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Brood of Vipers
Win a free print copy of this book!
0 days and 00:27:35
10 copies available
U.S. only
A former addict looking for a fresh start, a small town preacher reeling from loss and tragedy, and a rogue angel square off in a supernatural tale of miracles, murder, and blood sacrifices that threatens to unleash Armageddon onto the hills of western Kentucky.
Seph is hoping for a fresh start after serving five long years in prison. Stuck in a halfway house, he divides his time between a dead end job, visits with his son, and mandatory NA meetings and church services.
Ezra Solomon, the senior pastor of Living Way Tabernacle, is reeling from loss and tragedy, and looking for answers that aren't coming.
Both men are on a collision course that will leave them questioning everything they know.
"BROOD OF VIPERS delivers an unsettling horror that’s as much about human psychology as it is mysticism. A promising horror debut with plenty to keep you up at night thinking about what evil lives in the hearts of your neighbors." — Jessica Leonard, author of ANTIOCH and CONJURING THE WITCH
“Laced with poetic brutality and gripping from the get-go, Joseph Fulkerson takes a deep dive into the realms of faith, addiction and religion and what happens when those worlds collide with each other, culminating in a climax of biblical proportion which will leave you craving more.” — Bam Barrow, author of CVLT OF CTHXS
"Fulkerson delivers a chaotic, violent ride, twisting the strings of Christian mythology like a sadistic puppeteer."
—Eddie Generous, author of What He Became and Rawr
Seph is hoping for a fresh start after serving five long years in prison. Stuck in a halfway house, he divides his time between a dead end job, visits with his son, and mandatory NA meetings and church services.
Ezra Solomon, the senior pastor of Living Way Tabernacle, is reeling from loss and tragedy, and looking for answers that aren't coming.
Both men are on a collision course that will leave them questioning everything they know.
"BROOD OF VIPERS delivers an unsettling horror that’s as much about human psychology as it is mysticism. A promising horror debut with plenty to keep you up at night thinking about what evil lives in the hearts of your neighbors." — Jessica Leonard, author of ANTIOCH and CONJURING THE WITCH
“Laced with poetic brutality and gripping from the get-go, Joseph Fulkerson takes a deep dive into the realms of faith, addiction and religion and what happens when those worlds collide with each other, culminating in a climax of biblical proportion which will leave you craving more.” — Bam Barrow, author of CVLT OF CTHXS
"Fulkerson delivers a chaotic, violent ride, twisting the strings of Christian mythology like a sadistic puppeteer."
—Eddie Generous, author of What He Became and Rawr
- GenresHorror
181 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2024
3 people are currently reading
3,698 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Fulkerson
26 books54 followersWriter of Fiction | Cinephile | Lover of all things horror | East Jesus Nowhere (Anxiety Press, 23') Brood of Vipers (Translucent Eyes Press, 24')
www.josephfulkerson.com
[email protected]
linktr.ee/josephfulkerson
www.josephfulkerson.com
[email protected]
linktr.ee/josephfulkerson
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 9, 2024
⚠️⚠️Triggers and spoilers⚠️⚠️
Graphic animal abuse, murder, sadism, cannibalism, filicide, mentions of suicide
"Seph remembered the angel, causing chills to run down his spine. Was it a messenger from heaven? It didn’t look or act like any angel he had read about in the Bible. Had he been taught wrong from the start? Was God not loving and merciful like the stories he remembered learning as a child in Sunday school? How is it even possible?"
"Seph couldn’t help thinking how ludicrous this all was. Grigori, fallen angels, words that are alive. The God of the Bible has some terminal illness and is on his deathbed. He glanced at the supernatural creature patiently standing before him, waiting for his next move. So, he decided to take a leap of faith."
⚠️⚠️Triggers and spoilers⚠️⚠️
💭.
Dr. Ezra Solomon is the pastor of Living Way Tabernacle, a medium-size church, with a congregation of close to a thousand. He started questioning his faith after his car accident which crippled him and killed his wife. Shit started to go crazy after his encounter with Matanbuchus (who is actually Belial- a fallen angel in disguise) who supposedly heard his prayers and healed him. Believing he was called by Matanbuchus to consecrate himself, to be his prophet. He promised to worship Matanbuchus and in return, he'll be imbued with incredible powers like 'miracle healing'. All he needed to do was prove his loyalty by making certain sacrifices and rituals - one of which is to offer and kill his own son.
