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The Fearing #4
Earth & Ember
John F.D. Taff's supernatural epic, The Fearing, concludes in Book Four: Earth & Ember as maniacal leader Tim Jacoby solidifies his militaristic control over his followers by choosing who will live and who will die.
With a new destination in sight, survivors fleeing the encroaching darkness that's devouring everything in its path arrive at Graceland to re-establish society. But it could also change it forever.
And as humanity's extinction appears on the horizon, Adam and Jelnik contemplate their mysterious roles in the end of all things. Under a silver arch, they confront all that remains of humanity and, together, gather to face what waits within the darkness.
Everything ends here.
Proudly presented by Grey Matter Press, the multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated independent publisher.
Grey Matter Press: Where Dark Thoughts Thrive
With a new destination in sight, survivors fleeing the encroaching darkness that's devouring everything in its path arrive at Graceland to re-establish society. But it could also change it forever.
And as humanity's extinction appears on the horizon, Adam and Jelnik contemplate their mysterious roles in the end of all things. Under a silver arch, they confront all that remains of humanity and, together, gather to face what waits within the darkness.
Everything ends here.
Proudly presented by Grey Matter Press, the multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated independent publisher.
Grey Matter Press: Where Dark Thoughts Thrive
- GenresHorror
167 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2019
3 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
John F.D. Taff
85 books258 followersJohn F.D. Taff is a multi-Bram Stoker Award short-listed dark fiction author with more than 30 years experience, and more than 100 short stories and seven novels in print.
He has appeared in Cemetery Dance, Eldritch Tales, Unnerving, Deathrealm, Big Pulp and One Buck Horror, as well as anthologies such as Hot Blood: Seeds of Fear, Hot Blood: Fear the Fever, Shock Rock II, Lullabies for Suffering, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Behold!, Shadows Over Main Street 2, Horror Library V, Best of Horror Library, Dark Visions Vol. 1, Ominous Realities, Death's Realm, I Can Taste the Blood and Savage Beasts. His work will appear soon in The Seven Deadliest and I Can Hear the Shadows.
His novels include The Bell Witch, Kill-Off and the serialized apocalyptic epic The Fearing. Thunderstorm Books and Grey Matter Press will release a one-volume version of The Fearing in 2021, in limited edition hardcover, soft cover and digital. Short fiction collections include Little Deaths: The Definitive Collection and Little Black Spots, both published by Grey Matter Press.
Taff's novella collection, The End in All Beginnings, was called one of the best novella collections by Jack Ketchum and was a Stoker Award Finalist. His short "A Winter's Tale" was also a Stoker Finalist.
His upcoming anthology Dark Stars, a tribute to that seminal '80s work Dark Forces, will be published by Tor/Nightfire 11/2/21.
His website is at johnfdtaff.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnfdtaff.
He has appeared in Cemetery Dance, Eldritch Tales, Unnerving, Deathrealm, Big Pulp and One Buck Horror, as well as anthologies such as Hot Blood: Seeds of Fear, Hot Blood: Fear the Fever, Shock Rock II, Lullabies for Suffering, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Behold!, Shadows Over Main Street 2, Horror Library V, Best of Horror Library, Dark Visions Vol. 1, Ominous Realities, Death's Realm, I Can Taste the Blood and Savage Beasts. His work will appear soon in The Seven Deadliest and I Can Hear the Shadows.
His novels include The Bell Witch, Kill-Off and the serialized apocalyptic epic The Fearing. Thunderstorm Books and Grey Matter Press will release a one-volume version of The Fearing in 2021, in limited edition hardcover, soft cover and digital. Short fiction collections include Little Deaths: The Definitive Collection and Little Black Spots, both published by Grey Matter Press.
Taff's novella collection, The End in All Beginnings, was called one of the best novella collections by Jack Ketchum and was a Stoker Award Finalist. His short "A Winter's Tale" was also a Stoker Finalist.
His upcoming anthology Dark Stars, a tribute to that seminal '80s work Dark Forces, will be published by Tor/Nightfire 11/2/21.
His website is at johnfdtaff.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnfdtaff.
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October 27, 2019A sneaking suspicion began to grow that I was going to be unsatisfied with this ending but as I cleared page 80, a new feeling began to emerge and My doubt and skepticism were replaced with an urgency to see this one through to the end.
John F. D. Taff did right by his readers--
Review coming to Cemetery Dance, soon!
John F. D. Taff did right by his readers--
Review coming to Cemetery Dance, soon!
October 26, 2019
My review of THE FEARING: EARTH AND EMBER can be found at High Fever Books.
This is it, folks - the grand finale! For months, we’ve been watching the world succumb to its greatest fears and witnessing humanity’s last stand. It’s all been building to this, and after weeks and weeks of anticipation and lingering book hangovers one can’t help but wonder, was it all worth it? Did Taff stick the landing? Or has this, ultimately, been a giant clusterfuck that cannot possibly live up to the hype?
This last installment sees our survivors square off against the authoritarian maniac Tim Jacoby and confronting Fear Itself. All the while, darkness sweeps across the land, swallowing the world whole as it closes in on them. There’s deaths, betrayals, madness, and the manifestation of humanity’s fears grow more primordial as those last metaphysical drops of phobia tip out of the world’s subconscious reservoir.
If you’ve been reading this series over the last few months (and if you haven’t, you really need to correct that oversight and, also, shame on you), you might have wondered at the close of Book Three just how in the hell Taff was going to wrap all this up in only one more slim novella. The good news is, Earth & Ember is a bit of a larger installment than we’ve grown accustomed to. While it’s not quite a super-sized behemoth, the story here does benefit from the additional page count and Taff is able to cover most of his bases as he moves his large ensemble cast into their endgame.
So, to answer those earlier questions. First off, The Fearing is most definitely not a clusterfuck, big or small, and taking this serialized novel as a whole, it has most definitely lived up to the hype. Each installment kept me glued to my seat, turning those pages as fast as I could, and left me salivating for more. Serializing this story was a smart — and bold — move on the part of publisher Grey Matter Press and its author, and they did what all good drug dealers do: they hook you fast and keep you coming back to their corner, begging for another hit. Just as your withdrawals reach a fever pitch, here comes another fix to square you away and leave you itching for more. Next thing you know you’re sending them messages in the middle of night, teeth chattering and sweating like you just ran a freaking marathon, needing to meet up, telling them you need more, telling them you’ll do anything, anything, you just need to get right, just need one more hit and you’re done, you’re gonna quit after this, sober up, get a job, get your teeth fixed, whatever, you can’t keep living like this, like a goddamn junkie… And then they tell you, that’s it, no more after this, you’re cut off, and you can practically feel your veins writhing inside you, all itchy and shit, and you tell yourself, OK, fine, that’s cool, man, I can go cold turkey, no problem, your fingernails digging into the crook of your elbow, scratching red lines into needle scarred flesh, you’re just gonna get one more, just one more, and that’ll be it. Just one last big fix to get you right and then you’re done. It’ll be like a going away party!
