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Wasteland Gods
After the brutal murder of his son is broadcast over the internet, Billy Kingston becomes consumed with alcoholism and thoughts of revenge.
But his outlook changes when a divine being named Dr. Verity offers Billy the chance to not only find the man responsible for his pain but to remove him from this world before he can commit the murder.
When the deal with Verity takes a wrong turn, Billy moves to the small, remote town of Benton Lake and the chance of a new life. Only Dr. Verity isn’t through with him yet. Not by a long shot...
But his outlook changes when a divine being named Dr. Verity offers Billy the chance to not only find the man responsible for his pain but to remove him from this world before he can commit the murder.
When the deal with Verity takes a wrong turn, Billy moves to the small, remote town of Benton Lake and the chance of a new life. Only Dr. Verity isn’t through with him yet. Not by a long shot...
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 29, 2016
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441 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 18, 2016
I received an ARC of this eBook in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this novel.
Wasteland Gods is a difficult book to describe. If someone had described it to me I would have thought that it really didn't sound like my type of read. That would have been a mistake. This story is very dark but still offers moments of hope. It's so much more than just the story of a father's search for the person who murdered his son, or who will do anything to bring him back. Some of the things Billy has to do for Verity make it very hard to like him, but I did. As a parent I totally understood his motivations. The twists and turns this story takes kept me glued to the pages wondering what was going to happen next, and the ending blew me away. This is not a story for the squeemish or faint hearted but if you love your horror to be disturbing and terrifying you'll want to grab this 4.5 star read. Available on Feb. 29, 2016 from Horrific Tales Publishing.
Wasteland Gods is a difficult book to describe. If someone had described it to me I would have thought that it really didn't sound like my type of read. That would have been a mistake. This story is very dark but still offers moments of hope. It's so much more than just the story of a father's search for the person who murdered his son, or who will do anything to bring him back. Some of the things Billy has to do for Verity make it very hard to like him, but I did. As a parent I totally understood his motivations. The twists and turns this story takes kept me glued to the pages wondering what was going to happen next, and the ending blew me away. This is not a story for the squeemish or faint hearted but if you love your horror to be disturbing and terrifying you'll want to grab this 4.5 star read. Available on Feb. 29, 2016 from Horrific Tales Publishing.
December 2, 2016
I just finished this very inventive novel.
Billy's life is shattered when his son, Nelson, is brutally murdered. Even more horrifying is the email link to a video he receives after his son's death. The video is a snuff film showing his son's final horrible moments. Billy is then given the bizarre opportunity to perhaps avenge his son's death, by helping out a being called Verity in a surreal alternate land called the Wastelands.
There are many twists and turns in this book, keeping the reader on their toes. It's a very readable book: once you start, it will be hard to put it down. I did figure out the twist before the big reveal, but I still found the twist very effective.
Billy's life is shattered when his son, Nelson, is brutally murdered. Even more horrifying is the email link to a video he receives after his son's death. The video is a snuff film showing his son's final horrible moments. Billy is then given the bizarre opportunity to perhaps avenge his son's death, by helping out a being called Verity in a surreal alternate land called the Wastelands.
There are many twists and turns in this book, keeping the reader on their toes. It's a very readable book: once you start, it will be hard to put it down. I did figure out the twist before the big reveal, but I still found the twist very effective.
May 16, 2016
I won this book for an early review on Library thing site. I will admit I was really confused about the story. didn't realize it was a horror one but despite my confusion, the book gripped me to the end. I enjoyed it.I couldn't really figure out what was going on until the last chapter of the book.,but I just couldnt put it down either. had to see what would happen next. I don't read alot of books like this tho I have read Stephen king alot and yes I get confused by them too at times :)But his stories and plots are good. This author writes just as well I find and I would read more books by him for sure
January 9, 2017
WASTELAND GODS By Jonathan Woodrow. Kindle edition, published February 29, 2016. 325 pages. Horrific Tales Publishing.
Disclaimer: A digital copy of WASTELAND GODS was provided at no charge as part of a Goodreads promotional group read, with the hope of an honest unbiased review.
WASTELAND GODS entertains and engages the reader on multiple levels. It’s a character study of the effects of extreme grief and mourning on a solitary man, who soon becomes estranged from his family and lets his despondency take him in new and frightening directions.
It’s also a murder mystery as the main character, Billy, travels some unsavory roads in search of the brutal killer of his son. Nearly driven to mental breakdown by the intrusion onto his personal computer of the snuff video of his son’s death and taunting by the killer, Billy seeks to numb his consciousness with daily consumption of alcohol. And, in the latter part of the novel it becomes a story of redemption and transformation.
The savage murder of Billy’s son leads to a coincidental encounter with an otherworldly stranger, the mysterious Dr. Verity, who enlists him as her assistant in the Wastelands. The Wastelands occupy another plane of reality (or unreality), a vast barren landscape of sand, dirt and landfill detritus. Once the proper subject is identified (they kind of pop into the landscape), Billy has to perform the one task that Dr. Verity cannot do, that of cleansing before Verity executes the ending. These are supposedly extremely evil characters, whose cruel tendencies have been identified at an early age so that Verity and Billy can stop them before their damage is done. Verity extends a carrot to Billy to entice him to cooperate - - she may be able to help put him on the trail of his son’s killer.
Not everything is explained or reasons given. Both Billy and the reader have to accept some things on faith. The who, what, when, and why are part of the mystery and one of the story elements that kept us reading. Is the Wastelands part of another dimension? Is it an interpretation of Limbo, Purgatory, or even Hell? Is it all in Billy’s gin-soaked brain? Perhaps a visualization and symbol of his grief and self-loathing?