It's up to Seth, the protagonist, to figure out how to stop one crazy-obsessed, religious nut and the cunning, deceiving Matanbuchus/Belial from freeing Azazel (sin eater) to cause further havoc and destruction.
Insane, wild and ludicrous...funny, amusing read that one shouldn't take too seriously. The ending was a cliffhanger and we're probably expecting a sequel along the way? Again, I would have rated this higher if it did not contain graphic content of animal abuse. (Cat lovers be warned!)
📖 If you like:
💀 Fast paced religious / cult horror
💀 The Stand, Revival and Midnight mass vibes
💀 Good Vs evil trope
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the arc!
3.0✨
Graphic animal abuse, murder, sadism, cannibalism, filicide, mentions of suicide
"Seph remembered the angel, causing chills to run down his spine. Was it a messenger from heaven? It didn’t look or act like any angel he had read about in the Bible. Had he been taught wrong from the start? Was God not loving and merciful like the stories he remembered learning as a child in Sunday school? How is it even possible?"
"Seph couldn’t help thinking how ludicrous this all was. Grigori, fallen angels, words that are alive. The God of the Bible has some terminal illness and is on his deathbed. He glanced at the supernatural creature patiently standing before him, waiting for his next move. So, he decided to take a leap of faith."
⚠️⚠️Triggers and spoilers⚠️⚠️
💭.
Dr. Ezra Solomon is the pastor of Living Way Tabernacle, a medium-size church, with a congregation of close to a thousand. He started questioning his faith after his car accident which crippled him and killed his wife. Shit started to go crazy after his encounter with Matanbuchus (who is actually Belial- a fallen angel in disguise) who supposedly heard his prayers and healed him. Believing he was called by Matanbuchus to consecrate himself, to be his prophet. He promised to worship Matanbuchus and in return, he'll be imbued with incredible powers like 'miracle healing'. All he needed to do was prove his loyalty by making certain sacrifices and rituals - one of which is to offer and kill his own son.
It's up to Seth, the protagonist, to figure out how to stop one crazy-obsessed, religious nut and the cunning, deceiving Matanbuchus/Belial from freeing Azazel (sin eater) to cause further havoc and destruction.
Insane, wild and ludicrous...funny, amusing read that one shouldn't take too seriously. The ending was a cliffhanger and we're probably expecting a sequel along the way? Again, I would have rated this higher if it did not contain graphic content of animal abuse. (Cat lovers be warned!)
📖 If you like:
💀 Fast paced religious / cult horror
💀 The Stand, Revival and Midnight mass vibes
💀 Good Vs evil trope
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the arc!
3.0✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
This book was an exhilarating ride through a crazy horror story. I was wrapped up in the craziness..definitely recommended!
July 30, 2024
What a wild ride. It took me some time to get used to the heavily religious undertone of this horror novel but I really enjoyed it. Eating 4.25. I still am not well from this book.
August 6, 2024
The cover is so great and I'm a sucker for religious horror so I was hoping for a little more than this novella had to offer. The religion is here and the horror is definitely here, but the whole story felt rushed. I think this could be a much better book with an extra hundred pages. The characters needed fleshing out. The hero got the most background of any character, the villain could have benefitted from similar background information.
The story is there, just not assembled with enough detail and care. I expect this writer will get better with experience and I will look forward to future works. Rating is rounded up to 2.5.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
#netgalley
The story is there, just not assembled with enough detail and care. I expect this writer will get better with experience and I will look forward to future works. Rating is rounded up to 2.5.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
#netgalley
August 30, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance!
Review linked below 👇🏾
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNKghbmB/
Review linked below 👇🏾
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNKghbmB/
August 3, 2024
I am a sucker for religious horror done well, so I was excited when I was approved to read an ARC of this novella. It is a tight, rapid-pace story and I finished the whole thing in one session, which really shows that the author is able to harness a sense of momentum. This story had a number of things that worked well, even though it didn’t ultimately work for me.