OK, so this whole drug thing is maybe not a particularly strong, or even welcome, analogy, but it’s not entirely inaccurate. The thing about Book Four is that it is, absolutely, the last fix. There’s no more after this, so you either need to go find your fix elsewhere or get clean, and if you’re a book junkie like me, well… you know as well as I do what’s gonna happen next, right? Yeah, you’ll find something else to get hooked on and before you know it, you’re right back at it again, in deep with IOUs, probably half in the bag, sniffing book spines in some dark alley late at night.
…
Where the fuck was I?
Oh, right, The Fearing. Yeah, I dug it. I dug the hell out of it! Taff’s epic is easily one of the most original takes I’ve seen in the apocalyptic horror genre, taking a metaphysical Jungian slant amongst all the horrors and some moments of shocking brutality. Taff kept me on my toes the whole way through, and I certainly cannot complain about that at all. I will admit, though, that I was a bit surprised at a late-game bait-and-switch with who I thought the central characters were.
Mark’s small appearance in Book Two didn’t quite prepare me for the shift in focus that would land squarely on him, and I felt myself getting a bit antsy to return to our RV travelers and high schoolers who dominated books one and two, only to find them sidelined for the majority of book three and even, to a certain degree, here as well. There’s a lot of movement for these characters happening off-page, but by the midpoint of Book Four nearly all of our protagonists are united in one locale. The Fearing is ultimately Mark’s story, and I do wish he were introduced sooner given how much of the narrative bulk he carries. I also wish there was a bit more breathing room in these last two installments, a few more pages, to spend with Kyle, Carli, Rich and the rest of the RV gang, but it’s a minor complaint. Taff gives his central characters some good moments to shine, and there were a few narrative surprises that caught me off guard in their suddenness.
There’s nothing about this finale that feels dragged out. In fact, it’s pretty much a pedal to the metal approach right from the beginning. Taff hits the ground running and races right on through to the very end. And that ending…those last few moments we get to spend with these characters, that lead to that very last line… Oh, man. So, yeah, Taff most definitely sticks the landing here, delivering a highly satisfying conclusion to The Fearing. All those weeks of waiting, those cravings for more, it was worth it. Oh yeah, it was worth it. And then some.
(Note: I received an advance copy of this title from the publisher.)
This is it, folks - the grand finale! For months, we’ve been watching the world succumb to its greatest fears and witnessing humanity’s last stand. It’s all been building to this, and after weeks and weeks of anticipation and lingering book hangovers one can’t help but wonder, was it all worth it? Did Taff stick the landing? Or has this, ultimately, been a giant clusterfuck that cannot possibly live up to the hype?
This last installment sees our survivors square off against the authoritarian maniac Tim Jacoby and confronting Fear Itself. All the while, darkness sweeps across the land, swallowing the world whole as it closes in on them. There’s deaths, betrayals, madness, and the manifestation of humanity’s fears grow more primordial as those last metaphysical drops of phobia tip out of the world’s subconscious reservoir.
If you’ve been reading this series over the last few months (and if you haven’t, you really need to correct that oversight and, also, shame on you), you might have wondered at the close of Book Three just how in the hell Taff was going to wrap all this up in only one more slim novella. The good news is, Earth & Ember is a bit of a larger installment than we’ve grown accustomed to. While it’s not quite a super-sized behemoth, the story here does benefit from the additional page count and Taff is able to cover most of his bases as he moves his large ensemble cast into their endgame.
So, to answer those earlier questions. First off, The Fearing is most definitely not a clusterfuck, big or small, and taking this serialized novel as a whole, it has most definitely lived up to the hype. Each installment kept me glued to my seat, turning those pages as fast as I could, and left me salivating for more. Serializing this story was a smart — and bold — move on the part of publisher Grey Matter Press and its author, and they did what all good drug dealers do: they hook you fast and keep you coming back to their corner, begging for another hit. Just as your withdrawals reach a fever pitch, here comes another fix to square you away and leave you itching for more. Next thing you know you’re sending them messages in the middle of night, teeth chattering and sweating like you just ran a freaking marathon, needing to meet up, telling them you need more, telling them you’ll do anything, anything, you just need to get right, just need one more hit and you’re done, you’re gonna quit after this, sober up, get a job, get your teeth fixed, whatever, you can’t keep living like this, like a goddamn junkie… And then they tell you, that’s it, no more after this, you’re cut off, and you can practically feel your veins writhing inside you, all itchy and shit, and you tell yourself, OK, fine, that’s cool, man, I can go cold turkey, no problem, your fingernails digging into the crook of your elbow, scratching red lines into needle scarred flesh, you’re just gonna get one more, just one more, and that’ll be it. Just one last big fix to get you right and then you’re done. It’ll be like a going away party!
OK, so this whole drug thing is maybe not a particularly strong, or even welcome, analogy, but it’s not entirely inaccurate. The thing about Book Four is that it is, absolutely, the last fix. There’s no more after this, so you either need to go find your fix elsewhere or get clean, and if you’re a book junkie like me, well… you know as well as I do what’s gonna happen next, right? Yeah, you’ll find something else to get hooked on and before you know it, you’re right back at it again, in deep with IOUs, probably half in the bag, sniffing book spines in some dark alley late at night.
…
Where the fuck was I?
Oh, right, The Fearing. Yeah, I dug it. I dug the hell out of it! Taff’s epic is easily one of the most original takes I’ve seen in the apocalyptic horror genre, taking a metaphysical Jungian slant amongst all the horrors and some moments of shocking brutality. Taff kept me on my toes the whole way through, and I certainly cannot complain about that at all. I will admit, though, that I was a bit surprised at a late-game bait-and-switch with who I thought the central characters were.
Mark’s small appearance in Book Two didn’t quite prepare me for the shift in focus that would land squarely on him, and I felt myself getting a bit antsy to return to our RV travelers and high schoolers who dominated books one and two, only to find them sidelined for the majority of book three and even, to a certain degree, here as well. There’s a lot of movement for these characters happening off-page, but by the midpoint of Book Four nearly all of our protagonists are united in one locale. The Fearing is ultimately Mark’s story, and I do wish he were introduced sooner given how much of the narrative bulk he carries. I also wish there was a bit more breathing room in these last two installments, a few more pages, to spend with Kyle, Carli, Rich and the rest of the RV gang, but it’s a minor complaint. Taff gives his central characters some good moments to shine, and there were a few narrative surprises that caught me off guard in their suddenness.
There’s nothing about this finale that feels dragged out. In fact, it’s pretty much a pedal to the metal approach right from the beginning. Taff hits the ground running and races right on through to the very end. And that ending…those last few moments we get to spend with these characters, that lead to that very last line… Oh, man. So, yeah, Taff most definitely sticks the landing here, delivering a highly satisfying conclusion to The Fearing. All those weeks of waiting, those cravings for more, it was worth it. Oh yeah, it was worth it. And then some.
(Note: I received an advance copy of this title from the publisher.)
October 29, 2019
I can't believe advanced readers have finished this series already! I say series because it was serialized, and I have a hard time imagining it as a single book. It seems like just yesterday the first installment came out, and all of us were so anxious to get the next part of the story!
