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Spirit Core #2
Children of Fear
After successfully completing his objective inside the house in South Carolina, the transformed soul of serial killer Clive Logan was randomly transported to another location as his reward. Something about the new house he found himself in was quite different, however; whereas the Spirit Core had previously “haunted” a house filled with only adult targets, two children that apparently lived in the new location – a young boy and a slightly older girl – were thrown into the mix.
As an emotionally absent serial killer, he didn’t care that they were children – he would kill them if that was his objective. Fortunately for them, Clive soon learned that instead of killing the two young kids, he needed to leave them alone because their innocent souls were essentially off-limits. At the same time, the FEAR-based attacks that had worked so well for the Spirit Core in South Carolina were practically useless against the parental protective instincts the two adults in the house possessed. This made them more fearful for their children than they were for themselves, negating the majority of the FEAR he would normally generate.
Luckily, there was a solution for that. While harming or killing the children was forbidden, recruiting them to Clive’s side was not only allowed, but encouraged; if the attacks on their parents came from them instead of the Spirit Core, none of their protective instincts would kick in. A simple solution – but working alongside children was never something he had prior experience with, nor did he count himself as much of a team player.
To succeed in his new objective, however, serial killer Clive Logan was going to have to rely on a couple of kids who liked dinosaurs, cars, and unicorns…
Warning: No children are physically hurt in this book, though the ones integral to the story are affected in other (mental and emotional) ways. This is also the tale of a serial killer doing what serial killers do, so if you are opposed to either of these warnings, turn back now…
Contains LitRPG/GameLit aspects such as statistics and leveling, as well as Dungeon Core elements
As an emotionally absent serial killer, he didn’t care that they were children – he would kill them if that was his objective. Fortunately for them, Clive soon learned that instead of killing the two young kids, he needed to leave them alone because their innocent souls were essentially off-limits. At the same time, the FEAR-based attacks that had worked so well for the Spirit Core in South Carolina were practically useless against the parental protective instincts the two adults in the house possessed. This made them more fearful for their children than they were for themselves, negating the majority of the FEAR he would normally generate.
Luckily, there was a solution for that. While harming or killing the children was forbidden, recruiting them to Clive’s side was not only allowed, but encouraged; if the attacks on their parents came from them instead of the Spirit Core, none of their protective instincts would kick in. A simple solution – but working alongside children was never something he had prior experience with, nor did he count himself as much of a team player.
To succeed in his new objective, however, serial killer Clive Logan was going to have to rely on a couple of kids who liked dinosaurs, cars, and unicorns…
Warning: No children are physically hurt in this book, though the ones integral to the story are affected in other (mental and emotional) ways. This is also the tale of a serial killer doing what serial killers do, so if you are opposed to either of these warnings, turn back now…
Contains LitRPG/GameLit aspects such as statistics and leveling, as well as Dungeon Core elements
- GenresHorror
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2019
74 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Brooks
93 books491 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 30, 2019
Creepy more Than Scary
This story of a haunting ghost who uses fear based attacks with stats was great until they started using children to attack. That was just wrong and too creepy. The first book was fun with the Power Ups, and had me rooting for the ghost IDK anymore
This story of a haunting ghost who uses fear based attacks with stats was great until they started using children to attack. That was just wrong and too creepy. The first book was fun with the Power Ups, and had me rooting for the ghost IDK anymore
January 17, 2021
4.5 Stars
OVERALL- This is a sequel that does not disappoint! In fact, it expands upon the original like sequels SHOULD do, and I'd go so far as to say that as a result, I think it's even better then Book One!
WARNINGS:
Manipulation / Grooming of children
Children committing violence
First of all, NO CHILDREN WERE PHYSICALLY HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS NOVEL. This was a huge plus for me, especially because the reasoning behind why children were not targets was very reasonable. Basically, they were too young for Clive to get any benefits from them, so why would he go out of his way to harm them? I appreciated these little details, because it gave actual reasons for inactions or actions to occur.
This book focuses on a new facet of Clive's abilities, creating Minions! I loved that this introduced a new system in Clive's dungeon arsenal to explore, because it helped diversify this series and keep it fresh. I love seeing Dungeons evolving, and this series evolves so naturally, that it is quickly becoming one of my favorite Dungeon Core series.
This evolution was not something that Clive chose to do, it was simply out of necessity (and due to his personality, I feel like this is the only way he WILL evolve), and so my hats off to the author for coming up with new situations that force him to evolve!
The premise of this book, is that because parents with children will always put aside their FEAR due to their protective instincts, the only way to attack them is THROUGH the children. The resulting situation is incredibly entertaining, because Clive literally has no idea how to be someone's friend, or even how to be ‘friendly’- and yet he's found himself stuck in a situation where his only option for survival is to build a relationship with a living child 😂
Clive almost reminds me of child himself, because seeing how flustered he is trying to think of ways to connect with someone else is adorably awkward. Like... this is the way he approaches making friends:
I was a man once... and he's male too... that's something I can work with.