Firstly, the idea of exploring angels and demons, and the ideas of an old-Testament style of faith through the lens of contemporary American, radical, evangelical modes of faith and worship is not entirely new, but it is a fun one. Fulkerson takes this idea and runs with it to one of its logical ends, but he does so in a fun and interesting way. The overall story was clever and engaging, and it made me want to keep reading. I also liked the narrative structure, of moving between the two characters and being witness to where they both started and how they both moved through the story. The back and forth created enough dynamism that the story never felt like it was running slow or getting stale. The story wasn’t afraid to have some moments of intense and unexpected violence, which I appreciated, and the ending, while not unexpected, was built up well, and the final twists and turns fell earned, narratively.
There were, however, some elements of this story that took me out of it. The writing itself just felt very clunky, both the general prose and especially some of the dialogue, which felt forced. Sometimes the writing felt more like an elaborate outline then a proper narrative. The way our characters started and ended scenes, how the action and drama transitioned, felt almost non-existent. The characters also felt a little flat. The archetypes of evangelist preacher who suffers extreme loss and doubts his faith as a result and the recovering addict fresh from prison trying to turn his life around are well-trod, and there wasn’t a lot added to them here. The characters felt a little bit flat, and I didn’t feel invested in them having any sort of dimensionality beyond what their archetypes established for them. They both just needed more development. I never felt for a moment that the preacher was actually lost in grief. We see him curse out the heavens once, and then he is a changed man. What happens to losing his wife of the last however many decades? How quick is he to be so utterly transformed into something else? Yes, his supernatural experiences would radically alter a person, but none of his giving in to this path felt earned or deserved. It was similar with Seph. His story is stereotypical and light, I don’t see anything in him that tells me anything about his struggle with addiction, of how being imprisoned affected him, of how much the weight of being an absentee father holds him down. Nothing about his journey feels earned. Ultimately it feels like things just happen around these characters, and they are along for the ride. (Almost literal) deus ex machinae are what pull the story forward, with close to nothing about the interior life of our two characters playing a part in the ride they’re taking. The whole idea of a supposedly virtuous character being entranced by the dark power of this angel and a broken or less virtuous character being lionized to fight for the light, that can be compelling. But we need to see the characters struggle, and actually have an internal journey. Instead, it just feels like they happen to be hanging out there while things happen. (Also, it just feels a little cringey to have a character be a recovering addict and an ex-con and have that be the shorthand for a character that needs redemption. We don’t learn anything about his life or his struggles, we juts get these titles thrown at him, and he is reduced to those things, and that is what signifies him as the less virtuous character. It felt like appropriating genuine struggles as a not particularly compelling short cut to actually exploring a character’s depth).
So, while I had fun reading it, I didn’t love this novella. I think the characters and the writing both need some work. The idea for the story is a fun one, going to a well-worn sandbox but finding something interesting to build there. The narrative structure and the momentum were also well-done, keeping the reader constantly on their toes and always moving forward. Ultimately, though, the overall execution just needed a little more work for me to have really enjoyed this. It is a short little novella, and if you enjoy religious and folk horror you can read this in a setting and might find some promise here, and have a good time. So, I am not saying not to read this, just that I wouldn’t recommend it across the board, especially for readers who prioritize character and a tight, flowing prose.
(Also, there were just a lot of formatting errors. During long dialogue scenes there wouldn’t be line breaks between different characters talking, for instance. It was quite distracting and on occasion I had to re-read passages to be clear on who was speaking or acting. It definitely didn’t help the experience, but seeing as I am reading an ARC those things may all be fixed, yet, so I am not letting that affect my review).
(Rounded down from 2.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Translucent Eyes Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Firstly, the idea of exploring angels and demons, and the ideas of an old-Testament style of faith through the lens of contemporary American, radical, evangelical modes of faith and worship is not entirely new, but it is a fun one. Fulkerson takes this idea and runs with it to one of its logical ends, but he does so in a fun and interesting way. The overall story was clever and engaging, and it made me want to keep reading. I also liked the narrative structure, of moving between the two characters and being witness to where they both started and how they both moved through the story. The back and forth created enough dynamism that the story never felt like it was running slow or getting stale. The story wasn’t afraid to have some moments of intense and unexpected violence, which I appreciated, and the ending, while not unexpected, was built up well, and the final twists and turns fell earned, narratively.