I've been fascinated with fear for a while now. For many years, actually for most of my life, fear has controlled me. Many of my friends and followers on social media know that I'm a germaphobe. That fear, the fear of being in public or even at a gathering with friends or family, and being near someone who is ill is terrifying to me. It's actually the reason I hate flying. If I had a private jet it would be no problem. It's all of those potential germs being carried on board by other passengers that makes me so afraid. I'm not going to go on and on about my fear, but the point is that a book that deals with fear, that causes the reader to examine fear, is fascinating to me because fear takes up so much of my life.
I have to be careful and not spoil book 4. I want so much to discuss specifics, but that just means that it's a good story if I really want to talk about it that much, and this series is fantastic. I was reading Sadie's blurb on here about her feelings, and I felt much the same way. I have to admit I was worried when a certain character showed up in book 3. This character reminded me too much of another antagonist, and I feel as if the character type has become overused. Thankfully Taff took the story in a direction in book 4 that dispelled all of the worry that had me wondering how things would end in the last book. That's sort of the beauty of serialized books. If you dislike the path a book takes, you have to wait to see what the author does with it. In a world where almost everything is instantly available, the serialized novel forces you to chew on the plot for a while. That makes me very happy. Most of my reading was before ebooks and the internet, so it reminds me of all the waiting I had to do for a book I was excited to read. I think it's a good thing to slow down the world every once in a while.
I'm very pleased with book 4 and the story overall. Book 1 immediately grabbed me, and now all the guessing and waiting is over. I absolutely recommend you pick up these books. I don't know if Grey Matter Press eventually intends to combine all 4 books or if they want them to remain in their serialized format. Regardless, pick these up as soon as you can. This is a unique dystopian story that was very much worth the wait.
I've been fascinated with fear for a while now. For many years, actually for most of my life, fear has controlled me. Many of my friends and followers on social media know that I'm a germaphobe. That fear, the fear of being in public or even at a gathering with friends or family, and being near someone who is ill is terrifying to me. It's actually the reason I hate flying. If I had a private jet it would be no problem. It's all of those potential germs being carried on board by other passengers that makes me so afraid. I'm not going to go on and on about my fear, but the point is that a book that deals with fear, that causes the reader to examine fear, is fascinating to me because fear takes up so much of my life.
I have to be careful and not spoil book 4. I want so much to discuss specifics, but that just means that it's a good story if I really want to talk about it that much, and this series is fantastic. I was reading Sadie's blurb on here about her feelings, and I felt much the same way. I have to admit I was worried when a certain character showed up in book 3. This character reminded me too much of another antagonist, and I feel as if the character type has become overused. Thankfully Taff took the story in a direction in book 4 that dispelled all of the worry that had me wondering how things would end in the last book. That's sort of the beauty of serialized books. If you dislike the path a book takes, you have to wait to see what the author does with it. In a world where almost everything is instantly available, the serialized novel forces you to chew on the plot for a while. That makes me very happy. Most of my reading was before ebooks and the internet, so it reminds me of all the waiting I had to do for a book I was excited to read. I think it's a good thing to slow down the world every once in a while.
I'm very pleased with book 4 and the story overall. Book 1 immediately grabbed me, and now all the guessing and waiting is over. I absolutely recommend you pick up these books. I don't know if Grey Matter Press eventually intends to combine all 4 books or if they want them to remain in their serialized format. Regardless, pick these up as soon as you can. This is a unique dystopian story that was very much worth the wait.
November 25, 2019
"We're all part of a system, Rev. All of us. You, me, animals, plants, the stars. All of it. And sometimes the system has to do things that aren't best for one group or another, but for the overall whole. Others have had to shoulder the burden before. This time, it's humanity's turn. For the common good. If it's any consolation, I was sent to ensure that humanity is not completely wiped out, that some portion of it survives to carry on."
The Fearing was ambitious and glorious and one helluva journey!
I'm a broken record at this point, but one of these days I won't give my warning and Karen will bitch and moan about it, I'm sure.
LET'S DO THE DAMN THING!
As I was saying, best as I try to avoid any real spoilers in my reviews, this *is* the fourth part in a serial, so if you haven't read the previous three, jump out here. Or if you like to live dangerously, keep on keeping on!
Cool?
Cool.
"Face it or flee from it. That's the choice. It's always been the choice. Remember that most of the time, fear is an illusion, a magnification. Concentrate on what's real."
So.. it's over and emotions abound.
Earth and Ember is the thickest novel in the series, which isn't surprising, considering how much John F.D. Taff has to wrap up in this epic story! The puzzle pieces that he deftly laid out previously all come together in this thoroughly satisfying ending.
Giant spiders, flying hellbeasts, rebuilding after absolutely brutal environmental disasters, death, destruction.. the fight for survival in a world that is forever changed. Taff continues the story without any noticeable pauses, rather, thrusting the reader into the thick of things over and over again. Picking back up after each installment, as though you never stopped reading.
In a time where everything is so readily available for us to binge, Taff and Grey Matter Press have released a serial novel over the course of a handful of months. They are either insanely bonkers or incredibly clever.
I'm going with the latter!
Also, please allow yourselves a few moments to take in the fucking radical covers by Wendy Saber Core, which form one detailed, gorgeous image. See? I'm telling you, it's genius!
Fear is one of the most primal human emotions. An unavoidable human experience which is justifiable, especially in this dumpster fire era. Taff taps into those manifestations of fear, phobias which impact all of us at one point or another. Fear is complex, having both a physical reaction and emotional response. Horror is deeply personal to many of us, because of how we react to these situations. Then there are people who dismiss horror as cheap thrills for deranged fucks or somehow lesser than its literary counterparts. Well, those people suck, for one. But also, they don't take into account that horror helps many of us deal with our real-life anxieties. It allows us to digest our trauma in other ways. It's cathartic. We see that fight-or-flight response unravel through a lens, monsters embodying unconscious fears and realizing that we aren't always powerless against the horrors of the world.
That's what Taff's storytelling does here, in such an impactful way. There's a reason his name is synonymous with the horror genre and the moniker, The King of Pain, after all.
It's a bold move, trimming what was originally a tome into a serialized novel. In the hands of another writer, this could have easily gone off the rails. Apocalyptic stories have been done before, and many have been done well. And yet.. Taff sets himself apart from the pack with The Fearing.
I am beyond impressed with this series and cannot recommend it enough!
(Massive thanks to Grey Matter Press for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
The Fearing was ambitious and glorious and one helluva journey!
I'm a broken record at this point, but one of these days I won't give my warning and Karen will bitch and moan about it, I'm sure.
LET'S DO THE DAMN THING!
As I was saying, best as I try to avoid any real spoilers in my reviews, this *is* the fourth part in a serial, so if you haven't read the previous three, jump out here. Or if you like to live dangerously, keep on keeping on!
Cool?
Cool.
"Face it or flee from it. That's the choice. It's always been the choice. Remember that most of the time, fear is an illusion, a magnification. Concentrate on what's real."