His attacks are even replaced with techniques to establish a relationship. Like GHOST HUG!
But please know that while I might be joking while writing this, in reality, this situation is creepy as hell. Ghost’s winning/manipulating children into doing their bidding might be slightly funny when you read about how awkward they feel while doing these things- but the actual reality is that they are grooming children for horrible things and this is creepy AF and not okay in any way in reality. Clive is literally grooming these children to kill their parents.
This book almost feels like its in a whole new subgenre, which makes it terrifying and spooky in a whole different way. Children are inherently vulnerable, and this book taps into that vulnerability through subtle manipulation and it genuinely gave me goosebumps when I read about the children slowly detaching from their healthy relationships and becoming puppets for Clive to use.
Switching to Clive's POV and seeing his awkward moments helped make this topic palatable for me, because it breaks up the terrifying aspects with humor to give us readers much needed relief from heavy subjects. I appreciated this, as it made it easy to enjoy the book without feeling like parts were being dragged too long.
All in all, this is a great book. I highly recommend to people who enjoyed Core of Fear, and I am already looking foreword to reading Book Three!
Happy Reading!
OVERALL- This is a sequel that does not disappoint! In fact, it expands upon the original like sequels SHOULD do, and I'd go so far as to say that as a result, I think it's even better then Book One!
WARNINGS:
Manipulation / Grooming of children
Children committing violence
First of all, NO CHILDREN WERE PHYSICALLY HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS NOVEL. This was a huge plus for me, especially because the reasoning behind why children were not targets was very reasonable. Basically, they were too young for Clive to get any benefits from them, so why would he go out of his way to harm them? I appreciated these little details, because it gave actual reasons for inactions or actions to occur.
This book focuses on a new facet of Clive's abilities, creating Minions! I loved that this introduced a new system in Clive's dungeon arsenal to explore, because it helped diversify this series and keep it fresh. I love seeing Dungeons evolving, and this series evolves so naturally, that it is quickly becoming one of my favorite Dungeon Core series.
This evolution was not something that Clive chose to do, it was simply out of necessity (and due to his personality, I feel like this is the only way he WILL evolve), and so my hats off to the author for coming up with new situations that force him to evolve!
The premise of this book, is that because parents with children will always put aside their FEAR due to their protective instincts, the only way to attack them is THROUGH the children. The resulting situation is incredibly entertaining, because Clive literally has no idea how to be someone's friend, or even how to be ‘friendly’- and yet he's found himself stuck in a situation where his only option for survival is to build a relationship with a living child 😂
Clive almost reminds me of child himself, because seeing how flustered he is trying to think of ways to connect with someone else is adorably awkward. Like... this is the way he approaches making friends:
I was a man once... and he's male too... that's something I can work with.
His attacks are even replaced with techniques to establish a relationship. Like GHOST HUG!
But please know that while I might be joking while writing this, in reality, this situation is creepy as hell. Ghost’s winning/manipulating children into doing their bidding might be slightly funny when you read about how awkward they feel while doing these things- but the actual reality is that they are grooming children for horrible things and this is creepy AF and not okay in any way in reality. Clive is literally grooming these children to kill their parents.
This book almost feels like its in a whole new subgenre, which makes it terrifying and spooky in a whole different way. Children are inherently vulnerable, and this book taps into that vulnerability through subtle manipulation and it genuinely gave me goosebumps when I read about the children slowly detaching from their healthy relationships and becoming puppets for Clive to use.
"Being at school might suck, but at least he had a friend to come home to..."
Switching to Clive's POV and seeing his awkward moments helped make this topic palatable for me, because it breaks up the terrifying aspects with humor to give us readers much needed relief from heavy subjects. I appreciated this, as it made it easy to enjoy the book without feeling like parts were being dragged too long.
All in all, this is a great book. I highly recommend to people who enjoyed Core of Fear, and I am already looking foreword to reading Book Three!
Happy Reading!
October 31, 2019
Slow clap
This is a masterwork of horror. This is a story that I have mixed feelings about and they are mixed feelings by design. The diabolical wordsmith responsible has created a series where the protagonist is unrepentantly bad, the victims are genuine feeling, ordinary, innocents, and the antagonist seem almost completely good or at least decent...without any of the usual tropes that make such stories palatable...Yet here I am. This is what one can achieve with masterful pacing, artfully set atmosphere, and a certain special something that thus far only litrpgs have been able to provide me.
This is a masterwork of horror. This is a story that I have mixed feelings about and they are mixed feelings by design. The diabolical wordsmith responsible has created a series where the protagonist is unrepentantly bad, the victims are genuine feeling, ordinary, innocents, and the antagonist seem almost completely good or at least decent...without any of the usual tropes that make such stories palatable...Yet here I am. This is what one can achieve with masterful pacing, artfully set atmosphere, and a certain special something that thus far only litrpgs have been able to provide me.
