Chuggie and the Bleeding Gateways

Mischief Mayhem Want and Woe #2

by Brent Michael Kelley

Chuggie, the perpetually intoxicated embodiment of drought, returns for another adventure in Chuggie and the Bleeding Gateways. It s been five days since the Desecration of Stagwater, and our hero has work to do. With the help of some ghostly new cronies, he searches for a lost little boy, explores a new world, and does his drunken best to avoid the clutches of pursuing Steel Jacks. What are the secrets of the bone dagger he carries? What allies and enemies will he find in the wilderness? Where will he get more booze? In the second installment of Mischief, Mayhem, Want, and Woe, Brent Michael Kelley takes us through the Bleeding Gateways to the strange horrors beyond.

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2013

About the author

Brent Michael Kelley lives and writes in the Wisconsin Northwoods. He shares a home with such things as hairless dogs, a snake named Darth Batman, and the woman he married on Halloween. In addition to writing about his pal Chuggie, he likes writing story-poems, painting monsters, and making wine. Some say late at night, if you’re alone by a campfire, you can summon Brent by closing your eyes and saying his name eleven times. He insists this is not true and there’s no way it will work… yet.

Reviews

[Kris Lugosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from a goodreads giveaway. I should have paid much more attention and realized that this is the second installment of Brent Michael Kelley's Mischief, Mayhem, Want, and Woe. Very glad I overlooked that factor, cause whether you read this first or the actual first Chuggie adventure it does not matter. This adventure is amazing and wonderful and hilarious and..and...I just don't have the words. If you like intricate worlds comprised of interesting, strange, weird, wonderful creatures and characters then don't miss this. Absolutely a perfect blend, of comedy, fantasy/horror, and just all around amazingness, Mr. Kelley has quite the imagination.

I love love love love the hell out of Chuggie. He is the perpetually intoxicate embodiment of drought that without even trying tends to get himself into some wild and crazy misadventures with a slew of amazing lovable characters.

Meet the Players:

PAZUEL: A demonling that can appear human with a blood thirsty craving for children and the fear of others. Pazuel tries valiantly to keep this hunger in check but can he resist his demon core?

KORKARAHN: Presumably the leader of his group, Korkarahn has enlisted Pazuel to help him on his own adventure. He is friends with Chuggie as they cross paths and the first book I do believe gives you more back story on their relationship

FABEN: Chuggie's pal Faben, obviously a character from the first book as well is herself turned into a book. A book whose voice is inside Chuggie's head guiding and helping...really I think to give ol' Chuggie someone to talk to. Faben later is turned into a much more practical being one of which is awesomely called Skullture, what's I love about this book is how funny Chuggie finds himself even with just making up a silly name like Skullture.

FEY VOLETTA: Fey is in cahoots with the Steel Jacks, I know little about them but they are truly not to be messed with. Fey thinks she is right hand man to Non, a bad ass Steel Jack, when in fact she is just a pawn. She too knows Chuggie from the Desecration of Stagwater days (the first book)and she is a warrior of deadly proportions.

REE: I love the story of Ree. Her wildfire nature makes her a force to be reckoned with, one of which is not truly understood till most of the way through the book. She and the carnie children are survivors of the Desecration of Stagwater and are traveling to safer lands. However they encounter a band of wild men called the Volkani. These savage lil bastards cross paths with Ree, the children, Rorid, and Drexel and are bent on sacrificing them to their god Volka. Rorid, a guardsman of Stagwater before it's demise, is left to hang in a tree by his very tip toes and is left behind by the Volkani and their kidnapping of the others. Drexel, his son is a meek poet of a boy who falls for Ree, but having since lost her husband Priole, and not being interested in the boy past friendship, Drexel finds himself heartbroken...but not for long. Drexel's personality change is quite eerie and meek is def. not the word to describe him after.

PRIOLE AND MUCKLEN: HA! Mucklen and Priole are Chuggie's ghost cronies. Priole is the husband of Ree, who she presumes is dead (and well he is) and Mucklen was a shitty bartender according to Chuggie and a pimp when he was alive back in Stagwater. Chuggie does a wonderful job of playing master to both but especially Mucklen who he has doing random chores and things for him just to piss ol Muckey off. Mucklen eventually gets himself a scarecrow body which I imagined looking and functioning very much like the silent short film The Patchwork Girl. Priole takes on a Steel Jack outfitting and sets off to find Ree and he children. Mucklen is stuck with Chuggie, who is going in between worlds with his bone dagger and the bleeding gateways, getting drunk off of Borjo's wine (a neat little friend of his), and helping Chuggie in his quest to find Olin...the lost little boy from the first story.

OLIN: Olin, Olin, Olin...what to say. This creepy lil bastard has seen into Chuggies goathead purse and it is said that whoever peers into it goes crazy...well this little guy I think was a bit off to start with but again I didn't read the first book yet. Olin is finally found by Chuggie and Mucklen wearing a wooden mask over his face and decides to do so to hide himself from the horrors he has seen and experienced. He is quite strange and doesn't want much to do with Chuggie but left with very little options and losing his mind as the story goes on he joins up with Chuggie and their interactions and dialogue are hilarious. Olin befriends a dordalis (a giant ass tortoise basically) names him Mr. Stuff, but Mr. Stuff is not around for long due to the little black bugs that make a meal out of him. Little black bugs that Chuggie brings back with him from the Bleeding Gateways but don't worry a bit of . (There is sooo much going on this book!)

There are other characters and so much more to this story that I literally just don't know how to put in words the awesomeness of this adventure. I am definitely ordering the first book in this series CHUGGIE AND THE DESECRATION OF STAGWATER, and I am told that I can expect more Chuggie adventures. This is truly imagination at it's best!

[Johnny Worthen · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHUGGIE AND THE BLEEDING GATEWAYS takes place right after the events of CHUGGIE AND THE DESECRATION OF STAGWATER. Not a little while after, right after. As such, it’s best if you’ve read the first one, which is good. Because CHUGGIE AND THE DESECRATION OF STAGWATER is fuggin’ fantastic! But if you don’t want to, if your interests lie more in the later chaos rather than the lead up to destruction, you can pick up BLEEDING GATEWAYS and get along just fine. Kelley brings you up to speed well and tells you what you need to know when you need to know it.

The narrative jumps from character to character as each travels with an opposing force toward a similar fate. How’s that for cryptic? Pretty good isn’t it? Chuggie told me to say that.

Fantasy readers familiar with the tropes and fancies of the genre will be surprised and delighted by Kelley’s take on them. From extra-planar robots working a hidden agenda, to roving bands of forest devils and magics that make you fear for your lunch. If you’re not a regular fantasy reader, your mind will still be blown away by Kelley’s imaginative world.

And don’t get me started about Kelley’s writing. Okay. Go ahead. I am in awe of this man. He can offer up a line that you’ll memorize to use at your next pithy cocktail party and then he’s make you laugh with some lowbrow gags and more pith. Then, as you’re cheeks ache from smiling, he’s stir your fear-centers with grotesque bloody images of battle, horror and demonic magics.

It’s quite a buffet, CHUGGIE AND THE BLEEDING GATEWAYS, but it’s a great buffet. It’s well written, moves fast and is one of those great personal secret pleasures that I hold dear to my sad twisted little self.

The book is strong. The story is strong. The setting is strong. But the strongest element of the book and the series is Chuggie. Even if the rest of the work was dreck, (which it’s not), I’d still give this book five stars because of Chuggie. In Chuggie, demon of drought, drunkard, wanderer, friend and killer, Brent Kelly has created one of the best, most irreverent, charismatic, interesting and playful characters I have ever run across. I’m not just saying run across in literature. I’m saying ever. Anywhere. Not even on vacation in Cabo San Lucas or on the campus of the University of Utah. Not even at a Dead show or the after party hallucinations in the back seat of a borrowed car, have I ever seen the likes of Chuggie. That’s saying something. I know, because I just said it.

The book ends ready for the third Chuggie adventure. You know I’ll be in line when it comes. I’ll see you there.

Chuggie! Chuggie! Chuggie!!

[Ian Welke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only problem I see with this book, is that since it just came out, there will likely be a significant wait until the next one, and I want to read the next one now. The first Chuggie book amazed me with how great a character Chuggie is. This one improves upon that by expanding his greatness as a character and by elevating all the characters around him. What Kelly has done with Chuggie and the ghosts haunting him… I haven’t laughed that hard reading a fantasy novel since some of the Cosca chapters in Joe Abercrombie’s Best Served Cold. Meanwhile Olin provides some of the creepiest pages I’ve ever read. And the cliff hanger at the end of this… I want to read the next book.