So.. it's over and emotions abound.
Earth and Ember is the thickest novel in the series, which isn't surprising, considering how much John F.D. Taff has to wrap up in this epic story! The puzzle pieces that he deftly laid out previously all come together in this thoroughly satisfying ending.
Giant spiders, flying hellbeasts, rebuilding after absolutely brutal environmental disasters, death, destruction.. the fight for survival in a world that is forever changed. Taff continues the story without any noticeable pauses, rather, thrusting the reader into the thick of things over and over again. Picking back up after each installment, as though you never stopped reading.
In a time where everything is so readily available for us to binge, Taff and Grey Matter Press have released a serial novel over the course of a handful of months. They are either insanely bonkers or incredibly clever.
I'm going with the latter!
Also, please allow yourselves a few moments to take in the fucking radical covers by Wendy Saber Core, which form one detailed, gorgeous image. See? I'm telling you, it's genius!
Fear is one of the most primal human emotions. An unavoidable human experience which is justifiable, especially in this dumpster fire era. Taff taps into those manifestations of fear, phobias which impact all of us at one point or another. Fear is complex, having both a physical reaction and emotional response. Horror is deeply personal to many of us, because of how we react to these situations. Then there are people who dismiss horror as cheap thrills for deranged fucks or somehow lesser than its literary counterparts. Well, those people suck, for one. But also, they don't take into account that horror helps many of us deal with our real-life anxieties. It allows us to digest our trauma in other ways. It's cathartic. We see that fight-or-flight response unravel through a lens, monsters embodying unconscious fears and realizing that we aren't always powerless against the horrors of the world.
That's what Taff's storytelling does here, in such an impactful way. There's a reason his name is synonymous with the horror genre and the moniker, The King of Pain, after all.
It's a bold move, trimming what was originally a tome into a serialized novel. In the hands of another writer, this could have easily gone off the rails. Apocalyptic stories have been done before, and many have been done well. And yet.. Taff sets himself apart from the pack with The Fearing.
I am beyond impressed with this series and cannot recommend it enough!
(Massive thanks to Grey Matter Press for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
November 1, 2019
This was a great series. The ending wasn't what I expected to get, but it worked.
December 30, 2019
A stellar end to a brilliant novella series. Highly recommended.
November 1, 2019
So The Fearing comes to an end and I'm delighted to report this journey has, for the most part, been a success.
I will dip back into comments I made on the previous volumes as they are all pertinent to Volume 4 and will help colour the issues I had.
First and foremost you can see I have rewarded this Volume has a 4 star rating, yet I had problems with this book. That may read like a contradiction but what works in Earth & Ember is a story telling masterclass. Taff has passages in this book that had me on the edge of my seat and an ending that will delight all genre/writing fans. It's simply brilliant.
Like Volume 3, Earth & Ember had too much exposition for my liking. I think it was a 100 or so pages before something that got my blood racing happened.
This may have not been such an issue if this exposition was between characters I loved as much as the students and other characters from Volumes 1 & 2. These characters were brilliant but sadly for the most part they are on the back burner for the final two volumes.
These characters rewarded the reader with one of the finest moments I've had the pleasure to read in the conclusion of Volume 2 yet they are bit part players from then on. A real shame.
The 'events' didn't happen as often as I'd have liked, certainly in Book 3 and to a degree Book 4.
Books 1 & 2 set things up as an epic rollercoaster where there are absolutely no rules. Book 3 calms everything down (not in scope but by not dropping the reader into the mayhem as much) with Book 4 continuing that trend until the quite brilliant finale where Taff proves he's one of the best in the business.
The serialisation works but I'd think another 'event' in the, for me, overly long quieter moments in both Books 3 & 4 would have been appreciated.
So to conclude, The Fearing is a fantastic if occasionally frustrating reading experience. Its so close to perfect and keeps John FD Taff on my 'Must read author' list.
I will dip back into comments I made on the previous volumes as they are all pertinent to Volume 4 and will help colour the issues I had.
First and foremost you can see I have rewarded this Volume has a 4 star rating, yet I had problems with this book. That may read like a contradiction but what works in Earth & Ember is a story telling masterclass. Taff has passages in this book that had me on the edge of my seat and an ending that will delight all genre/writing fans. It's simply brilliant.
Like Volume 3, Earth & Ember had too much exposition for my liking. I think it was a 100 or so pages before something that got my blood racing happened.
This may have not been such an issue if this exposition was between characters I loved as much as the students and other characters from Volumes 1 & 2. These characters were brilliant but sadly for the most part they are on the back burner for the final two volumes.
These characters rewarded the reader with one of the finest moments I've had the pleasure to read in the conclusion of Volume 2 yet they are bit part players from then on. A real shame.
The 'events' didn't happen as often as I'd have liked, certainly in Book 3 and to a degree Book 4.
Books 1 & 2 set things up as an epic rollercoaster where there are absolutely no rules. Book 3 calms everything down (not in scope but by not dropping the reader into the mayhem as much) with Book 4 continuing that trend until the quite brilliant finale where Taff proves he's one of the best in the business.
The serialisation works but I'd think another 'event' in the, for me, overly long quieter moments in both Books 3 & 4 would have been appreciated.
So to conclude, The Fearing is a fantastic if occasionally frustrating reading experience. Its so close to perfect and keeps John FD Taff on my 'Must read author' list.
October 30, 2019
The final installment to this serial release met all my expectations. We get a bit longer of a book in this case, which gives Taff room to tie everything up. It won't be neat, it won't be tidy, and I'd be surprised if you guessed the way this all winds up. I know I didn't, but when it was finished, it felt right. A lot of other things too, but definitely right.
I'm not the most coherent reviewer in the world, so I'll try to make this simple. What made this five stars for me were the characters, that were real and well drawn and demanded the reader's investment. It was the story arc, which was well paced and epic without being sprawling and unmanageable. It was the novelty of it, and the scenes of every fear being given life. This was well written and well edited, and a beautiful production from start to finish.
I'm new to Taff's writing, and to Grey Matter press, but both of those things will be remedied. I highly recommend this entire series.
I'm not the most coherent reviewer in the world, so I'll try to make this simple. What made this five stars for me were the characters, that were real and well drawn and demanded the reader's investment. It was the story arc, which was well paced and epic without being sprawling and unmanageable. It was the novelty of it, and the scenes of every fear being given life. This was well written and well edited, and a beautiful production from start to finish.
I'm new to Taff's writing, and to Grey Matter press, but both of those things will be remedied. I highly recommend this entire series.
November 12, 2019
I can not talk enough how much I enjoyed this series, just amazing characters, action and post apocalyptic horror. This book is like the final horseman that brings evil to face good. With so little of civilization left, it’s them or him.. no spoilers and If you have followed along this far you know the world teeters on the encounter Monday brought them too. I want this book in a complete hard back collection or better yet.. a movie! Love it, read it!
