a fighter. Lots of twists and turns, lots of secrets and despair, and small town vibes. An excellent read!
I recently had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of "Ascent of a Vengeful Woman" by Ashon Ruffins, and I must say, it was a captivating rollercoaster of emotions that left me entirely engrossed. It’s a stunning novel that delves into the human psyche, exploring themes of justice, retribution, and forgiveness. Ruffins masterfully weaves together a tale of revenge and redemption that kept me turning the pages way past when I should have been sleeping! The protagonist's journey is one of remarkable transformation, as we follow her from the depths of despair to the heights of empowerment. The author's vivid descriptions and intricate character development drew me into the protagonist's mindset, making her motivations and decisions feel incredibly real and relatable. The pacing of the story is expertly managed, alternating between heart-pounding action sequences and introspective moments that allow the reader to connect with the characters on a personal level. Ruffins' writing style is both poetic and visceral, bringing to life the setting and the characters' emotions in a way that made me feel like I was a part of the story. One of the standout aspects of this novel is the exploration of the grey areas of morality. The lines between right and wrong are blurred, and the characters are faced with complex choices that challenge their beliefs and values. This added a layer of depth to the narrative that elevated the story beyond a simple revenge tale. While the novel excels in many areas, there were moments when the pacing seemed to slow down a bit too much, and I found myself eager to get back to the more intense moments of the story. Additionally, some plot points felt slightly predictable, but the strength of the character development and the prose more than made up for these minor shortcomings. It's a thought-provoking read that lingers in your mind long after you've turned the final page. 4/5 ⭐️Ascent of a Vengeful Woman is a gripping tale that skillfully navigates the intricate landscape of revenge and personal growth. Ruffins' storytelling prowess shines through, creating an immersive experience that will resonate with readers who appreciate a blend of action, introspection, and moral ambiguity.
Yet another incredible book from this author. This is the second book of the series. The sisters are back, Janice and Nola. Janice and Nola’s relationship has crumbled due to a significant loss but people start going missing in Janice’s town, Nola rushes to Tennessee to investigate. Will she find out what is happening to the people in the town or will she suffer the same fate?
I’ve had the pleasure of receiving an advanced reader’s copy of Ashon Ruffins’ book: Ascent of a Vengeful Woman. This is the second book in his Uncovered Darkness series. This book follows the first book, named Descent of a Broken Man, which I read last year. In the first book, we’re introduced to Nola Maor, who is faced with a murderous, supernatural creature.
Nola returns in the second book, set 15 years later. She’s spent the years working as a specialist, hunting down evil creatures and monsters that law enforcement can’t handle. After tragic loss of family members, she finds herself in the tiny town of Dalyville, investigating disappearances. With new allies, she faces multiple evils. Some of the monsters are people, but there’s one creature she needs to figure out how to destroy.
This was an incredible story, full of creepy twists and turns. It was obvious that the author put a lot of time and dedication in the research behind this well constructed plot. I also appreciate how the books in this series contain classic monsters, but the main monsters are far from classic or cliché. This was a great job with a very well written story.
5⭐️ for me and I highly recommend reading this book!
This one comes out Friday and it was a worthy sequel! I really enjoyed it. Thank you to author Ashon Ruffins for an ARC to read. 4.5 stars.
It’s been 15 years since Nola Maor defeated the beast Goliath in New Orleans, but it is very much still impacting her. In this follow up novel, she is now a full-fledged supernatural hunter, ala Buffy or Sam and Dean. Ascent of a Vengeful Woman by Ashon Ruffins follows Nola as she has to take on a case in a creepy small town south of Nashville, where racism and other kinds of prejudice are all too real, and nothing is as it seems.
Although it’s not necessary to read Descent of a Broken Man before this book, knowing the background helps to flesh out why Nola acts the way that she does. Once a cop, she is now an independent detective. The Goliath case still haunts her, and she named her current gun after James Corbin, the once kind man that Goliath destroyed.
The author definitely dives into more horror in this book, and it was a quick and enjoyable adventure. The monster was unique, the deaths were gruesome, and the twist at the end was gross and wild. I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t, and it was delightfully disturbing. I am happy that Nola will return in future books.
The brave and headstrong Nola Maor appears again in Ashon Ruffins’s second book, Ascent Of A Vengeful Woman. She has gone from chasing bad guys to chasing monsters and other supernatural entities. Nola arrives in the small town of Dalyville, Tennessee, to investigate the death of her sister Janice, while learning about how the town was founded and uncovering its deep, dark secrets. She discovers that a supernatural entity has risen from the town’s hidden wickedness and is killing many of the residents.
This is definitely a good and creepy horror novel. It kept me curious as to what would happen next, as various events and pieces of information all link to the darkness of the town of Dalyville. Not only is there horror from the supernatural, but it also exists among the townsfolk. The descendants of the Daly family, who founded the town, are some of the most racist people on earth. They present an even bigger obstacle for Nola than the unhuman being lurking around the town. I like how some of the same characters from Ruffins’s first book reappear in this second one. It’s a fun series for horror readers that I thoroughly enjoy. I’ll be reading his third book, Quiescent: Blood Feud.
I've been thinking of the best way to describe Ascent of a Vengeful Woman and the best thing I can come up with is Supernatural meets a badass woman.
In the second book to the Uncovered Darkness Series we are taken fifteen years into the future and discover that Nola is no longer the detective we last knew. She has hardened, she hunts monsters, and she has lost many things she holds dear. Now she has to decide what to do when she is called to a small town in Tennessee. How does she hunt when no one wants her there in the first place?
After I read Descent of a Broken Man (the first book in the series) I had no plans to continue. It was an interesting read but not the book I thought I would be diving into. When I saw that Ashon Ruffins was looking for ARC readers on book two and we would be focusing on Nola, I knew I had to continue on. I loved this book. The quality of writing has improved, the plot was thicker, and there were no dry patches like book one. This book is just full of a woman being a badass and doing what she has to for her family. Its got some twists I was shocked by and a love story that'll break your heart all wrapped into one.
If you've read the first book and were iffy on the series, give this one a shot, it's well worth it. If you haven't read the first book, go get it now!
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story y'all. This is a great horror/paranormal story with a hint of thriller thrown in as you are left wondering as a reader what is going to happen next. This is the story of Nola and she is known for taking out lots of different paranormal beings in the city of New Orleans and beyond. Her sister Janice lives in a town nearby New Orleans called Dalyville. Dalyville is having alot of problems with people disappearing over the last few years and Janice is there as a former FBI agent to help solve the mystery of what happened to these missing people. The towns people aren't the nicest people to outsiders in their town and Janice has only been living there for about 15 years. Another woman shows up in town to tear an area of the town that is abandoned and could be better served by something else, but the towns people don't like the outsider at all. I love a good horror story and I haven't read a really good one in a while, this was a great read. The scenes were written well and the descriptions were very well done as well. I highly recommend this one to horror fans who want to get a little scared and maybe grossed out too!
Ascent of A Vengeful Woman is the second book in the Undercover Darkness series. I personally had not read the first book, however I think that this book can be read as a stand alone. There are a few parts throughout the book where certain things from the first novel is referenced, but Ashon does a good job of clearly explaining it so the reader is not confused. This story follows Nola Maor, who along with her sister hunt and kill the supernatural entities that threaten those around them. This novel is the perfect blend of supernatural and horror. Ashon does a fantastic job with his attention to detail and making the reader feel like they are right along side Nola as she fights to defend the small town of Dalyville from the supernatural creature that lurks within. You will be sleeping with one eye open and all of your lights on, and you definitely will NOT be going out after dark once you are finished with this story. This story is a wild ride from start to finish, and it will have you gripping the edge of your seat, or your book.
Nola Maor has spent the last 15 years hunting down murderous, evil creatures and monsters, the type law enforcement doesn’t dare tackle. After several losses, in absolute despair, she comes to the small Southern town of Dalyville, where her sister Janice lives, and finds herself tracking down some strange disappearances there.
Nola is a true badass, who doesn’t think twice about hunting down the grotesque creatures feeding on the townspeople. Ruffins writes with such intense detail that you feel you’re there alongside her. The twists are delightfully disturbing and I had to finish reading it with the lights on!
While this is the second book in the series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone, but reading the first will fill in some interesting background. Blending justice, revenge, and forgiveness into the story made it a stunning page turner. This was an incredible mix of supernatural and horror and really had me gripping the edge of my seat.
Thank you Dreadful Times Press and RR Book Tours for the ARC.
Ascent of a Vengeful Woman is the second book in the Uncovered Darkness series. Nola Moar has left her career as a police detective behind in a bid to hone her supernatural hunting skills. Her lethal reputation precedes her as she has a unique set of detective and hunting skills when dealing with evil. Called to the town of Dalyville, Nola is has a lot to contend with in the lurking shadows.
This is a mysterious horror that also focuses on the humanity of it all. The characters are not simply characters, but living breathing people that simply jump off the page. Their emotions are well studie dby the author, to the point that the reader can viscerally feel along with the characters. The story was thrilling, intriguing, and dark in all the right ways. Nothing is simply black and white. This story thrives in the darkness, both literally and figuratively. This is a dark story that thrives on the dark corners of the human psyche.
Thank you to the author and R&R Book Tours for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.
This is book 2 in the Uncovered Darkness series. From the beginning this book sucks you in and makes it hard to put down from all the twists that it has. If you enjoy a book that goes into justice, retribution and at times forgiveness then this is for you. I loved Nola in book one, but I adore her in book 2 because of how she grows, and her journey is kickass. The author has a vivid imagination and one can read it in this book. Everything is descriptive making the reader feel part of the story and if you are also taking part in all the action. One of the best Horror books of this year for me. Please be aware that the monsters are unique, and the deaths involved are gruesome, it will make you imagination go wild.
"The past never dies. It lies dormant and festers, until it's time for it to rear its ugly head. There's unfinished business."
This book was one of the best books I have read this year!! I read this book in less than 24 hours. I could not put it down and had to keep picking it up needed to know what happens. This book has everything I love suspense, thrills, paranormal, banshees, cannabinols, and lots of death! This is the second book in the series and I need more! I loved how the author based this book on Irish folk lore. If you like weird paranormal thrills based on lore you will love this book. An easy 5 stars! Highly recommend!
Ascent of a Vengeful Woman was set 15 years after the first book in this series and Nola goes to Tennessee to investigate why people are going missing in her sister's town. I highly enjoyed this book a lot more then the first one. The book was filled with new allies, multiple evils and it was full of twist and turns. I liked how the monster was unique, how disturbing it was and overall the author wrote an amazing book/sequel and I can not wait to read more from this author. Thank you to the author for this book in exchange of my honest review. Highly Recommend!
Thank you to the Author for this book!! Second book in the Uncovered Darkness Series but this does not have second book syndrome, I personally think this could be read on its own.
FMC is a monster hunter that takes on jobs that aren’t for the average Joe, set 15 years after the first book. Hunting traditional supernatural creatures that although are traditional, they don’t feel redundant or played out. This story is amazingly written. Hair raising drama with twists and turns that will keep you in suspense and on edge.
Right from the start, you get action. The feeling you get is like being in there watching your back with whats going to happen. You will feel the fear creeping out of the story! I found myself wanting to shut my screen with some of the scenarios it had.
Nola was created a fearless character which I loved. She had such strength and so much power. She was made to be amazing with all these supernatural monsters.
It was a fun ride going through the investigation and having Nola be as brave as she can be hunting all those monsters. I enjoyed the story.
Once again, Ashon Ruffins has created a captivating story where unthinkable creatures lurk in the darkness.
The storyline takes place 15 years after "Descent Of A Broken Man," which is another fascinating novel by Ashon Ruffins.
The suspense, drama, and action in "Ascent of a Vengeful Woman" makes it definitely worth reading. The story kept me on the edge of my seat. Great pacing....well done.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I love everything about this book, it has the perfect mix of action and horror in a paranormal setting. Nola has left her job as a police detective and wants to refine her skills as a hunter. Determined to do so, Nola leaves New Orleans for Dalyville, a small town where grotesque creatures are feeding on humans. This was such a good read and follow-up to Ascent of a Broken Man. I highly recommend reading both for a fun experience. The writing is excellent and the characters are well written.
This book truly epitomizes the phrase, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." She is pissed and she is COMING! If you're looking for a sequel that has it all, here ya go. Creepy small town... A mysterious well... Badass female MCs... Ghost hunting... Family conflict... A slew of rac!sts who need to be handled... Horrific death... Revenge... Anger... Mourning... And to top it off, a whole freakin' Banshee!! Damn sure wasn't expecting that! It was well-paced, attention-holding, easy to read, and can be done as a stand-alone, however I definitely recommend reading the first book for general background. (Plus, it was a really good read too so...)