There were, however, some elements of this story that took me out of it. The writing itself just felt very clunky, both the general prose and especially some of the dialogue, which felt forced. Sometimes the writing felt more like an elaborate outline then a proper narrative. The way our characters started and ended scenes, how the action and drama transitioned, felt almost non-existent. The characters also felt a little flat. The archetypes of evangelist preacher who suffers extreme loss and doubts his faith as a result and the recovering addict fresh from prison trying to turn his life around are well-trod, and there wasn’t a lot added to them here. The characters felt a little bit flat, and I didn’t feel invested in them having any sort of dimensionality beyond what their archetypes established for them. They both just needed more development. I never felt for a moment that the preacher was actually lost in grief. We see him curse out the heavens once, and then he is a changed man. What happens to losing his wife of the last however many decades? How quick is he to be so utterly transformed into something else? Yes, his supernatural experiences would radically alter a person, but none of his giving in to this path felt earned or deserved. It was similar with Seph. His story is stereotypical and light, I don’t see anything in him that tells me anything about his struggle with addiction, of how being imprisoned affected him, of how much the weight of being an absentee father holds him down. Nothing about his journey feels earned. Ultimately it feels like things just happen around these characters, and they are along for the ride. (Almost literal) deus ex machinae are what pull the story forward, with close to nothing about the interior life of our two characters playing a part in the ride they’re taking. The whole idea of a supposedly virtuous character being entranced by the dark power of this angel and a broken or less virtuous character being lionized to fight for the light, that can be compelling. But we need to see the characters struggle, and actually have an internal journey. Instead, it just feels like they happen to be hanging out there while things happen. (Also, it just feels a little cringey to have a character be a recovering addict and an ex-con and have that be the shorthand for a character that needs redemption. We don’t learn anything about his life or his struggles, we juts get these titles thrown at him, and he is reduced to those things, and that is what signifies him as the less virtuous character. It felt like appropriating genuine struggles as a not particularly compelling short cut to actually exploring a character’s depth).
So, while I had fun reading it, I didn’t love this novella. I think the characters and the writing both need some work. The idea for the story is a fun one, going to a well-worn sandbox but finding something interesting to build there. The narrative structure and the momentum were also well-done, keeping the reader constantly on their toes and always moving forward. Ultimately, though, the overall execution just needed a little more work for me to have really enjoyed this. It is a short little novella, and if you enjoy religious and folk horror you can read this in a setting and might find some promise here, and have a good time. So, I am not saying not to read this, just that I wouldn’t recommend it across the board, especially for readers who prioritize character and a tight, flowing prose.
(Also, there were just a lot of formatting errors. During long dialogue scenes there wouldn’t be line breaks between different characters talking, for instance. It was quite distracting and on occasion I had to re-read passages to be clear on who was speaking or acting. It definitely didn’t help the experience, but seeing as I am reading an ARC those things may all be fixed, yet, so I am not letting that affect my review).
(Rounded down from 2.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Translucent Eyes Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2024
This is a religious horror which takes the ferver of belief and twists it into something very dark and disturbing.
When the pastor of a successful church is in an accident, he loses his wife and finds out he will never walk again. His faith is quickly reduced to ashes and in a moment of grief, he cries out for a sign. But what appears before him isn't exactly God. This being will heal him and claims to be able to make him a powerful prophet. Of course, these things will require sacrifices. The pastor glady accepts.
In a halfway house in town, two younger men are looking forward to their future free of drugs. They're on the road to happiness and just need to spend their time there going to meetings and church services.
These two worlds are going to meet in a gruesomely bloody way as the pastor now serves his new master and will stop at nothing to gain more power. Oh yes, there will be blood.
This is a novella and the story goes by quickly. It gets right to the meat of the story and doesn't expand too much into detail. Which, for the most part, works. However, I wanted a little more exposition. I wanted to know what the characters were thinking and feeling. Sometimes it just jumped from scene to scene. That's a minor complaint though. Because the sacrifices are gleefully brutal and the battle between good and evil will get a big life altering pay off!
I recommend this book.
I received a copy through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
When the pastor of a successful church is in an accident, he loses his wife and finds out he will never walk again. His faith is quickly reduced to ashes and in a moment of grief, he cries out for a sign. But what appears before him isn't exactly God. This being will heal him and claims to be able to make him a powerful prophet. Of course, these things will require sacrifices. The pastor glady accepts.