October 27, 2019
John F.D. Taff, while accomplished in a great variety of writing styles, tends to showcase himself most often in short fiction. With the Fearing showing up in small pieces every 6 weeks, it's easy to forget that it was originally conceived and executed as an epic doorstop novel, something Taff is not necessarily known for writing. Would Taff be able to wrap up a work north of 500 pages in a satisfactory manner?
Yes.
Okay, some elaboration. Reverend "please don't call me Rev" Mark becomes the primary focus, and Earth & Ember sees him help to rally the troops against wannabe dictator Tim Jacoby. As has become a staple of these books, not everything goes according to plan, and for the umpteenth time we find ourselves shaking our fists at the sky and cursing the King of Pain, who sits in his ivory tower laughing at us. From there we barrel towards the end, and the inevitable reveal of who Adam really is, who Monday really is, and how this wild hayride all turns out.
This installment is pretty hefty at 167 pages, at least in comparison to the former entries. Book four is necessarily heavy on plot development, but still finds time to put in some of the demonstrations of fear we've come to anticipate. In fact, there's one scene that I found to be the most disturbing, out of all the books. Full credit to Mr. Taff, because outdoing the camp attack in book three wasn't going to be easy. He kept telling us "it gets so much worse". I guess we should have listened.
If you're reading a review of book four, there's a solid chance you're already invested in this series. Or maybe you just wanted to see if the ending would justify your time and energy. That's fair, it does. I won't offer up spoilers for how everything shakes out, but speaking as a reader, I felt fully gratified. Of course, it's possible you may have a different experience, but I can assure the lingering questions get answered and we don't wrap things up with cliches or deus ex machinas. The epilogue and the author's afterword are both required reading, and only serve to compliment your experience. And the closing line? Absolute perfection.
If you have looked forward to this as much as I have, may you enjoy yourself as much as I did.
Yes.
Okay, some elaboration. Reverend "please don't call me Rev" Mark becomes the primary focus, and Earth & Ember sees him help to rally the troops against wannabe dictator Tim Jacoby. As has become a staple of these books, not everything goes according to plan, and for the umpteenth time we find ourselves shaking our fists at the sky and cursing the King of Pain, who sits in his ivory tower laughing at us. From there we barrel towards the end, and the inevitable reveal of who Adam really is, who Monday really is, and how this wild hayride all turns out.
This installment is pretty hefty at 167 pages, at least in comparison to the former entries. Book four is necessarily heavy on plot development, but still finds time to put in some of the demonstrations of fear we've come to anticipate. In fact, there's one scene that I found to be the most disturbing, out of all the books. Full credit to Mr. Taff, because outdoing the camp attack in book three wasn't going to be easy. He kept telling us "it gets so much worse". I guess we should have listened.
If you're reading a review of book four, there's a solid chance you're already invested in this series. Or maybe you just wanted to see if the ending would justify your time and energy. That's fair, it does. I won't offer up spoilers for how everything shakes out, but speaking as a reader, I felt fully gratified. Of course, it's possible you may have a different experience, but I can assure the lingering questions get answered and we don't wrap things up with cliches or deus ex machinas. The epilogue and the author's afterword are both required reading, and only serve to compliment your experience. And the closing line? Absolute perfection.
If you have looked forward to this as much as I have, may you enjoy yourself as much as I did.
July 9, 2020
*I was given this book book by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.*
The Fearing Book 4 by John F.D Taff continues as Tim Jacoby, a maniacal leader, solidifies his control over his followers by deciding who lives and who dies. The survivors, with a new destination in sight, arrive at Graceland to reestablish society. Adam and Jelnik contemplate their mysterious role in the end of all things. Everything ends here.
I dropped Book 4 2 stars because it was way too much of a slow burn. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat, but all of the dialogue took too long that when the ending came, it was extremely anti-climactic. The 3rd book was incredibly verbose and I thought it was just setting up for some explosive scenes in book 4. And although book 4 does contain some amazing scenes, none were set up by the yawn inspiring dialogue of book 3 and the beginning of book 4. Way too much detail. And I NEVER say that!
The characters were not given enough attention in Book 4. They were playing second fiddle to needless explanations.
In the end, all the T's were crossed and I's dotted. The end was somewhat satisfying. Through these 4 books there had been a lot of excitement, gore, scares along the way. Book 1 and 2 were practically flawless, Book 3 Taff staggered, Book 4 Taff fell flat, leaving readers begging for a rewrite of books 3 and 4 to be comparable to books 1 and 2.
The Fearing Book 4 by John F.D Taff continues as Tim Jacoby, a maniacal leader, solidifies his control over his followers by deciding who lives and who dies. The survivors, with a new destination in sight, arrive at Graceland to reestablish society. Adam and Jelnik contemplate their mysterious role in the end of all things. Everything ends here.
I dropped Book 4 2 stars because it was way too much of a slow burn. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat, but all of the dialogue took too long that when the ending came, it was extremely anti-climactic. The 3rd book was incredibly verbose and I thought it was just setting up for some explosive scenes in book 4. And although book 4 does contain some amazing scenes, none were set up by the yawn inspiring dialogue of book 3 and the beginning of book 4. Way too much detail. And I NEVER say that!
The characters were not given enough attention in Book 4. They were playing second fiddle to needless explanations.
In the end, all the T's were crossed and I's dotted. The end was somewhat satisfying. Through these 4 books there had been a lot of excitement, gore, scares along the way. Book 1 and 2 were practically flawless, Book 3 Taff staggered, Book 4 Taff fell flat, leaving readers begging for a rewrite of books 3 and 4 to be comparable to books 1 and 2.
October 27, 2019
The last piece of the epic serial Novel, The Fearing, has arrived. Does John F.D. Taff stick the landing? All you had to do was read book one to know that Taff was going to nail this.
With each of the first 3 installments, I’ve praised how well written The Fearing is. Book 4 is no different, and why would it be? Taff’s prose is excellent. Book 4 begins right where book 3 leaves off. Our heroes must deal with Tim Jacoby, a crazy who fancies himself the only man capable of saving humanity from the encroaching darkness, while making their way to the final showdown with Adam.
Book Four: Earth and Ember answers the final questions readers had. We had suspected a connection between Monday and Adam, but here we learn the truth behind these two. I’ve got to say, I had legitimately no clue about what the reveal for Monday would be. I knew there had to be something, and maybe readers smarter than me figured it out, but I was clueless. Taff puts his characters through the ringer once again. We spend a good portion of the book dealing with Tim Jacoby and the trouble he brings before finally making our way to THE END. As with any novel, it’s always possible that the conclusion could muck things up and end in an unsatisfying way; I’m happy to say that after months of following this serialization, Taff wraps things up perfectly.
Book 4: Earth and Ember is a fitting conclusion to John F.D Taff’s apocalyptic The Fearing. It picks up right where book 3 leaves off, racing to the finish without stopping for a breather. I can’t think of a better way to cap off this truly epic journey.
With each of the first 3 installments, I’ve praised how well written The Fearing is. Book 4 is no different, and why would it be? Taff’s prose is excellent. Book 4 begins right where book 3 leaves off. Our heroes must deal with Tim Jacoby, a crazy who fancies himself the only man capable of saving humanity from the encroaching darkness, while making their way to the final showdown with Adam.