The sad state of Billy and his relationship with Dr. Verity engaged our attention, much more so than the opening of the novel which was very jarring and disturbing. There are extreme scenes of brutality in several places of the novel. However, they are essential to the story and not splatter for splatter’s sake. It’s Billy’s agonizing journey into the depths and his attempts at recovery that will hook readers. Woodrow is a skilled writer and illustrates Billy’s circumstances so well that we feel sorry for him, and want to reach out and help find the answers. But we can’t. We can only keep reading.
Billy’s daily ritual of drinking at home, then drinking at the local bar while hoping to meet Verity again, and lack of acknowledgement and communication with his spouse lead to separation. He turns to his aunt for comfort, and seeks a release for his pent-up feelings through painting. He later finds a new purpose in a small town that his investigations led him to. It seems he may be off the wagon and ready to begin a new life. But his transformation is interrupted by the interference of Dr. Verity.
Midway through the novel, Woodrow introduces some themes that seem more appropriate to a science-fiction novel. However, he mixes them in with the horror for a clever and complicated blend of the two. The reader gets just enough detail to understand and accept it, but a full explanation is not provided. Rather than take the reader out of the story, it engages even further. We wanted to unravel the puzzle and kept reading.
Things come to a head quickly in the latter part of the novel, with an unexpected ending that disappointed at first. Billy has a decision to make as a final resolution, and it may not be the one that readers were expecting. After finishing the novel and trying to think about it from Billy’s point of view it then made perfect sense. As a final way to differentiate his work from others in the genre, Woodrow wraps it up with a positive message of hope rather than the standard downward spiral tropes.
Hopefully, Woodrow is not finished with the Wasteland. It’s a rich setting, ripe for further stories and a hope that the intriguing Dr. Verity will also return. Recommended.
Disclaimer: A digital copy of WASTELAND GODS was provided at no charge as part of a Goodreads promotional group read, with the hope of an honest unbiased review.
WASTELAND GODS entertains and engages the reader on multiple levels. It’s a character study of the effects of extreme grief and mourning on a solitary man, who soon becomes estranged from his family and lets his despondency take him in new and frightening directions.
It’s also a murder mystery as the main character, Billy, travels some unsavory roads in search of the brutal killer of his son. Nearly driven to mental breakdown by the intrusion onto his personal computer of the snuff video of his son’s death and taunting by the killer, Billy seeks to numb his consciousness with daily consumption of alcohol. And, in the latter part of the novel it becomes a story of redemption and transformation.
The savage murder of Billy’s son leads to a coincidental encounter with an otherworldly stranger, the mysterious Dr. Verity, who enlists him as her assistant in the Wastelands. The Wastelands occupy another plane of reality (or unreality), a vast barren landscape of sand, dirt and landfill detritus. Once the proper subject is identified (they kind of pop into the landscape), Billy has to perform the one task that Dr. Verity cannot do, that of cleansing before Verity executes the ending. These are supposedly extremely evil characters, whose cruel tendencies have been identified at an early age so that Verity and Billy can stop them before their damage is done. Verity extends a carrot to Billy to entice him to cooperate - - she may be able to help put him on the trail of his son’s killer.
Not everything is explained or reasons given. Both Billy and the reader have to accept some things on faith. The who, what, when, and why are part of the mystery and one of the story elements that kept us reading. Is the Wastelands part of another dimension? Is it an interpretation of Limbo, Purgatory, or even Hell? Is it all in Billy’s gin-soaked brain? Perhaps a visualization and symbol of his grief and self-loathing?
The sad state of Billy and his relationship with Dr. Verity engaged our attention, much more so than the opening of the novel which was very jarring and disturbing. There are extreme scenes of brutality in several places of the novel. However, they are essential to the story and not splatter for splatter’s sake. It’s Billy’s agonizing journey into the depths and his attempts at recovery that will hook readers. Woodrow is a skilled writer and illustrates Billy’s circumstances so well that we feel sorry for him, and want to reach out and help find the answers. But we can’t. We can only keep reading.
Billy’s daily ritual of drinking at home, then drinking at the local bar while hoping to meet Verity again, and lack of acknowledgement and communication with his spouse lead to separation. He turns to his aunt for comfort, and seeks a release for his pent-up feelings through painting. He later finds a new purpose in a small town that his investigations led him to. It seems he may be off the wagon and ready to begin a new life. But his transformation is interrupted by the interference of Dr. Verity.
Midway through the novel, Woodrow introduces some themes that seem more appropriate to a science-fiction novel. However, he mixes them in with the horror for a clever and complicated blend of the two. The reader gets just enough detail to understand and accept it, but a full explanation is not provided. Rather than take the reader out of the story, it engages even further. We wanted to unravel the puzzle and kept reading.
Things come to a head quickly in the latter part of the novel, with an unexpected ending that disappointed at first. Billy has a decision to make as a final resolution, and it may not be the one that readers were expecting. After finishing the novel and trying to think about it from Billy’s point of view it then made perfect sense. As a final way to differentiate his work from others in the genre, Woodrow wraps it up with a positive message of hope rather than the standard downward spiral tropes.
Hopefully, Woodrow is not finished with the Wasteland. It’s a rich setting, ripe for further stories and a hope that the intriguing Dr. Verity will also return. Recommended.
March 1, 2016
Another great novel by the team at Horrific Tales Publishing. I know I always give good reviews by this publisher, but it is difficult not to when they produce such talent!
“After the brutal murder of his son is broadcast over the internet, Billy Kingston becomes consumed with alcoholism and thoughts of revenge. But his outlook changes when a divine being named Dr. Verity offers Billy the chance to not only find the man responsible for his pain but to remove him from this world before he can commit the murder. When the deal with Verity takes a wrong turn, Billy moves to the small, remote town of Benton Lake and the chance of a new life.”
The description above as on Amazon would have actually put me off this book if I had seen it first. This is Jonathan Woodrow’s debut novel and as I sit here writing this, I am keen to know where he will go from here, given that he has started at the very top!