In a halfway house in town, two younger men are looking forward to their future free of drugs. They're on the road to happiness and just need to spend their time there going to meetings and church services.
These two worlds are going to meet in a gruesomely bloody way as the pastor now serves his new master and will stop at nothing to gain more power. Oh yes, there will be blood.
This is a novella and the story goes by quickly. It gets right to the meat of the story and doesn't expand too much into detail. Which, for the most part, works. However, I wanted a little more exposition. I wanted to know what the characters were thinking and feeling. Sometimes it just jumped from scene to scene. That's a minor complaint though. Because the sacrifices are gleefully brutal and the battle between good and evil will get a big life altering pay off!
I recommend this book.
I received a copy through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
August 20, 2024
I was initially drawn to this book because of the premise - I am in recovery myself so when I read this had a recovering addict as a main character I was excited to check it out. Also, I am always curious about horror with religious elements and the cover/title are wonderful! Enjoyed the bit of gore, but I know I’m always okay with more gore.
While I did enjoy the progression of the story, the characters fell flat for me. I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters and when that happens I can’t really get a good connection with the rest of the story. I enjoyed the action in the last 1/3 of the book, the writing was done well. I would have liked more of that in the first 2/3 of the book. I almost feel like there could be many more chapters to this story for stronger character development.
This is ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for me. I would recommend others checking it out to see what they think and I am curious about other books by this author.
Thank you to the author and Translucent Eyes Press for the free digital ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Happy reading. 📚
While I did enjoy the progression of the story, the characters fell flat for me. I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters and when that happens I can’t really get a good connection with the rest of the story. I enjoyed the action in the last 1/3 of the book, the writing was done well. I would have liked more of that in the first 2/3 of the book. I almost feel like there could be many more chapters to this story for stronger character development.
This is ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for me. I would recommend others checking it out to see what they think and I am curious about other books by this author.
Thank you to the author and Translucent Eyes Press for the free digital ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Happy reading. 📚
July 31, 2024
◇◇ ARC Review ◇◇
.
Rating : ☆☆☆
Genre: Religious Horror
.
Brood of Vipers by Joseph Fulkerson is a religious horror novel. The story follows the tale of two men as they square off to each other.
.
Ezra Solomen is a small town preacher who has recently suffered a great loss. In result of which he gives himself in service of a rogue angel.
Seph is a recent reformed addict who gets tangled up in Ezra's blood sacrifices.
.
The novel follows the story of these two men and the rogue angel. It is filled with disturbing and gory details of murder and blood sacrifices. Read only if you have a strong stomach for such details.
.
The story is fast paced and keeps you hooked. I was unable to put it down right to the end even though i was pretty disturbed by the vivid scenes.
.
I received an advanced review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
.
Rating : ☆☆☆
Genre: Religious Horror
.
Brood of Vipers by Joseph Fulkerson is a religious horror novel. The story follows the tale of two men as they square off to each other.
.
Ezra Solomen is a small town preacher who has recently suffered a great loss. In result of which he gives himself in service of a rogue angel.
Seph is a recent reformed addict who gets tangled up in Ezra's blood sacrifices.
.
The novel follows the story of these two men and the rogue angel. It is filled with disturbing and gory details of murder and blood sacrifices. Read only if you have a strong stomach for such details.
.
The story is fast paced and keeps you hooked. I was unable to put it down right to the end even though i was pretty disturbed by the vivid scenes.
.
I received an advanced review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 2, 2024
A creepy southern gothic horror story that kept me engaged the entire time. Featuring, an intriguing premise, grotesque imagery (warning for animal abuse/death), and a really cool cover.
That being said, the dialogue was clunky and the book as a whole needed more editing. My main issue was that it lacked substance. I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was longer and we were given more information about, well, all of it.
Everything was touched on, on a surface level. I felt like I didn’t really get to know the characters, Ezra especially. I was left wondering what he was like before his wife died. Seems like he, along with everyone else in this town, was kind of an asshole but the actions he takes after his wife dies are EXTREME. I don’t know what his descent was like to get to that point or if he was always on that edge. He jumps into it rather quickly for someone who’s been a Christian man/leader all his life.