Book Four: Earth and Ember answers the final questions readers had. We had suspected a connection between Monday and Adam, but here we learn the truth behind these two. I’ve got to say, I had legitimately no clue about what the reveal for Monday would be. I knew there had to be something, and maybe readers smarter than me figured it out, but I was clueless. Taff puts his characters through the ringer once again. We spend a good portion of the book dealing with Tim Jacoby and the trouble he brings before finally making our way to THE END. As with any novel, it’s always possible that the conclusion could muck things up and end in an unsatisfying way; I’m happy to say that after months of following this serialization, Taff wraps things up perfectly.
Book 4: Earth and Ember is a fitting conclusion to John F.D Taff’s apocalyptic The Fearing. It picks up right where book 3 leaves off, racing to the finish without stopping for a breather. I can’t think of a better way to cap off this truly epic journey.
February 6, 2020
What a great ending to a great series! I recommend this to all of you who love a good horror/post-apocalyptic story!
January 2, 2020
The four part series comes to an end as everything comes to a fitting end. There are tons of unexpected moments, and the ultimate conclusion is very satisfying. For those interested, I will have a review of the entire series soon.
Full series review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2020/01/...
Full series review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2020/01/...
December 30, 2019
Well here it is, the finale we have been working our way towards over the last few months, the curiosity and anticipation has been real!
In this last installment we follow our group of survivors as they continue to face fear in the many ways it can manifest itself, I think I mentioned in my review for the previous installment, I love the concept of human fears confronting the survivors, it could take you anywhere and Taff has certainly done this in deliciously dark and horrifying ways.
The characterisation continued to be fantastic, all are so believable and relatable as they have been throughout.
It’s difficult to write a meaty review when I’ve reviewed the previous parts individually and I obviously don’t want to drop any spoilers, but all I can say is that book 4 did not disappoint, it was tense, brutal and mind-bending in places.
I often find with post-apocalyptic stories I enjoy the mid-section parts more than I enjoy the ending but I must say Earth & Ember was a satisfying close to what has been an epic journey and I can’t recommend highly enough that you read The Fearing immediately!
Check out my reviews for the previous installments if you want a more overall idea of my thoughts on the series as a whole
Darkreads.blog
In this last installment we follow our group of survivors as they continue to face fear in the many ways it can manifest itself, I think I mentioned in my review for the previous installment, I love the concept of human fears confronting the survivors, it could take you anywhere and Taff has certainly done this in deliciously dark and horrifying ways.
The characterisation continued to be fantastic, all are so believable and relatable as they have been throughout.
It’s difficult to write a meaty review when I’ve reviewed the previous parts individually and I obviously don’t want to drop any spoilers, but all I can say is that book 4 did not disappoint, it was tense, brutal and mind-bending in places.
I often find with post-apocalyptic stories I enjoy the mid-section parts more than I enjoy the ending but I must say Earth & Ember was a satisfying close to what has been an epic journey and I can’t recommend highly enough that you read The Fearing immediately!
Check out my reviews for the previous installments if you want a more overall idea of my thoughts on the series as a whole
Darkreads.blog
November 14, 2019
The Fearing: Book Four – Earth & Ember
After reading book one, (to say I was immediately hooked would be an understatement), I couldn’t wait to read book two. Taff does an excellent job in books one and two getting me, the reader, thoroughly invested in the characters, which made the ending of book two that much more shocking and heartbreaking – and for an author – that’s a good thing.
I have to admit; I was a bit disappointed when I read books three and four, a couple of those major characters that I was invested in the first two installments felt like minor characters in the last two, with very little screen time, for lack of better phrasing at the moment.
There are a couple of awesome, heart-wrenching scenes in book four, and I loved the ending! (Nooooo tiiiime is ah g…*ahem*)
I’ve enjoyed reading all four installments of The Fearing, and I’m sad to see it end. Thank you, Grey Matter Press and John F.D. Taff, for providing me with an advance copy of all four books in exchange for an honest review.
Up Next: The Bell Witch
After reading book one, (to say I was immediately hooked would be an understatement), I couldn’t wait to read book two. Taff does an excellent job in books one and two getting me, the reader, thoroughly invested in the characters, which made the ending of book two that much more shocking and heartbreaking – and for an author – that’s a good thing.
I have to admit; I was a bit disappointed when I read books three and four, a couple of those major characters that I was invested in the first two installments felt like minor characters in the last two, with very little screen time, for lack of better phrasing at the moment.
There are a couple of awesome, heart-wrenching scenes in book four, and I loved the ending! (Nooooo tiiiime is ah g…*ahem*)
I’ve enjoyed reading all four installments of The Fearing, and I’m sad to see it end. Thank you, Grey Matter Press and John F.D. Taff, for providing me with an advance copy of all four books in exchange for an honest review.
Up Next: The Bell Witch
November 20, 2019
Wow. I thought there was no way the author would be able to end the book on such a grand scale, but I was wrong. This is what an epic story is supposed to be, and kudos to Mr. Taff for writing such a grand scale piece of fiction.
November 12, 2019
For those of us who have been following the previous three instalments of the epic, The Fearing, get ready to feast your eyes on the final part, Book 4. Taff wastes no time getting back into the swing of conflict between the survivors of this apocalypse. The man who has assumed leadership (much like a certain other Orange Cheeto-in-Chief I won’t name) is an ornery canker sore of a person who feels he is the leader, commanding the others in the camp for reports from recon groups. He keeps a close eye on the reverend, Mark, and on Monday.
There’s an explosive encounter between this “leader” and Monday, the strange girl that Mark has taken under her wing, and I have been making a concerted effort to avoid spoilers, but this confrontation is on another level. I loved it also because it helped to alleviate a lot of the tension most of us have been feeling in the current political climate. Jacoby represents all the ill-gotten gains of old white dudes and I found the energy was buzzing in that scene. As well, I worried for Monday’s welfare and throughout the series, she definitely grew on me.
I’m still sore about the ending of Book 2, so as I was reading through this volume, I prayed that this type of agony would be spared us again, but as many have been quick to point out, John F.D. Taff isn’t called The King of Pain for nothing.
After pretty much torturing and teasing readers with little slivers of explanations here and there, Taff unleashes an epic conclusion in this final tome, answering some of the major questions posed throughout the story. It all starts to click together as the endgame unfolds.
The connections to the works of Carl Jung are also on full display here, adding a psychological element as people are still trying to make sense not only of what’s been happening, but how to move forward and ensure survival.
Overall, I can’t sing the praises of this series enough. It took Taff almost a decade to complete and release this project, and let’s just say there’s a good reason reviewers and authors alike are raving about the sheer awesomeness within (and need to buzz more!) Grey Matter Press has done a phenomenal job with the promotion, distribution, and dissemination of the masterpiece that is The Fearing, and Taff deserves to be nominated for all major horror awards for this project. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and buy all four parts of this epic novel. This will absolutely be an unforgettable binge for horror readers.