October 22, 2020
While I would not say the book is scary it is however super creepy in all the right ways! The book gets REALLY good just under halfway don't get me wrong the book is good at the start but it takes a bit of time for the creepy stuff to get going. While I would not say all of the stats make a whole bunch of since even more so because when the MC or the kids lv it repeats the last lv and then skips a lv not sure if its a typo or what but its a very small continuity issue as long as it's not a focus for you, you will love the core of the story. I cannot wait until the next book comes out.
November 14, 2019
Please make more you beautiful genius
I love your books they’re great. I specifically love this one. It’s great how it mixes the macabre with a sense of humor and a wonderful twist of sadism. Truly you turn torturing middle class Americans into a proper sport. Please for the love of all that is spooky make more demon clown stuff in there too, I mean seriously carnival can be cool as heck maybe do some animal possessions and stuff like that.
I love your books they’re great. I specifically love this one. It’s great how it mixes the macabre with a sense of humor and a wonderful twist of sadism. Truly you turn torturing middle class Americans into a proper sport. Please for the love of all that is spooky make more demon clown stuff in there too, I mean seriously carnival can be cool as heck maybe do some animal possessions and stuff like that.
January 21, 2022
Corrupted Children Make Horror More Horrific!
Have you ever considered what children raised by a psychopathic killer might be like? Do you want to consider what such children which spiritual powers might do to those about them? If so, this is the book for you!
This novel, and its prequel, may be of interest to fans of the wider Horror genre; as well as to those who enjoy playing Horror themed RPGs.
Have you ever considered what children raised by a psychopathic killer might be like? Do you want to consider what such children which spiritual powers might do to those about them? If so, this is the book for you!
This novel, and its prequel, may be of interest to fans of the wider Horror genre; as well as to those who enjoy playing Horror themed RPGs.
January 25, 2021
Creepy in all the right ways
This is another example of Brooks being excellent at what he does. The melding of complex litrpg mechanics with a horror theme is done even better than the first book and we'll deserving of the time spent reading. Everything is well thought out and I appreciated that he was careful in how he constructed the scenario. Looking forward to the next!
This is another example of Brooks being excellent at what he does. The melding of complex litrpg mechanics with a horror theme is done even better than the first book and we'll deserving of the time spent reading. Everything is well thought out and I appreciated that he was careful in how he constructed the scenario. Looking forward to the next!
October 26, 2019
Spooktacular!
Honestly I enjoyed this one more then I did the first one and I loved that one! Just an amazing job well done! Cant wait for the next one and I'm super excited to listen to the first audible version of the series!
Honestly I enjoyed this one more then I did the first one and I loved that one! Just an amazing job well done! Cant wait for the next one and I'm super excited to listen to the first audible version of the series!
November 1, 2019
Another great book
I really like this series, having an emotionless being trying to instill fear is a story I greatly enjoyed reading. My Thank you to the author for sharing his work with us.
I really like this series, having an emotionless being trying to instill fear is a story I greatly enjoyed reading. My Thank you to the author for sharing his work with us.
December 6, 2019
Can’t wait for book 3
An interesting reversal of perspective on the typical haunted house story. I’ve always enjoyed stories/ games that have the perspective of the antagonistic “malevolent entity”, rare though such works may be.
This one reminds me of the old Ghost Master game.
An interesting reversal of perspective on the typical haunted house story. I’ve always enjoyed stories/ games that have the perspective of the antagonistic “malevolent entity”, rare though such works may be.
This one reminds me of the old Ghost Master game.
January 3, 2021
A slow start but a spooky read
The opening chapters feel like we meet the location before the people, but it was a good story and I approve of the method to bring in scary kids.
Looking forward to the next.
The opening chapters feel like we meet the location before the people, but it was a good story and I approve of the method to bring in scary kids.
Looking forward to the next.
May 3, 2022
I liked the first one but loved the second. This is an amazing horror book. I like how one chapter is about the victims point of view then the next chapter is Clive take of it. It's fun and exciting an I hope they can do a movie or TV show on these books.
January 5, 2024
This book was even better than the first and contained a lot more gruesome carnage. I don't like the thought of evil children but like that they weren't harmed even though they played a large part in the harm to befall the others.
November 15, 2019
I liked it
It was a good read, I very much enjoyed it. I would recommend it. I can't wait for the next one.
It was a good read, I very much enjoyed it. I would recommend it. I can't wait for the next one.
April 20, 2020
Love it!!!
August 4, 2020
Rare to see attempted horror from an inhuman perspective done so well. Builds on the first book and adds redefined horror tropes brought into simple, litrpg methodology.
August 30, 2020
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like dungeons type of books.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like dungeons type of books.
October 27, 2020
Just as good as the first. This series is in my litRPG top 5.
January 20, 2022
Couldn't get into it
October 14, 2023
Truly chilling
I loved that the children were not physically hurt, but they were creepy. Them moving as one reminded me of stuff I have seen in horror trailers. What will Clive do at his next location, I will have to keep reading to find out.
I loved that the children were not physically hurt, but they were creepy. Them moving as one reminded me of stuff I have seen in horror trailers. What will Clive do at his next location, I will have to keep reading to find out.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews