Discordia Ascendant: An Illustrated Demon Squad Story by Tim Marquitz

This short story focuses on Rahim, the Wizard werewolf, from the Demon Squad series.

In this snapshot of his life we see him facing down a mortal enemy in a darkened alleyway, the strange woman with no eyes; Anai.

Her aim is to bring back her Mother, Discordia, to bring havoc to the planet as God is currently on hiatus and not really keeping an eye on things.

This short snippet hints at a much bigger plot in Rahim’s history and gives a promise of more to come.

Beautiful in its prowse, this story is only enhanced by the wonderful art work of Robert Elrod; I sort of imagined Rahim to be more handsome but think this visual interpretation gives him a little edge.

 I would love to see a much longer, more graphic novel style, from them both.

Discordia Ascendant

Free short stories, prizes and a chance to vote!!

The daily bookworm

Here, you will find links to seven great stories. All with free to read!

Please submit using the form at the bottom of this page to cast your vote for your favourite story to win. Simple as that!

Do not want to delay any longer!!!

PRIZES:

3rd place- $5.00 Amazon Gift Card

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1st place- $25.00 Amazon gift card, Plan 3 advertising package on The Daily Bookworm (a $35.00 value), the prestige and glory that come with winning, which is a lot of prestige and glory!

Voter prizes (two winners): $5.00 Amazon gift card and a Daily Bookworm swag pack (a $25.00+ value)

VOTING:

Just read all of the stories, then come back here to vote for that story to win! Easy peasy!

Winners will be announced on September 2, 2014!!!

Holes in the ground by Iain Rob Wright and JA Konwath

Basically this is fan fiction at its greatest!

It seems that IRW took the brilliant idea formed by JAK in Origin and then added his own fantastic spin of humour and horror, a few of his own characters, mixed them up, put them in a new hell and span them out again.

Fast, fun, and full of laughs, this is one that Konrath fans won't want to miss - made all the more interesting by Iain Rob Wright's British touches.  Those that have read Origin or The Final Winter will quickly fall in love with this book because the characters are just as you remember them to be.

Each main character is well formed but flawed and you can see early on how Bub will get to them, only IRW/JAK manage to make a few good twists and surprises too. However, the parting shot from Andy annoyed the hell out of me! (no spoilers)

The setting of a monster zoo/prison really allowed both authors to run wild with their imaginations and whoever thought up Mu the talking banana was genius. IRW must have had a riot writing this.

However, there were some “bad” points for me, I did think it had a rushed ending of sorts, nothing was finalized (IMO), which I suppose leaves it open for a sequel but I think that’s a little cheeky of both authors.

In addition, I was really disappointed to get to 52% and have it end – the last part is the original story from IRW without JAK input. Which is wonderful in of itself but I did feel cheated and which runoffthemill reader  is really is going to read the same story twice in a row??

Also, I wish we had more back story on Wolfie as it was such a sad story.

I think both authors could have made this into a much longer book with more expansion of the “monsters/prisoners” history, the secret society could have had more back story, as could the new characters.

All that said, I do hope there is a sequel!

Holes in the Ground

Iain Rob Wright & JA Konrath join forces - but before you read that! read these!!

Basically a story of a demon, named Bub, who the American government have decided to experiment on. They house him in an uber secret facility, feed him only sheep, expect answers to ALL of mankinds questions and wonder why he gets pissed off,  tries to escape and hatch his master plan to obliterate humanity. 

Great blend of weird but damaged characters, which is my first niggle because if “you” seriously had this terrifying secret you needed to keep would you allow that calibre of person to be responsible for it? With no other military presence?

But then I guess there would be no real failure in procedure and the story would be pretty boring!

I enjoyed the relationships between all of them but really found the holies annoying with their religious double speak although you could feel the depth of research that JAK had done within the language element and the biology as it just oozes off the page. However the biblical pondering goes on way too long and I found myself skipping some of the genome waffle as it did not really enhance the story at all, IMO.

One of the main characters is a linguist; however as soon as he walks into the room with Bub, the demon decides to speak English! Kind of negates his need to be there really and think he could have been expanded much further in reading of the casket etc I feel that JAK  merely skimmed the surface of what could have been a very in depth and complex story line. 

The Vet gets on my nerves a little, why is she measuring the sheep? and how did she decide that they fulfil his dietary requirements? 

Another brilliant description yet niggle was the “facility” it was so huge yet had no staff; who did the maintenance? When they dropped off food who did the unloading? What about humans needing sunlight to live? And could they not have had a hydroponics unit for fresh food?

Humour is one of JAK trademarks but im not sure he meant Bub to be quite so “cute” – I did not really find him terrifying so was nose wrinkling when I read the “reactions” of the team when they first meet him, or maybe I just read too much horror. 