There’s an explosive encounter between this “leader” and Monday, the strange girl that Mark has taken under her wing, and I have been making a concerted effort to avoid spoilers, but this confrontation is on another level. I loved it also because it helped to alleviate a lot of the tension most of us have been feeling in the current political climate. Jacoby represents all the ill-gotten gains of old white dudes and I found the energy was buzzing in that scene. As well, I worried for Monday’s welfare and throughout the series, she definitely grew on me.
I’m still sore about the ending of Book 2, so as I was reading through this volume, I prayed that this type of agony would be spared us again, but as many have been quick to point out, John F.D. Taff isn’t called The King of Pain for nothing.
After pretty much torturing and teasing readers with little slivers of explanations here and there, Taff unleashes an epic conclusion in this final tome, answering some of the major questions posed throughout the story. It all starts to click together as the endgame unfolds.
The connections to the works of Carl Jung are also on full display here, adding a psychological element as people are still trying to make sense not only of what’s been happening, but how to move forward and ensure survival.
Overall, I can’t sing the praises of this series enough. It took Taff almost a decade to complete and release this project, and let’s just say there’s a good reason reviewers and authors alike are raving about the sheer awesomeness within (and need to buzz more!) Grey Matter Press has done a phenomenal job with the promotion, distribution, and dissemination of the masterpiece that is The Fearing, and Taff deserves to be nominated for all major horror awards for this project. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and buy all four parts of this epic novel. This will absolutely be an unforgettable binge for horror readers.
December 15, 2019
The Fearing saga concludes with Book Four - Earth & Ember. It's been an absolute pleasure to read each installment as it was released. I'm sad it's coming to an end but it's the first interactive reading experience I've had and one of the highlights of my reading year. I first met these characters in June and it's finally time to say goodbye.
Book Four picks up after the ending of Book Three where a ruthless man, Tim Jacoby, and his followers arrive at the survivors' encampment. His hostile behaviour causes conflict with other survivors, particularly Reverend Mark. I found their interactions intense and complex, adding to the sense of unease. They also meet another group of people - Rich, Glen and the rest of the bus survivors. Bringing all the characters together was a high point and it felt satisfying to see them finally interact. While we spent some time with particular characters, ultimately this is Mark's story. I enjoyed seeing the way his character develop into being a leader.
One of the highlights of the book involves a flashback to Jelnik's past. His chapter is one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing things I've ever read. It is a reflection of real life's atrocities and shows how much fear can consume, break, destroy and hurt people. The writing is concise and superb. I liked that the story digs into human psyche and shows that while fears can be personal, sometimes even the most different of people can share the same fears.
The Fearing is an excellent post-apocalyptic horror about survival, love, loss, fear and hope. Because it's easy to give in to fear, but much harder to hope for the better. This book proves that it is possible, and most of all, worth it.
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
Book Four picks up after the ending of Book Three where a ruthless man, Tim Jacoby, and his followers arrive at the survivors' encampment. His hostile behaviour causes conflict with other survivors, particularly Reverend Mark. I found their interactions intense and complex, adding to the sense of unease. They also meet another group of people - Rich, Glen and the rest of the bus survivors. Bringing all the characters together was a high point and it felt satisfying to see them finally interact. While we spent some time with particular characters, ultimately this is Mark's story. I enjoyed seeing the way his character develop into being a leader.
One of the highlights of the book involves a flashback to Jelnik's past. His chapter is one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing things I've ever read. It is a reflection of real life's atrocities and shows how much fear can consume, break, destroy and hurt people. The writing is concise and superb. I liked that the story digs into human psyche and shows that while fears can be personal, sometimes even the most different of people can share the same fears.
The Fearing is an excellent post-apocalyptic horror about survival, love, loss, fear and hope. Because it's easy to give in to fear, but much harder to hope for the better. This book proves that it is possible, and most of all, worth it.
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
November 23, 2019
Well this is it John Taff has done it, what a conclusion! After finishing book 3 I wasn’t sure how John was going to wrap this up in one more book but he went ahead and did it. The Fearing was a fun read over the last few months as each volume in this four part serialized novel was released ever few weeks or months. I really love how Taff takes the apocalyptic horror genre and does something fresh, Fear is the ultimate villain of this tale and the mythology of this world was so intriguing. There is a mechanical nature to what is happening in this story but you have to read the series to understand completely. Overall I was completely enthralled by this tale although there were some characters that I really grew to love that I wish could had a little more focus. Nonetheless I know for sure that I will be enjoying more books written by John Taff, and this series comes highly recommended.
January 1, 2020
You will know the meaning of fear.
Because The Fearing was conceived and written as a single novel, my thoughts here will serve as a review of the story as a whole: Book One through Four.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this story. I’ve seen plenty of movies and TV shows, but I haven’t read many dystopian or apocalyptic novels. Only two come to mind - Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, which I love, and Stephen King’s The Stand, which I’ve never been able to finish. Yeah, yeah, I know. But King lost me at about the mid-point when the story shifted away from a government experiment gone wrong to a supernatural battle between good and evil. It felt like a bait and switch. I felt deceived.
Taff has no such issue here. The Fearing is pretty upfront about its supernatural origins and overtones. And it’s glorious. The inciting incident, an apocalypse triggered by the manifestation of humanity’s fears is a fresh take on this genre that hooked me as soon as I heard it. And in Taff’s capable hands, it’s a visceral experience.
I don’t want to say much more about the plot, because the less you know going in, the more enjoyable the story will be. But I will say the character work is top notch. From the protagonists, to the supporting characters, to the antagonists, they all feel like people I know or have met. They all felt real, and I shared in their sorrow, their pain, and their joy.
Lastly, I want to comment on the writing - the prose, the dialogue. It’s sublime. I tore through these four books and breakneck speed (one of them in only a couple days, which is crazy-fast for me, considering my schedule). And this was just as much due to Taff’s words as it was to the story. I was sucked in immediately by the prose and was pleasantly surprised to find I felt the same by the last page.
The Fearing creeped me out. It broke my heart. It had me literally yelling, “Hell yeah” more than once. This book is not to be missed. Buy all four volumes, right now, and dig in. You won’t be sorry.
Because The Fearing was conceived and written as a single novel, my thoughts here will serve as a review of the story as a whole: Book One through Four.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this story. I’ve seen plenty of movies and TV shows, but I haven’t read many dystopian or apocalyptic novels. Only two come to mind - Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, which I love, and Stephen King’s The Stand, which I’ve never been able to finish. Yeah, yeah, I know. But King lost me at about the mid-point when the story shifted away from a government experiment gone wrong to a supernatural battle between good and evil. It felt like a bait and switch. I felt deceived.
Taff has no such issue here. The Fearing is pretty upfront about its supernatural origins and overtones. And it’s glorious. The inciting incident, an apocalypse triggered by the manifestation of humanity’s fears is a fresh take on this genre that hooked me as soon as I heard it. And in Taff’s capable hands, it’s a visceral experience.