I am going to be honest, Wasteland Gods is not for the faint hearted, and you do need to be a fan of horror to read this. Wasteland Gods is full of unspeakable violence, but the scenes are described well and are very much part of the story. This is a place where the limits of genre are explored.
The main premise will have many turning away, not wishing to read about children, violence and murder. However, don’t! This is a brilliant book that weaves the right amount of horror, supernatural and human interaction to keep you hooked from the start. Jonathan’s beginning was a clever move, giving a couple of pages describing an event 3 years into the future. This certainly had me keen to keep turning those pages.
The narrative tension during the description of Nelson’s (Billy’s son) murder gave me a feeling of dread; I am almost unable to explain the feeling: sick, horrified? I sat staring at my kindle for quite a few moments. Had Jonathan gone there? Yes, he had, not in a mindless sense as the narrative is harrowing, yet full of lyrical language and moving touches. This is the profound effect literature can have on our everyday lives, and I was only at the beginning.
The plot is complex and it is no light read. The story of Billy’s marriage breakdown, the cleansing rituals and his new relationship with an ex-drug addict adds to the twists and turns this book takes. The ending is a surprise; I did not see that coming.
Wasteland Gods is not necessarily original; I am seeing more and more of this style coming forward. Dark and intense with dialogue reminiscent of True Detectives or Adam Nevill’s Lost Girl. Perhaps, it needs a genre of its own.
Horror fans, you are in for a real treat.
“After the brutal murder of his son is broadcast over the internet, Billy Kingston becomes consumed with alcoholism and thoughts of revenge. But his outlook changes when a divine being named Dr. Verity offers Billy the chance to not only find the man responsible for his pain but to remove him from this world before he can commit the murder. When the deal with Verity takes a wrong turn, Billy moves to the small, remote town of Benton Lake and the chance of a new life.”
The description above as on Amazon would have actually put me off this book if I had seen it first. This is Jonathan Woodrow’s debut novel and as I sit here writing this, I am keen to know where he will go from here, given that he has started at the very top!
I am going to be honest, Wasteland Gods is not for the faint hearted, and you do need to be a fan of horror to read this. Wasteland Gods is full of unspeakable violence, but the scenes are described well and are very much part of the story. This is a place where the limits of genre are explored.
The main premise will have many turning away, not wishing to read about children, violence and murder. However, don’t! This is a brilliant book that weaves the right amount of horror, supernatural and human interaction to keep you hooked from the start. Jonathan’s beginning was a clever move, giving a couple of pages describing an event 3 years into the future. This certainly had me keen to keep turning those pages.
The narrative tension during the description of Nelson’s (Billy’s son) murder gave me a feeling of dread; I am almost unable to explain the feeling: sick, horrified? I sat staring at my kindle for quite a few moments. Had Jonathan gone there? Yes, he had, not in a mindless sense as the narrative is harrowing, yet full of lyrical language and moving touches. This is the profound effect literature can have on our everyday lives, and I was only at the beginning.
The plot is complex and it is no light read. The story of Billy’s marriage breakdown, the cleansing rituals and his new relationship with an ex-drug addict adds to the twists and turns this book takes. The ending is a surprise; I did not see that coming.
Wasteland Gods is not necessarily original; I am seeing more and more of this style coming forward. Dark and intense with dialogue reminiscent of True Detectives or Adam Nevill’s Lost Girl. Perhaps, it needs a genre of its own.
Horror fans, you are in for a real treat.
March 29, 2017
I won a free ebook copy of this via Library Thing in exchange for my unbiased review. I am sorry to say I downloaded it back in April and then promptly neglected to uphold my side of the bargain and actually read it, until now. I much prefer to read with a paper book in my hands and so this languished in my iPad for several months. Horror is not my preferred choice of genre but I have a policy of reading randomly chosen books regularly to broaden my imagination and ensure I'm not missing some literary gem. This week I suddenly found myself at a loose end with no paper book in my bag and so I came to read Wasteland Gods. I was in luck - this turned out to be a fantastic read and has made me reconsider my attitude towards the horror genre.
Billy is an immediately personable character, despite the opening circumstances, which are genuinely horrific. As a parent I was perhaps touched more than some readers may be, but I was also very struck by the fact that the detail of the violence was not gratuitous at all, but particular and meaningful to the story to follow and that remained consistently the case. Despite this it took me a few chapters to settle in and I can't tell you exactly when it happened, but I went from being a bystander to becoming totally immersed in the story, the mark of an excellent book in my personal experience. Just when I thought I had a grasp on the tale, I was blindsided by the parallel shift which brought us the relationship between Christopher and Nelson, something I had not seen coming and was totally unprepared for, as evidenced by my audible gasp which solicited enquiries as to my health! Delighted by the final twists and turns and the end is fitting. Despite reassurance from The Laughing Man, I find Ginger continues to trouble me and I'd like to know Marlon's story. I wonder if perhaps, in a spin off book ......
I will be reading more Jonathan Woodrow and can definitely recommend this book, to lovers of all genres. Be bold, you may miss an exciting and thoroughly entertaining story if you keep your library door closed!
Billy is an immediately personable character, despite the opening circumstances, which are genuinely horrific. As a parent I was perhaps touched more than some readers may be, but I was also very struck by the fact that the detail of the violence was not gratuitous at all, but particular and meaningful to the story to follow and that remained consistently the case. Despite this it took me a few chapters to settle in and I can't tell you exactly when it happened, but I went from being a bystander to becoming totally immersed in the story, the mark of an excellent book in my personal experience. Just when I thought I had a grasp on the tale, I was blindsided by the parallel shift which brought us the relationship between Christopher and Nelson, something I had not seen coming and was totally unprepared for, as evidenced by my audible gasp which solicited enquiries as to my health! Delighted by the final twists and turns and the end is fitting. Despite reassurance from The Laughing Man, I find Ginger continues to trouble me and I'd like to know Marlon's story. I wonder if perhaps, in a spin off book ......