I wish JAK had expanded on his history a little more, maybe played with Bubs inner dialogue more. Don’t get me wrong he is no huggable, fluffy demon, he has his gorefest moments but felt there could have been more. 

Other reviews have suggested that this is a “popcorn” book and I would be disappointed to know that his how JAK intended it, as the basic concept is pretty awesome and possibly could have been executed a bit better with a longer novel.  It does have some interesting arguments about the beginnings of humanity and our need for religion and where all the legends stem from.

The windup to escape is pretty tense as no character is safe, which is always good in a novel, although how you can put up with that much physical injury and still climb a ladder amazes me, but sometimes you need to suspend belief. 

My final niggle is the internal bombs, why does Bub just not dig them out sooner? I dislike when authors just suddenly blag a bit or change a basic function of a character to help them out of a jammy bit of storyline; that’s so Hollywood. 

Overall I really loved this book, the ending is pretty awesome and I look forward to a sequel. This would make a great film, as the action is all very visual and the time line is pretty straight, with maybe a few flashbacks.

Origin

I LOVED the "Britishness" of the whole thing, the pub setting, the humour,   although I was a bit dismayed to find the Americanisms in the dialogue.

IRW has done some brilliant character links here with his other books; its his own scary little world.  I really enjoyed the almost cliché characters, they are so condensed you can see a little of someone you know in each one. I had a real fondness for some of them towards the end but was pleased to see that no one safe.

This was a very easy to read yet hard to put down book, I read this in 2 sittings. This was the first book I ever picked up from IRW and I have to say he his now a firm favourite.

I have reread this book now, I think its going to be one of those that you go back to as an old favourite. The second reading allowed me to pick up on the little nuances that I missed in the first reading, very clever! If you have any doubts how complex this book is then have a read of this "a look at the Final Winter".

I thought the ending could have had many alternatives, and personally I would have liked to have had all the characters endings "wrapped up", I just wanted to see some people get their karma balanced!

The Final Winter

DEAD: Spring by T.W. Brown

Straight back into the action, which if you are reading back to back makes for spectacular flow, but if waiting (months!) desperately for each installment then you can get a little bamboozled with how intense the jump back in is.

Some clever references that made me smirk!

Cats that eat zombies? What do zombie/horror authors have against cats?? 

I felt some real sadness for certain characters, especially Emily-zombie but caught myself frowning at certain things she did, they felt just a little too contrived for my liking. However, I am intrigued to see where TWB is going to take this particular story line, especially as all the groups are noticing the same issues.

Love the fact that Billy has a much stronger voice and is not living in anyones shadow anymore. This book has a big chunk dedicated to his, and his traveling groups, story; which is great as it allows you to really get to know all the new characters.

Had to laugh at the British group and Vix wanting a word with the zombie writers for getting stuff wrong whilst in the midst of battle. Credit to TWB for getting the locations so spot on and a special pat on the back for the colloquialism achievement!

I did get a little bogged down with Cynthia’s story but her life/animal views really gave me a reason to love her and then I found myself routing for her.

Now on to the moans and niggles: New characters generally – so many of them and to each group! This got a bit confusing for me.

Why are there so many beefy characters in these apocalypse stories, TWB is by no means unique in his characters that are huge in stature, full of muscle etc but how is this still possible? How are they finding enough food to maintain this bulk??

Also Kevin seems to have grown back his frost bitten foot as he can now run with no limp impediment despite obviously losing his prosthetic one when being (spoiler alert!) captured and fleeing for his life.

Not happy that so many animals are getting killed, humans you can blast to where ever, but please leave the furries alone L

What has happened to the Egypt group?

Ok, back to good stuff!

I am really looking forward to the next installment and what happens in this next phase, I think one all the completed books are out (I believe 12) I will treat myself to a full read through of all of them or maybe read all the separate stories.

This chapter ties up a few loose ends but also leaves the groups on positive notes which I think was needed as not all the people left in the Zompoc can be horrific all day every day? Scheming and slaughtering must get boring after a while and human nature says we want to be loved and need comfort; don’t even the nastiest of characters love somebody?

DEAD: Spring

Dreams of Thanatos by William Cook

Firstly I noticed the beautiful cover art and then noted at the back in the blurb that William Cook designs his own, and others, covers – what talent.

I was only going to read one story in this book to see if I would be interested or not, hahaha yeah right! I came out of my Kindle many hours later a little staggered and wide eyed.

How have I overlooked this fabulous author for so long? I have read a few of his books but this collection of shorts is intense and shows off his erudite flow and use of words perfectly.

So, on with the stories in this book.

The Reader: my first thought when finishing the final sentence was WTF! This was so brilliant and intense, I was not sure whether to “shut” the book or carry on!