I don’t want to say much more about the plot, because the less you know going in, the more enjoyable the story will be. But I will say the character work is top notch. From the protagonists, to the supporting characters, to the antagonists, they all feel like people I know or have met. They all felt real, and I shared in their sorrow, their pain, and their joy.
Lastly, I want to comment on the writing - the prose, the dialogue. It’s sublime. I tore through these four books and breakneck speed (one of them in only a couple days, which is crazy-fast for me, considering my schedule). And this was just as much due to Taff’s words as it was to the story. I was sucked in immediately by the prose and was pleasantly surprised to find I felt the same by the last page.
The Fearing creeped me out. It broke my heart. It had me literally yelling, “Hell yeah” more than once. This book is not to be missed. Buy all four volumes, right now, and dig in. You won’t be sorry.
March 10, 2020
3 AND 1/2 STARS
This fourth and final volume in the novella series, The Fearing. John Taff gets a respectable thumbs up for a satisfying, if a bit predictable, ending. While I would have enjoyed a more atmospheric environment - like Jonathan Maberry's stunning Pine Deep trilogy - this was a worthwhile read. The largest page count of the series, the $9.99 paperback price was still too much for such a short "novel". For the subject matter, this story should have been darker but I will recommend it to my kids as a good transition from middle school into high school as a solid YA book to read. I am interested in trying out some of Taff's short story collections to see the variety in his work. In conclusion, The Fearing style is much closer to reading Stephen King than the darker (and better) Jack Ketchum or Bentley Little. A semi-epic PG-13 horror tale. Recommended.
This fourth and final volume in the novella series, The Fearing. John Taff gets a respectable thumbs up for a satisfying, if a bit predictable, ending. While I would have enjoyed a more atmospheric environment - like Jonathan Maberry's stunning Pine Deep trilogy - this was a worthwhile read. The largest page count of the series, the $9.99 paperback price was still too much for such a short "novel". For the subject matter, this story should have been darker but I will recommend it to my kids as a good transition from middle school into high school as a solid YA book to read. I am interested in trying out some of Taff's short story collections to see the variety in his work. In conclusion, The Fearing style is much closer to reading Stephen King than the darker (and better) Jack Ketchum or Bentley Little. A semi-epic PG-13 horror tale. Recommended.
January 9, 2021
Packaging The Fearing in four volumes is an interesting marketing strategy and makes for an attractive collection, but this should really be read as a single novel. I made this mistake of reading each part several months apart, and it no doubt lessened the experience for me and made it hard to maintain a connection to the characters, in the end. But let me make it clear, I did enjoy it. I just think I would have enjoyed it more reading it all straight through.
This is the big climactic finale. In it, the perspective shifts slightly as the various groups meet up and Rev. Tim Jacoby emerges as the book’s hero. I was a bit disappointed to see some of the characters I had grown attached to in earlier books fade into the scenery (or die), but I understand the rationale behind streamlining this conclusion to the major players. And the conclusion was satisfying, managing to tie up what amounts to a battle with gods, in a way that was both personal and human. Also, the uplifting message of hope for humankind was more than welcome in good old 2020.
This is the big climactic finale. In it, the perspective shifts slightly as the various groups meet up and Rev. Tim Jacoby emerges as the book’s hero. I was a bit disappointed to see some of the characters I had grown attached to in earlier books fade into the scenery (or die), but I understand the rationale behind streamlining this conclusion to the major players. And the conclusion was satisfying, managing to tie up what amounts to a battle with gods, in a way that was both personal and human. Also, the uplifting message of hope for humankind was more than welcome in good old 2020.
January 3, 2020
3.5 stars
I've got mixed feelings about the series.
I really liked the writing and got to care for many of the characters. This last book got really dark in some parts and brought more heartbreak.
I was trying to think about what it is that didn't make me love it.
The author mentions having to shorten the story. I think it would have been better if it had been longer as I wanted to get to know some of the characters better and feel their journey and their pain more.
All in all though, this series was very enjoyable and I'll definitely be checking more works by this author.
I've got mixed feelings about the series.
I really liked the writing and got to care for many of the characters. This last book got really dark in some parts and brought more heartbreak.
I was trying to think about what it is that didn't make me love it.
The author mentions having to shorten the story. I think it would have been better if it had been longer as I wanted to get to know some of the characters better and feel their journey and their pain more.
All in all though, this series was very enjoyable and I'll definitely be checking more works by this author.
November 27, 2019
While I enjoyed the serial format for The Fearing, I think I would have preferred to have it served up as one novel. My problem was that I had a difficult time keeping track of the cast of characters, and waiting a month between each installment left me disconnected and confused on who was who. Either I struggled with the delay between each book, or some of the characters weren't uniquely defined and tended to blend together. Either way, this was a fun ride with a unique story line.
December 19, 2019
This final installment in Taff's apocalyptic series was deftly executed and highly satisfying. I found myself ruminating on the concepts explored throughout the series long after I put it down. I always love a good story that both entertains and makes you wax a little philosophical. Every entry in THE FEARING series does just that and I enjoyed them all immensely. As always, I'm looking forward to what the King of Pain has coming up next for his loyal readership!
April 15, 2020
John F.D. Taff is new to me. I first read his work in Lullabies for Suffering: Tales of Addiction Horror. His short story The Melting Point of Meat blew me away. I found The Fearing series and bought them all. Let me say that this series is essential horror reading right along side the works of writers like Nick Cutter, Robert McCammon, and yes, Stephen King. Don't miss out. JFDT is the real deal.
Five Stars for the series *****
Five Stars for the series *****
July 20, 2025
Now I’m just sad, bc we’ve come all this way and it’s over. I just KNEW I was about to be disappointed, and the ending would be sickeningly sweet and HEA, and let me tell you-I was wrong. Is it perfect? No. Is it close to perfect and totally acceptable? Yes.
Now to forever lament that I can’t own a copy of these exceptionally hard to find books, and to work on finding more by Taff. Solid five stars, for this and the overall series.
Now to forever lament that I can’t own a copy of these exceptionally hard to find books, and to work on finding more by Taff. Solid five stars, for this and the overall series.
December 9, 2019
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I highly recommend this series! It was suspenseful, emotional, well written. This final book was a great conclusion to the series.
You will want to start with book one and go straight through. They are one continuations story.
Narration was again excellent with this book.
Over all four stars!
I highly recommend this series! It was suspenseful, emotional, well written. This final book was a great conclusion to the series.
You will want to start with book one and go straight through. They are one continuations story.
Narration was again excellent with this book.
Over all four stars!
March 2, 2024
4 / 5 for 'The Fearing Book 4' by John FD Taff
An enjoyable end to this short series of short books. The build-up to the final battle is tense and well-written, the whole feel of the book is apocalyptic and there are a good few freaky sequences.
great dialogue and characterisation all around too. The book only loses 1 star for not being more scary.
Well worth a read though.
4 / 5
An enjoyable end to this short series of short books. The build-up to the final battle is tense and well-written, the whole feel of the book is apocalyptic and there are a good few freaky sequences.
great dialogue and characterisation all around too. The book only loses 1 star for not being more scary.
Well worth a read though.
4 / 5
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