But this goes for all the characters, aside from maybe Seph, I didn’t understand any of their actions or desires. They all felt like puppets being strung along.
Good but I wanted more.
2.75⭐️
I received a free ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
That being said, the dialogue was clunky and the book as a whole needed more editing. My main issue was that it lacked substance. I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was longer and we were given more information about, well, all of it.
Everything was touched on, on a surface level. I felt like I didn’t really get to know the characters, Ezra especially. I was left wondering what he was like before his wife died. Seems like he, along with everyone else in this town, was kind of an asshole but the actions he takes after his wife dies are EXTREME. I don’t know what his descent was like to get to that point or if he was always on that edge. He jumps into it rather quickly for someone who’s been a Christian man/leader all his life.
But this goes for all the characters, aside from maybe Seph, I didn’t understand any of their actions or desires. They all felt like puppets being strung along.
Good but I wanted more.
2.75⭐️
I received a free ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
August 8, 2024
4.5* A fast paced horror indeed, and by fast paced i mean apostle to apostasy in one flap of an angels wings. Ezra Solomons faith is found lacking following a tragic accident and he is eager to prove his faith in his new saviour at any cost… Guinness world record for how low can you go is 8.5 inches, well i bet Ezra could do 6.66
The one thing holding this back for me from a 5* review is just that i wish we had a little more chance to get to know the characters. From page 1 you are straight onto this religious rollercoaster, but I’d have liked a little more background or time to get to know the characters personalities and relationships before they’re catapulted into chaos to fully feel the losses and changes they go through during the story.
The ending was giving me bad wig and sunglasses having an old friend for dinner IYKYK and i was living for it, and I do really want a sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC #NetGalley
The one thing holding this back for me from a 5* review is just that i wish we had a little more chance to get to know the characters. From page 1 you are straight onto this religious rollercoaster, but I’d have liked a little more background or time to get to know the characters personalities and relationships before they’re catapulted into chaos to fully feel the losses and changes they go through during the story.
The ending was giving me bad wig and sunglasses having an old friend for dinner IYKYK and i was living for it, and I do really want a sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC #NetGalley
August 9, 2024
I was drawn to Joseph Fulkerson's Brood of Vipers by the high-quality cover. That, along with the blurb, gave me Midnight Mass vibes, and I was excited to be thrown into another dark religion-themed supernatural thriller.
Never judge a book by its cover.
I felt like I was reading a first draft. Fulkerson zooms through the plot with the speed of an F1 car but without any of the finesse. The dialogue is clunky, and the prose is overly simple. We are told that the main character loves his son and wants to do better by him, but any scenes that involve him fly by with sweeping generalisations. It gave me the distinct feeling that Fulkerson found these parts uninteresting and wanted to quickly get to the meat of the story.
There are long strings of uninterrupted dialogue, some of which aren't formatted correctly, meaning I had to double back multiple times to figure out who was supposed to be speaking. The story switches between present and past tense at random and sometimes only for a single line. Technically, it could really use a bit of spit and polish. However, I don't think Fulkerson is at that stage yet.
I could see the beginnings of a good story here, but it's like the scaffolding without the building. The core premise is strong, and with some more work on the details, it could have been a great story. It should still be in its beta stage, being developed and refined, not out on shelves to face the mercy of the world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Never judge a book by its cover.
I felt like I was reading a first draft. Fulkerson zooms through the plot with the speed of an F1 car but without any of the finesse. The dialogue is clunky, and the prose is overly simple. We are told that the main character loves his son and wants to do better by him, but any scenes that involve him fly by with sweeping generalisations. It gave me the distinct feeling that Fulkerson found these parts uninteresting and wanted to quickly get to the meat of the story.
There are long strings of uninterrupted dialogue, some of which aren't formatted correctly, meaning I had to double back multiple times to figure out who was supposed to be speaking. The story switches between present and past tense at random and sometimes only for a single line. Technically, it could really use a bit of spit and polish. However, I don't think Fulkerson is at that stage yet.