A man gets hooked on reading after the birth of his daughter, what a wonderful thing you may imagine, until it absorbs him in the most hideous way.

Delightfully gore laden WC captures that feeling that US avid readers get when we find a new story or author to indulge ourselves with, only he ratchets up the “forgot to eat dinner” scenario and then bangs you over the head with it!

Kaleidoscope Kid: I have always wondered if human monsters are nurture or nature? This poor chap seems to be part of that question, with such a sad start, middle and end to his life.

I almost wanted visions of my own for the wonderful little critters that visit and chat with him, almost.

I was so glad that Pa got his justice but eeeew what a way to go! Intrigued? You should be! The stories seem to only be getting better in this collection.

What a Man wants: This little show stopping story is much more the clipped, yet deep style I expect from WC (having read his other novels).

A harsh life is described and just as I started to feel sorry for the poor sap he twists his tail (no miss spell!).

Fantastic ending to an icky story.

Blinded by the Light: Quite possible the most sickening first line I think I have ever read, made my stomach knot and retch.

It does not get any better or it becomes more brilliant depending on how you like your grotesque!

Amazing in all its disgusting glory, yet still so full of story.

The Night Terror:  Much more flowery and esthetic in its prose this story begins to soothe the thus far shocked and tattered mind that is mine, but I cannot stop reading.

Don’t be fooled though, the initial calm relaxes you into a stupor of rhythm before WC tosses you into the pit of hell fire once more.

Legacy; The Eternal Now and Hereafter:  It is kind of scary that these two loons thinking up a declaration of independence and freedom for all using pipe bombs and destruction actually made sense, such is the power of the authors writing skill.

This story lurches from weird to horrific and then onto freaky. By far the longest story in this collection I think “enjoy” would be the wrong word but I was totally engrossed.

Til Death Do Us Part: Hugo does not take his wife’s request for a divorce too well.

This has to be my favourite story for all the mental visuals of gore, even had some smell and touch in there too I think.

Almost tongue in cheek complete with fumbling surgeon, shotguns and clueless cops.  This story alone is worth the cost of the collection.

Dead Memories: WC manages to write about love lost in such a beautiful way that you almost don’t notice the dull edge of pain as he then rips your heart out.

As the nightmare hauntings intensify I was not sure of the history but was too wrapped in the destination to care.

The Devil Inside: Poor young Jacob what an awful life he has, but is seems he has an avenger, and they live under his bed.

The Beast has finally matured and is hungry…..

A tale of revenge that left me smiling.

Creeper: The poor crow or creeper bird gets blamed for all the bad things that befall this stuck up idiot! Short and with no obvious outcome this was a snippet of a moment, but wonderfully written.

Conceived by Death: If you want well placed gore and stomach churning horror, this is the read for you; from drug use, murdering of mums and babies to the birth of something unknown WC wraps all of that horror into a great story with a purpose and not just for the sake of more gore of puke factor.

Burnt Offerings: WC does tales of abusive revenge like no other. He is able to portray the pain so that any wrong doings done to the perpetrators don’t feel at all excessive and possibly deserve one ounce more.

Short but not sweet a strong female lead this time.

Pretty Boy: Another bucket load of eeeeew!

Jasper is on the prowl for more fresh flesh to rape and kill when the local police stop him and give out their own brand of unique justice.

I would really like to read the extended version of this! (hint hint)

Aspects of Infinity: Really disliked this story as it was far too abstract in writing style for me to connect with and I was getting bored with my own struggle to keep up.

Am glad this was near the end as not sure I would have continued with the book had it been first.

Just not MY thing, but probably somebodies.

Dead and Buried: Poor Donny and Max. This felt like a really “nice” ending to the whole book, full of possible hope as well as the spine chilling horror, not the usual WC gore and rub your face in it, this was much more subtle and ultimately more intrusive.

Really enjoyed this book of revenge with some strong drinking, smoking, drug and abuse themes going on. I’m sure a shrink would have a field day with WC brain – maybe he should visit Hannibal! That would be a certain match. 

Dreams of Thanatos

Jane the Hippie Vampire: Love Beads by Leigh M. Lane

Jane is the strangest vampire I have come across in a long while.

One sunny afternoon she meets Randy and his weird dogs, strange job and horrific food sense.

LML treated me to a brilliant piece of mystery thriller writing with a super natural element, with just enough grossness to add a horror element.

She hints this will be a series and I do hope so.

Some fabulous in depth and textured descriptions allow you to become immersed in the story I was totally engrossed in this novella and was sad when it ended.

Jane is an intriguing character and I so want to know more about how she became what she is and what her forward plan is.

Jane: Love-Beads