I will be reading more Jonathan Woodrow and can definitely recommend this book, to lovers of all genres. Be bold, you may miss an exciting and thoroughly entertaining story if you keep your library door closed!
February 29, 2016
In Wasteland Gods, Woodrow demonstrates a beautiful writing style that immediately grabbed me, and passages like,
“Great art has the power to knock down walls, transport people into another world. And, like all great art, this painting has the potential to make people forget where they are supposed to be, even if it's for just a moment. And if that happens – if they take their eyes off the road for just a second – the entire system could collapse,” made my heart happy. Wasteland Gods is more than just a horror novel. It tells the tale of a man who seeks revenge and redemption, a man who struggles with his grief and often loses his battle with alcoholism. It answers questions like, “What if?” and “Why?” It contains elements of the supernatural and even has a slight sci-fi feel to it with some fantasy thrown in for good measure. It's not often I consider a book a masterpiece, but I think this one fits that description perfectly. Intricately woven and intelligently written, this novel will appeal to every type of horror fan.
As someone who is trying to get a writing career off the ground, I am often told that a writer's first novel is usually his worst, and that he improves with each book he writes. I don't know how Woodrow can improve on this. (No pressure) It's as perfect a novel as I've ever read and will put some seasoned writers to shame.
Wasteland Gods is published by Horrific Tales Publishing so I went into this novel knowing it would be great. This press has never let me down and with titles such as The Immortal Body, the High Moor trilogy and Lucky's Girl under its belt, I've come to expect nothing but the best from the Indie press.
This is absolutely one book horror fans need on their Kindles or bookshelves.
“Great art has the power to knock down walls, transport people into another world. And, like all great art, this painting has the potential to make people forget where they are supposed to be, even if it's for just a moment. And if that happens – if they take their eyes off the road for just a second – the entire system could collapse,” made my heart happy. Wasteland Gods is more than just a horror novel. It tells the tale of a man who seeks revenge and redemption, a man who struggles with his grief and often loses his battle with alcoholism. It answers questions like, “What if?” and “Why?” It contains elements of the supernatural and even has a slight sci-fi feel to it with some fantasy thrown in for good measure. It's not often I consider a book a masterpiece, but I think this one fits that description perfectly. Intricately woven and intelligently written, this novel will appeal to every type of horror fan.
As someone who is trying to get a writing career off the ground, I am often told that a writer's first novel is usually his worst, and that he improves with each book he writes. I don't know how Woodrow can improve on this. (No pressure) It's as perfect a novel as I've ever read and will put some seasoned writers to shame.
Wasteland Gods is published by Horrific Tales Publishing so I went into this novel knowing it would be great. This press has never let me down and with titles such as The Immortal Body, the High Moor trilogy and Lucky's Girl under its belt, I've come to expect nothing but the best from the Indie press.
This is absolutely one book horror fans need on their Kindles or bookshelves.
July 2, 2016
This was a thought provoking read. Without the supernatural aspect this would have portrayed an excellent descent in madness, and at times I thought that was what the story was about, and perhaps it might have been stronger for it. The divine beings felt more like plot devices compared to the visceral experiences of the human characters. I suspect this is too keep them mysterious, but it makes them the weaker part of the story.
And it's with them that that the book really shines. You feel for Billy and his loss. While the events follow a familiar pattern, the emotion is well realised and draws you into the wreckage of his life. This same feeling is drawn with the other characters. The entry of the first of the divine beings changes the course of his life and sets things up for the rest of the plot. Here the book is weaker, but is more than compensated by the rest of the story.
Things do get confusing as the story progresses, although the clues are there as to what is going on. There's a diverse range of characters, and enough mystery to keep you pondering. I liked the author's writing style, and the pacing pulls you through the story well. It fell a little flat at the end with a grand appearance from another divine character who ties things up for Billy, without really explaining anything about the backdrop the story was drawn across.
So, it has some disappointments, but overall it's a tight, and well written story with some nice ideas.
And it's with them that that the book really shines. You feel for Billy and his loss. While the events follow a familiar pattern, the emotion is well realised and draws you into the wreckage of his life. This same feeling is drawn with the other characters. The entry of the first of the divine beings changes the course of his life and sets things up for the rest of the plot. Here the book is weaker, but is more than compensated by the rest of the story.
Things do get confusing as the story progresses, although the clues are there as to what is going on. There's a diverse range of characters, and enough mystery to keep you pondering. I liked the author's writing style, and the pacing pulls you through the story well. It fell a little flat at the end with a grand appearance from another divine character who ties things up for Billy, without really explaining anything about the backdrop the story was drawn across.
So, it has some disappointments, but overall it's a tight, and well written story with some nice ideas.
May 21, 2016
I received my copy of Wasteland Gods from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Wasteland Gods is a roller coaster of a novel, and in the best way possible. From the get go, this book is exciting and emotional. With all kinds of layers to it, this novel explores some really dark and deep subject manner, including: Dealing with the death of a child, good vs. evil (and how easy it is for the two to blur together), time paradoxes, alternate realities, and fate itself. This is the type of book that will have you up all night reading it, and then up all day thinking over what you've just read. Especially nice to add, the main character is well written and very flawed, but in the sort of way that makes him seem like a real person. As someone who gets tired of the perfect hero, it was refreshing to read a character who you can at least somewhat relate to.
If you like a good, suspense filled book that will bend your mind and keep you guessing until the very end, this is your book. Definitely an author to keep your eye on.
Wasteland Gods is a roller coaster of a novel, and in the best way possible. From the get go, this book is exciting and emotional. With all kinds of layers to it, this novel explores some really dark and deep subject manner, including: Dealing with the death of a child, good vs. evil (and how easy it is for the two to blur together), time paradoxes, alternate realities, and fate itself. This is the type of book that will have you up all night reading it, and then up all day thinking over what you've just read. Especially nice to add, the main character is well written and very flawed, but in the sort of way that makes him seem like a real person. As someone who gets tired of the perfect hero, it was refreshing to read a character who you can at least somewhat relate to.
If you like a good, suspense filled book that will bend your mind and keep you guessing until the very end, this is your book. Definitely an author to keep your eye on.
June 13, 2016
I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
This book had great prose and was compelling and suspenseful. The beginning was very intense and I could actually feel dread in the pit of my stomach. It could be tough for parents. I like the sci-fi aspect to the story. A lot of it is mysterious and unresolved and feels a bit mystical, but it does put forth some interesting questions and a new perspective on revenge versus redemption. I briefly felt totally lost nearing the end, in terms of what was going on with the plot, but then the reveal was what I was starting to suspect, so it all came together. A unique idea and very interesting book.
This book had great prose and was compelling and suspenseful. The beginning was very intense and I could actually feel dread in the pit of my stomach. It could be tough for parents. I like the sci-fi aspect to the story. A lot of it is mysterious and unresolved and feels a bit mystical, but it does put forth some interesting questions and a new perspective on revenge versus redemption. I briefly felt totally lost nearing the end, in terms of what was going on with the plot, but then the reveal was what I was starting to suspect, so it all came together. A unique idea and very interesting book.
May 14, 2016
A strange story. In one sense, you don’t really understand what’s going on until the last chapter. I would have liked more hints in the story pointing toward the ending than it being a complete surprise. The strength of the book lies in the exploration of the experience of loss and grief. There are moments of genuine suspense and horror but I didn’t find them always believable. The writing is good and I will check out the author’s next book. (NB: I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.)
November 5, 2016
A fantastic book that touches the darkest fears of every parent, with equal doses of gut wrenching horror and suspense.
This was a thought provoking tale which questioned the nature of unintended consequences, parental bonds and the very nature of reality itself. The underlying premise of the story was really clever, with some mind bending paradox going on. It felt a little Stephen Donaldson in places (Thomas Covenant chronicles) with some Steven King thrown in. Overall a very enjoyable read, Horrific Tales has found another great author and I cannot wait to see what is next.
This was a thought provoking tale which questioned the nature of unintended consequences, parental bonds and the very nature of reality itself. The underlying premise of the story was really clever, with some mind bending paradox going on. It felt a little Stephen Donaldson in places (Thomas Covenant chronicles) with some Steven King thrown in. Overall a very enjoyable read, Horrific Tales has found another great author and I cannot wait to see what is next.
April 24, 2016
This is a truly horrific story set around a grieving father after the murder of his son.
Fast paced and exciting, just when I thought I knew where it was heading another surprise blindsided me. The ending was also not what I was expecting, it was actually better.
It has a good main character whose actions are well explained and mostly understandable.
*This was free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, my opinions are my own*
Fast paced and exciting, just when I thought I knew where it was heading another surprise blindsided me. The ending was also not what I was expecting, it was actually better.
It has a good main character whose actions are well explained and mostly understandable.
*This was free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, my opinions are my own*
May 27, 2016
I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Very good horror novel that includes at times complicated movement through different time streams and the mysterious people that make it happen. I was surprised by how good the writing was. I tore through it even though the book gave very little hints to what actually was going on and how it might finish. The final chapters took care of most of it and I liked the ending.
Very good horror novel that includes at times complicated movement through different time streams and the mysterious people that make it happen. I was surprised by how good the writing was. I tore through it even though the book gave very little hints to what actually was going on and how it might finish. The final chapters took care of most of it and I liked the ending.
April 19, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Horrifictales in return for an honest review.
This book gave me a serious case of the creepy-crawlies! A book that you have to sit down and pay attention to, I highly recommend it. As a parent it will scare you to death! A great debut novel with a great surprise ending.
This book gave me a serious case of the creepy-crawlies! A book that you have to sit down and pay attention to, I highly recommend it. As a parent it will scare you to death! A great debut novel with a great surprise ending.
October 14, 2019
I enjoyed the writing, i felt it was easy to fall in to. The story was decent for the most part. However, i got confused quite a few times (that might have just been me) until most was explained at the end. Bit of a mind melt if im honest - i didnt hate it but i didnt love it either.
Part horror, part sci-fi.
Part horror, part sci-fi.
December 7, 2016
Wasteland Gods is an example of how a mixture of genres can work against a work of fiction. What starts off as a tight thriller with plenty of mystery ends up devolving into pseudo weirdness that is not even particularly original.
The initial premise, in which a bereaved father is completely at the loss with the brutal slaughter of his young son, is well realized. This introduction to the story stands out as by far the best since it feels real. The emotional thrust of grief coupled with a descent into a semi-permanent alcoholic stupor that puts an extra strain on the marriagr provide convincing drama and the attempts of the main character to discover the killer serve as the axis to a budding mystery story. Particularly impressive are the scenes dealing with the video showing the murder.
However, all this begins to unravel once the supernatural element is added to the narrative. Immediately the main character goes from believable to utterly irrealistic as he seems to find nothing too strange in the claims of Dr. Verity, a woman who offers him a change of exacting justice on the killer while also bringing the son back to life. Granted, this encounter takes place while Billy, said main character, is somewhat inebriated but he is still coherent enough to speak properly yet does not dissmiss this bargain as simply impossible.
From this point on, the novel shifts focus and goes into the titular wastelands in which Billy must perform a kind of purging ritual on children that will grow up to be murders. This is his end of the deal with Dr. Verity and the precise implications are left nebulous deliberately. The wastelands themselves are probably the best part of this particular section of the story and unfortunately are not enough to carry an increasingly cumbersome narrative through.
The greatest issue with Wasteland Gods is
There are some redeeming factors. Despite quite a few typos that probably speak more of poor editing than a flaw in the author, the writing is clear and suited to the occasion, dipping into the dramatic when necessary but knowing how to avoid leading the reader too much. There are quite a few clever bits of foreshadowing that give the novel a layer of complexity that is also achieved via Billy's backstory being well distributed across the story as opposed to dumped in a continuous moment of exposition.
While this reviewer finds this particular novel less than stellar, there is enough in it to make one curious about the author's future endeavors.
The initial premise, in which a bereaved father is completely at the loss with the brutal slaughter of his young son, is well realized. This introduction to the story stands out as by far the best since it feels real. The emotional thrust of grief coupled with a descent into a semi-permanent alcoholic stupor that puts an extra strain on the marriagr provide convincing drama and the attempts of the main character to discover the killer serve as the axis to a budding mystery story. Particularly impressive are the scenes dealing with the video showing the murder.
However, all this begins to unravel once the supernatural element is added to the narrative. Immediately the main character goes from believable to utterly irrealistic as he seems to find nothing too strange in the claims of Dr. Verity, a woman who offers him a change of exacting justice on the killer while also bringing the son back to life. Granted, this encounter takes place while Billy, said main character, is somewhat inebriated but he is still coherent enough to speak properly yet does not dissmiss this bargain as simply impossible.
From this point on, the novel shifts focus and goes into the titular wastelands in which Billy must perform a kind of purging ritual on children that will grow up to be murders. This is his end of the deal with Dr. Verity and the precise implications are left nebulous deliberately. The wastelands themselves are probably the best part of this particular section of the story and unfortunately are not enough to carry an increasingly cumbersome narrative through.
The greatest issue with Wasteland Gods is
There are some redeeming factors. Despite quite a few typos that probably speak more of poor editing than a flaw in the author, the writing is clear and suited to the occasion, dipping into the dramatic when necessary but knowing how to avoid leading the reader too much. There are quite a few clever bits of foreshadowing that give the novel a layer of complexity that is also achieved via Billy's backstory being well distributed across the story as opposed to dumped in a continuous moment of exposition.
While this reviewer finds this particular novel less than stellar, there is enough in it to make one curious about the author's future endeavors.
May 8, 2016
I was allowed to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Please note that this may contain mild spoilers.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t excited going into this book. Mostly it was because the name “Wasteland Gods” made it sound like some sort of post-apocalyptic Mad Max style fantasy (Probably set in a desert because where else are you going to have post-apocalyptic fantasies) and that’s one genre that I’m not a fan of. When I actually started reading I was even less impressed. Perhaps it was because of my bias going in but the very first chapter completely failed to grab my attention and I honestly barely remember reading it. Luckily, that feeling of disinterest quickly went away.
If the book had simply left out the first chapter and started the story with Chapter 2, I would have given it a higher rating. I feel bad about that but the opening is the most important part of the book. If I was checking this book out from the library, the poor opening might have been enough to make me stop reading altogether.
That being said, I’m glad I didn’t stop there. Chapter 2 onward is a gripping story. I loved the use of the Internet and technology to add to the horror and the portrayal of relationships between the various characters swallowed me in more than anything else. I also applaud Mr. Woodrow on creating the character of Dr. Verity, who simultaneously was subtly inhuman while maintaining an air of trustworthiness.
This is a good book. The writing is solid, intelligent and yet easy to read, and the action sucks you in. I just wish that first chapter hadn’t been so poor.
I look forward to sampling Jonathan Woodrow’s future work. He is a great storyteller and I enjoyed Wasteland Gods. Hopefully his openings improve as he goes on!
I’ll admit, I wasn’t excited going into this book. Mostly it was because the name “Wasteland Gods” made it sound like some sort of post-apocalyptic Mad Max style fantasy (Probably set in a desert because where else are you going to have post-apocalyptic fantasies) and that’s one genre that I’m not a fan of. When I actually started reading I was even less impressed. Perhaps it was because of my bias going in but the very first chapter completely failed to grab my attention and I honestly barely remember reading it. Luckily, that feeling of disinterest quickly went away.
If the book had simply left out the first chapter and started the story with Chapter 2, I would have given it a higher rating. I feel bad about that but the opening is the most important part of the book. If I was checking this book out from the library, the poor opening might have been enough to make me stop reading altogether.
That being said, I’m glad I didn’t stop there. Chapter 2 onward is a gripping story. I loved the use of the Internet and technology to add to the horror and the portrayal of relationships between the various characters swallowed me in more than anything else. I also applaud Mr. Woodrow on creating the character of Dr. Verity, who simultaneously was subtly inhuman while maintaining an air of trustworthiness.
This is a good book. The writing is solid, intelligent and yet easy to read, and the action sucks you in. I just wish that first chapter hadn’t been so poor.
I look forward to sampling Jonathan Woodrow’s future work. He is a great storyteller and I enjoyed Wasteland Gods. Hopefully his openings improve as he goes on!
February 1, 2017
Received from publisher for an honest review thanks to the group Horror Afficionados.
While the premise to this story sounded interesting, I was concerned that it would be more of a dark fantasy drama than horror. I’m happy to say that this is most definitely a horror novel. To my pleasure Jonathan Woodrow takes us into some very dark places. A world of alternate realities, divine and evil entities, bloodshed and very grim scenarios and choices that tap into the fears of every parent.
I found this to be an original idea and enjoyed how the story introduced us to The Wasteland, the mysterious Dr. Verity, The Laughing Man and the tormented lead character, Billy, who is on a journey of revenge after seeing his son’s death online. I liked how Billy begins performing cleansing rituals for Dr. Verity in The Wasteland in return for help in pursuing his son’s killer. Naturally, things take a turn for the worse for poor Billy.
I felt like the middle act of the story dragged a little and got a bit bogged down with Billy’s depression, alcoholism, interactions with secondary characters and his attempt to rebuild a new life. Thankfully by the final act picks up double speed as all the pieces come together and the bigger picture is revealed while still leaving some questions for the reader to consider for themselves.
