Jason Parent writes some the best horror stories, so there was never any doubt that I would want to read Wrathbone.
Soooo…let’s step into his world and get our scare on.
MY REVIEW
After reading Kealon Patrick Burke’s rousing recommendation and knowing from previous Jason Parent works, I’m eager to read this collection of short stories. The writing is top notch, the evil ever present and the suspense…well you won’t forget these stories any time soon.
I will start with a review of the entire collection, and afterwords, give you a little taste of what’s to come.
I pictured the scenes as a movie unwinding in my mind’s eye, making me wonder, “How in the hell do you dream this stuff up, Jason?” Are you stoned on something?
Some of the horror is the subtle kind, others more blatant, but make no mistake, the terror takes the mind into insanity, and a thirst for blood.
One of the best horror anthologies I have ever read. Tension filled, upchucking moments, and I can’t believe I’m going to say this to you, but I couldn’t help but smile at a job well done.
5 Stars and a puke bucket please.
Wrathbone
I like that Jason shows President Abraham Lincoln’s personality in this dark and morbid tale of a man trapped in his mind and haunted be demons or insanity…you decide. The writing is fabulous and the evil oozes off the pages. Would make a great Twilight Zones episode. I give it 4 stars.
The Only Good Lawyer
…is a dead lawyer. Couldn’t resist the joke. The horror Bradley experineces was brought on by himself, by his own actions and I, for one, feel like he gets what’s he deserves. Lawyers beware, your actions may have repercussions you never could have foreseen. I give this a rousing 5 stars.
Dorian’s Mirror
He had it all, looks, women, money…but the mirror would take him so far down the rabbit hole that the terror will never end. Another 5 star read that will have you stumbling around the Twilight zone wondering if you will ever find your way out.
For The Birds
I knew what was going to happen right away, but the twisted mind of Jason Parent had me feeling like I wanted to upchuck. Great job and a 5 star terror filled read.
Revenge is a Dish
So much about this story creeped me out. I felt a lot of his fear, understood that it was all in his mind, but Jason Parent has a way with words. He took this to an even more twisted, perverted, pukingly (is that a word?), gruesome place than I could have ever anticipated. 5 stars.
Terror follows those who let it into their hearts.
Wrathbone
Guests of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, Major Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris attend a showing of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. On that fateful night, a great man falls, but he is not alone. For Henry and Clara, the night is only the beginning of lives wrought with jealousy, madness, and horror.
The Only Good Lawyer
Bradley is a savvy defense attorney with no scruples. Under his representation, many a guilty man has gone free. But when a voodoo priest takes the stand, Bradley soon discovers that he, too, is on trial, and the punishment for guilt may be more than he could bear.
Dorian’s Mirror
Dorian loves himself, and why wouldn’t he? Every guy wants to be him, and every girl wants to be with him. He would trade all he has to make his looks last forever, but bargaining with the devil may leave him short a soul.
For the Birds
Nev’s best friend is his parrot. In fact, it’s his only friend… and his only ally when his home is invaded.
Revenge is a Dish
Maurice has landed a dream job, chef for a rich couple on their yacht. The wife has carnal desires for him. Maurice has some carnal desires of his own.
“From the eerie opening tale to the grisly closer, and all of the wonderfully mean-spirited tales in-between, Wrathbone is a winner!” –Jeff Strand, author of Dead Clown Barbeque
“This is horror of the mind at it’s very best . . . Very dark, very atmospheric, very powerful writing. Excellent stuff . . . Only the second time ever that I have given every story in a collection five stars. This one is going to be hard to beat.” –Nev Murray at Confessions of a Reviewer and Scream Magazine
“Wrathbone and Other Stories is a hard-hitting collection that you can completely immerse yourself in. The title story is a beautifully written period tale of love and tragedy.” –Mercedes M. Yardley, author of the Bram Stoker Award winner Little Dead Red.
“Jason Parent channels the darkness. Wrathbone and Other Stories offers a glimpse into the twisted mind of a gifted storyteller, whose characters are every bit as vivid as the demons that haunt them. Parent’s definitely an author to watch!” –Michael McBride, author of Subterrestrial and Burial Ground
“An elegantly written novella of madness, murder, and demons, Jason Parent’s Wrathbone reads like Edgar Allan Poe’s take on ‘Jacob’s Ladder.'” –Adam Howe, author of Tijuana Donkey Showdown, Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, and Black Cat Mojo
ABOUT JASON PARENT
In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he finally tired of Latin phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real lawsuits are not started, tried and finalized within the 60-minute timeframe they see on TV (it’s harassing the witness; no one throws vicious woodland creatures at them), he traded in his cheap suits for flip flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he’s back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that’s another story.
When he’s not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and play just about any sport (except that ball tied to the pole thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists into a knot or takes somebody’s head off – he misses the appeal). And read and write, of course. He does that too sometimes.
Please visit the author on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasonP…, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AuthorJasParent, or at his website, http://authorjasonparent.com/, for information regarding upcoming events or releases, or if you have any questions or comments for him.
- You can see my Giveaways HERE.
- You can see my Reviews HERE.
- If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
- Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
- Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
- Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
- Thanks for visiting fundinmental!
This sounds good, great review!
Thanks for dropping in Cindy.
I love keeping books like this on my bedside and reading a good short before bed…this sounds
These are quick, easy, and sure to wake you when you here those bumps in the night. LOL
Well, I don’t know if I like the idea of needing a puke bucket, but I love a good scary story! The cover says it all!
LOL The cover is a good one and hints at what’s going to come at you.