I said in my review of Stagwater that I wished it had a map or even series of maps. Having read Bleeding Gateways, I’m not sure if a map is necessary, but I’d still like it. Actually I’d really like to see an atlas, series of Tolkienesque appendices, timelines, books about this universe’s history… but I know I’m just really looking forward to the next book.

[Rodney · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. This is only because I am comparing it to the first book in the series. This one was still better than most books in my opinion, but didn't captivate me quite as much as the first. That being said, there are still so many good things here. The main character continues to be a favorite and had me laughing out loud many times. The book brought together many of the plot lines and I like the way it was structured. Each of the characters had some pretty rough times to overcome. I am very happy to know that there will be another book in the series, as I love the world that the author has created.

[C.V. Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, Brent Michael Kelley has kept me highly entertained. The second book of this trilogy was just as imaginative as the first. The unique characters and well-paced action kept me turning pages. I recommend these books for anyone who’s looking for something fresh in the dark fantasy genre.

[Brent Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Friday the 13th, June, 2014. I've got books to give away, so follow this link and sign up while the contest lasts!

Chuggie Giveaway Link

Also, I'd love it if you helped spread the word. :D

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this and didn't realize it was the second in the series until after I finished it. I enjoyed the unique characters and the great storyline. The author even had me laughing out loud in some parts. I can't wait to read more from this author and these characters.

[Anders Haywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic sequel!

This book effortlessly manages to avoid the whole 'sophomore slump' that some sequels fall to, and gives us lots of new material, while keeping the best of book one.
It takes place right after the events of last book (no spoilers), and manages to juggle a few new characters with some returning faces. Technically, you don't have to start with book one and you can jump in here, but I wouldn't recommend that.
In order to avoid spoilers, I won'treally talk about the plot, except to say it was well written, well plotted and I genuinely couldn't guess what was going to happen.
The characters were well realized and deep, but Chuggie once again steals the show.
Between his drunkenness, his rambling and only tangentially related stories and overall good cheer, Chuggie is the standout character. It's easy to see why, because in a world as dark as Mag Mell's, his overall good nature and easy going personality is the best response.
I can't wait for the next book!

[K.H. Vaughan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brent Michael Kelly’s unlikely antihero returns in Chuggie and the Bleeding Gateways. The story picks up in the immediate aftermath of Chuggie and the Desecration of Stagwater, which ended with the release of a powerful demon and the violent destruction of that corrupt city. Chuggie resumes his adventure in the wilderness outside the ruined city, quite literally surrounded by the ghosts of his past. From there, he meanders aimlessly, half-heartedly tries to learn more about the strange magical artifacts he has collected, and stumbles into dangerous conspiracies. Eventually he is provoked into unleashing his violent side once more.

This installment feels transitional. A series of characters take the narrative helm in interwoven chapters, and their paths slowly converge in the aftermath of the Desecration. Most of the characters are familiar from the previous book, and several have expanding roles. Although it does build to a climax and resolves some of the immediate concerns of the characters, it feels like it is setting the stage for something larger. Strangely, the demon that destroyed Stagwater is conspicuously absent despite the closeness in time and space of the events in the two books. Some of the broad world-building that was hinted at in the first book is revealed, but inconsistently so. Bits seem to leak out, but other elements remain opaque. Two books in, and I’m still not sure I really understand the bigger picture. Leaving so much unexplained might contribute to the overall sense of chaos and dangerousness of the environment, but I wonder if a little more direct exposition would help. Likewise, I would not recommend entering the series with the second volume; it’s best to start this at the beginning.

Chuggie remains dim, impulsive, and crude. Although he has some guilt over the destruction in his wake and concern for innocent lives, his actions frequently create more harm than good. He serves as both comic relief in a horror-strewn world, and as a source of some of that world’s horror. The setting of Mag Mell is filled with tormented and depraved beings, bizarre magic, and considerable violence. It highlights the challenge of this kind of story: Chuggie looks like a good guy compared to the really twisted evils that surround him, but he is still a boorish, violent drunk. His arrival does not really bode well for those around him, good or evil. It is challenging to sustain goodwill for such a grotesque protagonist. As with most drunks, he is not as funny and charming as he thinks he is, and it may be that a little Chuggie goes a long way for some readers.

Like Chuggie, the book wanders a bit erratically. As a wholly unreliable narrator, he often has no idea what’s going on around him, and the reader doesn’t necessarily know either. And, like the protagonist, the writing is rough around the edges. The prose is less polished than the first book in the series, and another round of proofing and editing might have been in order. It may be that this style is what suits Chuggie best, as it parallels his character. Despite the flaws, there is something very direct and authentic about Chuggie and his story that I find appealing. It is a strange world, darkly comic at times, and always messed up. Kelly has a particular imaginative vision and the story is true to it.

Gods of Mag Mell preserve me (although that would be a futile prayer, indeed), I’ll be waiting for the next visit from Chuggie and his companions. I can’t really say who is going to respond to this book. The strengths remain the unique gonzo weirdness of world and an antihero interesting enough that you can overlook the warts in his character and the text. I’m not usually very forgiving when it comes to the technical aspects of writing but somehow I find that I am where Chuggie is concerned. At Chuggie’s core is a basic existential strategy: He doesn’t overthink anything, doesn’t expect it all to make sense, doesn’t look for any higher meaning. A bag full of Hell that drives people insane? Sure, why not? Time travel? If you say so. Aliens? Bring it. He takes it all at face value. His inability to explain anything is there again and again. No matter how confused, drunk, and ignorant he is, no matter how unfair, cruel, and malignant the universe and the people he encounters are, he presses on, just doing the best he can. Somehow, Chuggie and the traumatized lunatics that populate this bizarre world manage to find others that they view with genuine affection and cobble together families in the middle of all the madness.

And that ain’t bad.

[Madelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my review of the first book in the series Mischief Mayhem Want and Woe, which is easier to remember as just Chuggie, I likened Brent Michael Kelley's world building to that of Tolkien's in his world famous Lord of the Rings trilogy. I would add to world building, a capable hand at non-human character creation that rivals that of Dunemaker, Frank Herbert in his many works of science fiction. I would liken Chuggie to Herbert's Jorj X. McKie (THE DOSADI EXPERIMENT) in both appeal and complexity. There is no doubt that Kelley write's adult genre fiction that should be read in light of the august writers that came before. Let me be clear by what I mean by adult. You know your children. If you (or they) can't tolerate a well placed f-bomb, most of which are softened by an alternate spelling, this book is not for you (or them). When I was a child (a very long time ago), my grandmother used to say that I was both good read and bad read, and that she was of the opinion that a child will only absorb what it can from a book. I know this is true, because I have re-read books from when I was a child and found that the story was not at all that which I remember. So I would classify the Chuggie books for mature audiences where maturity is a condition of the mind and not of years.

In this second book, CHUGGIE AND THE BLEEDING GATEWAYS, Kelley continues with a bit of the aftermath of the desecration. One of the things that I find most satisfying about the book is the manner in which the chapters are numbered. Strange? Yes, but true. Instead of simply numbering the chapters, or choosing a name to go with the continuing numbers, Kelley tells us that, for example, Chuggie One will be from our heroes point of view. Chuggie One is followed by Ree One and so on. Thus we have four characters, whose stories intersect, each having their own voice identified by the chapter names. Why is this worth mentioning? In science fiction and fantasy, the reader is faced with any number of challenges, not the least of which is how do I pronounce that name? I have actually read books where the names were phonically impossible, so I resorted to creating a mental picture of the name so as not to have to stumble over it while reading. Add to that particular issue keeping the point of view straight, and you can end up with a most unsatisfying read.

Brent Michael Kelley presents us with what should be a totally edgy tale of mayhem in the extreme; however, I find that his fully developed characters tend to soften those edges just a bit. Even the truly minor characters come alive.

There is humor without fluff; there is violence, and there is gore. So no soft fuzzies, but there is wine that provides a respite from the harsh realities of Chuggie's world. I highly recommend CHUGGIE AND THE BLEEDING GATEWAYS to anyone who reads fantasy, and to anyone who doesn't take a chance... you will be pleasantly surprised by the coherent prose and the truly innovative storytelling.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book picks up immediately after the events of the first book. I'd definitely recommend reading Book 1 before this or else it will be confusing, as well as missing out on the exciting first story! I couldn't get enough of Chuggie in the first book and his adventures were just as exciting in this one. It's exciting to see the characters progress and get to know them better. The story cuts off and made me immediately want to pick up the third book!