This is a solid effort for a debut novel and look forward to seeing where Jonathan goes from here.
While the premise to this story sounded interesting, I was concerned that it would be more of a dark fantasy drama than horror. I’m happy to say that this is most definitely a horror novel. To my pleasure Jonathan Woodrow takes us into some very dark places. A world of alternate realities, divine and evil entities, bloodshed and very grim scenarios and choices that tap into the fears of every parent.
I found this to be an original idea and enjoyed how the story introduced us to The Wasteland, the mysterious Dr. Verity, The Laughing Man and the tormented lead character, Billy, who is on a journey of revenge after seeing his son’s death online. I liked how Billy begins performing cleansing rituals for Dr. Verity in The Wasteland in return for help in pursuing his son’s killer. Naturally, things take a turn for the worse for poor Billy.
I felt like the middle act of the story dragged a little and got a bit bogged down with Billy’s depression, alcoholism, interactions with secondary characters and his attempt to rebuild a new life. Thankfully by the final act picks up double speed as all the pieces come together and the bigger picture is revealed while still leaving some questions for the reader to consider for themselves.
This is a solid effort for a debut novel and look forward to seeing where Jonathan goes from here.
April 16, 2016
Amazing Writing...
Amazing writing and comprehensive ideas make Wasteland Gods an engrossing page-turner readers won't be able to put down. Suspense sucked me in ... held me tightly ... and earned Woodrow a new fan.
Amazing writing and comprehensive ideas make Wasteland Gods an engrossing page-turner readers won't be able to put down. Suspense sucked me in ... held me tightly ... and earned Woodrow a new fan.
April 26, 2020
A fantastically original debut that kicks off with a bang and doesn't let up. Buy it. Read it. You won't be disappointed.
December 29, 2016
Review for Monster Librarian forthcoming.
December 9, 2016
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wasteland Gods is a story of revenge with many unexpected twists and turns. It combines drama, thriller, horror and a bit of Gaiman-esque dark fantasy. I enjoyed the psychological journey of the main character, Billy, trying to find answers for the brutal murder of his son.
There are plenty moments of horror and violence that hit you right in the head. But it's not the brutal or the intense horror parts that make this a horror novel but the slower moments when you are slowly realising what's going on. Wasteland Gods has a strong (SPOILER ALERT) Minority Report feeling. Time travel, paradoxes, fate, all play a huge part in understanding the story that unfolds.
There are some slow parts and a couple of pages I had to read again because I was confused at some point but this is definitely a book I can recommend. It had some brutal scenes but it's not a "splatterpunk" book. I'm looking forward mr Woodrow's next book!
Wasteland Gods is a story of revenge with many unexpected twists and turns. It combines drama, thriller, horror and a bit of Gaiman-esque dark fantasy. I enjoyed the psychological journey of the main character, Billy, trying to find answers for the brutal murder of his son.
There are plenty moments of horror and violence that hit you right in the head. But it's not the brutal or the intense horror parts that make this a horror novel but the slower moments when you are slowly realising what's going on. Wasteland Gods has a strong (SPOILER ALERT) Minority Report feeling. Time travel, paradoxes, fate, all play a huge part in understanding the story that unfolds.
There are some slow parts and a couple of pages I had to read again because I was confused at some point but this is definitely a book I can recommend. It had some brutal scenes but it's not a "splatterpunk" book. I'm looking forward mr Woodrow's next book!
December 19, 2016
I received this book for free as a part of a promotional group read, with the hope of an honest review.
This was a very clever book. It deals with complicated plot devices in a way that doesn't bog it down with details, or oversimplify.
It's also very fast-paced. A lot happens in the book. It gets to the point where enough has happened for a normal book to be reaching the climax, and I check to see how far I am and it's only a third of the way through.
The main characters and the settings are well-developed. The secondary characters sometimes seem more as tools to advance the plot, though.
I really enjoyed this read, and I hope that there are more books in the Wasteland setting.
This was a very clever book. It deals with complicated plot devices in a way that doesn't bog it down with details, or oversimplify.
It's also very fast-paced. A lot happens in the book. It gets to the point where enough has happened for a normal book to be reaching the climax, and I check to see how far I am and it's only a third of the way through.
The main characters and the settings are well-developed. The secondary characters sometimes seem more as tools to advance the plot, though.
I really enjoyed this read, and I hope that there are more books in the Wasteland setting.
December 31, 2016
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are my own.***
If you like dark (very dark) speculative fiction that makes you think, you should read this book. If you are at all sensitive to violence, you might want to steer clear.
This book explores the life of Billy after the death of his only son, Nelson. Billy's grief and need for revenge consume him. So when he gets the opportunity to keep Nelson alive in another time stream, he can't say no. The book follows Billy's adventures in the Wasteland, and digs deep into his psyche, his descent into the dark side of his heart, then his eventual choice that I found redemptive. This is not a light, entertaining read, but a study of the baser aspects of human grief.
Mr. Woodrow's writing style is easy to read, easy to lose yourself in the story. His skill at characterization is advanced. He creates settings full of imagery, quite visual.
I will definitely read more by this author.
If you like dark (very dark) speculative fiction that makes you think, you should read this book. If you are at all sensitive to violence, you might want to steer clear.
This book explores the life of Billy after the death of his only son, Nelson. Billy's grief and need for revenge consume him. So when he gets the opportunity to keep Nelson alive in another time stream, he can't say no. The book follows Billy's adventures in the Wasteland, and digs deep into his psyche, his descent into the dark side of his heart, then his eventual choice that I found redemptive. This is not a light, entertaining read, but a study of the baser aspects of human grief.
Mr. Woodrow's writing style is easy to read, easy to lose yourself in the story. His skill at characterization is advanced. He creates settings full of imagery, quite visual.
I will definitely read more by this author.
November 6, 2016
In trying to think of the right way to describe the feeling of reading this book the best I can come up with is that it's like riding a rollercoaster while navigating the maze from The Shining, you're never sure where the next turn of the page is going to take you but you know it's probably going to scare the shikaka out of you.
The book has great descriptive writing that really puts you into Billy's world(s) but still manages to maintain a great pace that hurtles you into the mind-bending finale.
If you're a fan of a good horror book then I can highly recommend Wasteland Gods.
The book has great descriptive writing that really puts you into Billy's world(s) but still manages to maintain a great pace that hurtles you into the mind-bending finale.
If you're a fan of a good horror book then I can highly recommend Wasteland Gods.
November 13, 2017
This was a weird, mindbendy kind of book. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it. At times it seemed choppy, but I'm pretty sure everything ended up coming together in the end. So keep with it if you're in the middle and wondering if you should continue.
Read if you're into differing versions of the afterlife, parallel universes, semi-divine beings. Don't read if graphic violence, sex, and kind of despicable characters upset you.
Thanks to the publisher, Goodreads, and Mr. Woodrow for the free copy.
Read if you're into differing versions of the afterlife, parallel universes, semi-divine beings. Don't read if graphic violence, sex, and kind of despicable characters upset you.
Thanks to the publisher, Goodreads, and Mr. Woodrow for the free copy.
June 18, 2018
A hard read but I loved it!
This book was tough to read in certain chapters, but it kept me captivated and I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I felt the pain, the anger and sadness, the confusion and closure at the end. It was a great ride!
This book was tough to read in certain chapters, but it kept me captivated and I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I felt the pain, the anger and sadness, the confusion and closure at the end. It was a great ride!
December 30, 2016
I received this book as part of a promotional giveaway. Full disclosure and all.
To start my review,I'll ship the summary add everyone has already written one, and just get to it.
First of, mechanically this is a sound book, well edited and by the numbers (start with an impact and then jump back to the setup). For a new novelist and a small press, that's impressive. I only noticed one spelling error, and no real grammar or structure issues. So that's one star.
The premise is fairly original, and there are some memorable scenes. So that's another star.
However, at a fundamental level this novel basically fails. It fails at building any living breathing characters, it fails at establishing believable motivation, it takes at creating a realistic chain of cause and effect... Nothing in the story had any emotional resonance because it all just felt too forced.
To start with, the main character Billy loses his son in a grisly murder before the book even starts. That is a clear and powerful loss for anyone ...but we don't see what it actually means to Billy. What was his son like? Did he call Billydad, or pops, or nothing? Did they go out bike riding together, or play baseball, or not talk? What did Billy actually lose when his son died? The same holds true of the collapse of his marriage. The marriage never even exists for the reader because it ends off the page, with barely a notice.
The story literally starts after everything has already happened so we have no idea what Billy is trying to get back with all the nonsense he does.
And it is nonsense. None of it makes sense, and the only reason our main character goes through the first half of the book is to set up some random twist, all of his trials and suffering are erased to serve some random "clever" idea of the writer's.
That's not even getting into the whole "our life together started with take but it wasn't really rape because no one felt bad" or the weird painting stuff.
Basically, I had a very hard time caring about anything that happened to anyone in this book because none of the characters had anything resembling a real presence, and nothing that happened seemed to master to anyone in the book, either.
To start my review,I'll ship the summary add everyone has already written one, and just get to it.
First of, mechanically this is a sound book, well edited and by the numbers (start with an impact and then jump back to the setup). For a new novelist and a small press, that's impressive. I only noticed one spelling error, and no real grammar or structure issues. So that's one star.
The premise is fairly original, and there are some memorable scenes. So that's another star.
However, at a fundamental level this novel basically fails. It fails at building any living breathing characters, it fails at establishing believable motivation, it takes at creating a realistic chain of cause and effect... Nothing in the story had any emotional resonance because it all just felt too forced.
To start with, the main character Billy loses his son in a grisly murder before the book even starts. That is a clear and powerful loss for anyone ...but we don't see what it actually means to Billy. What was his son like? Did he call Billydad, or pops, or nothing? Did they go out bike riding together, or play baseball, or not talk? What did Billy actually lose when his son died? The same holds true of the collapse of his marriage. The marriage never even exists for the reader because it ends off the page, with barely a notice.
The story literally starts after everything has already happened so we have no idea what Billy is trying to get back with all the nonsense he does.
And it is nonsense. None of it makes sense, and the only reason our main character goes through the first half of the book is to set up some random twist, all of his trials and suffering are erased to serve some random "clever" idea of the writer's.
That's not even getting into the whole "our life together started with take but it wasn't really rape because no one felt bad" or the weird painting stuff.
Basically, I had a very hard time caring about anything that happened to anyone in this book because none of the characters had anything resembling a real presence, and nothing that happened seemed to master to anyone in the book, either.
January 5, 2017
This book is brutal, right from the beginning. It just sucker-punches you, and you're left gasping and grasping for meaning, and in the sense that is a bit like a parent whose child has just been murdered, I suppose it's a good job at firmly sweeping your reading legs out from under you. I kept reading, hoping maybe the story would redeem its (in my opinion) gratuitous horror, but I don't feel that it did. I got about halfway through, and the story really seemed to be stalling (if the author wanted to give the reader a feeling of hopelessly, impotently going around in circles, bravo), with Billy trying--now for years--to find his son's murderer. I mean, at first, I suppose he had to (that was his deal, without giving too much away), but when he goes to that little nowhere town, it really seems like grasping at straws. Although Billy seems to feel some great hope that maybe, finally, this will solve the mystery, I felt none of his hope, and was beginning to doubt his mental state. And then the depravity of his actions, his following hopelessness... the book just really seemed to be pushing the reader away. I've rated it 2 stars because I save the 1-star reviews for the really horrendous books, and this is just kind of sad, not horrendous.
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