I could see the beginnings of a good story here, but it's like the scaffolding without the building. The core premise is strong, and with some more work on the details, it could have been a great story. It should still be in its beta stage, being developed and refined, not out on shelves to face the mercy of the world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 17, 2024
A Brood of Vipers
Joseph Fulkerson
(August 30, 2024)
3.75 / 5 Stars
Ok, so ...
This one is a really fast paced horror story that drops us (literally) right into the driver's seat from page one.
It's dark, gory and grotesque, in the best ways.
It's got some really well written, vivid horror scenes ... My only minor critique would be that some of the dialogue could use a little punching up, in my personal opinion. Other then that, I found this tale of twisted faith to be an intriguing and disturbing read.
I recommend sacrificing some time for this religious horror novella.
I look forward to what he writes next!
Thanks to Netgalley, Translucent Eyes Press, and Joseph Fulkerson for this ARC eBook in exchange for my honest review.
Joseph Fulkerson
(August 30, 2024)
3.75 / 5 Stars
Ok, so ...
This one is a really fast paced horror story that drops us (literally) right into the driver's seat from page one.
It's dark, gory and grotesque, in the best ways.
It's got some really well written, vivid horror scenes ... My only minor critique would be that some of the dialogue could use a little punching up, in my personal opinion. Other then that, I found this tale of twisted faith to be an intriguing and disturbing read.
I recommend sacrificing some time for this religious horror novella.
I look forward to what he writes next!
Thanks to Netgalley, Translucent Eyes Press, and Joseph Fulkerson for this ARC eBook in exchange for my honest review.
September 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC
I'm a big fan of religious horror, so I had a good time with this one. The pacing was fast and it was a quick read. I loved the gore/body horror. I couldn't give this 4 stars, mainly because it felt too short. I wanted more explanation of a few events. More detail about the way things worked.
Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC
I'm a big fan of religious horror, so I had a good time with this one. The pacing was fast and it was a quick read. I loved the gore/body horror. I couldn't give this 4 stars, mainly because it felt too short. I wanted more explanation of a few events. More detail about the way things worked.
August 12, 2024
I’m a sucker for religious horror, so I was very excited to be approved for this ARC.
This story shows what grief can do to a person (although I would have liked more about Ezra’s grief, instead he curses out God once and not long after is a changed man) and it shows exactly how far one will go to have power and feel like a God.
It’s fast paced, the story goes by so quickly and the battle between good and evil is so dark and disturbing. The overall story was very engaging with some good twists and turns. The ending had me questioning a lot of things and I would have loved a bit more development on the characters.
I give this one 3.5 stars.
Thanks to the author, Translucent Eyes Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
This story shows what grief can do to a person (although I would have liked more about Ezra’s grief, instead he curses out God once and not long after is a changed man) and it shows exactly how far one will go to have power and feel like a God.
It’s fast paced, the story goes by so quickly and the battle between good and evil is so dark and disturbing. The overall story was very engaging with some good twists and turns. The ending had me questioning a lot of things and I would have loved a bit more development on the characters.
I give this one 3.5 stars.
Thanks to the author, Translucent Eyes Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
August 19, 2024
I really enjoyed the read and liked that the author left it possible to become a series. It was a slow start I found, but once I got into it I breezed through it. There were some formatting issues and I think the odd typo, but overall it was a well done story.
September 16, 2024
Entertaining Supernatural/Occult Horror.
I wish it would’ve been a bit longer or maybe part of a series, but definitely enjoyed it.
I wish it would’ve been a bit longer or maybe part of a series, but definitely enjoyed it.
August 11, 2024
3.5 stars rounded to 4. The story had great potential, and it might have been a classic of religious horror. But it felt too rushed for me. Rough writing and unattractive prose, cardboard characterization, and extremely stereotypical handling of the plot. However, it's not difficult for an experienced reader to see what the author had in mind, and appreciate the very well-done violent scenes: though fragmentary, they are quite enjoyable, and convinced me to give 4 stars to the book!
July 25, 2024
2.5 stars
The premise of this book is what initially intrigued me, I love a good religious horror story. Unfortunately I found this book flat, the characters were a little two dimensional and the plot didn’t deliver for me. While the writing was easy to understand and read, I also found it repetitive at certain times. This just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #BroodOfVipers #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The premise of this book is what initially intrigued me, I love a good religious horror story. Unfortunately I found this book flat, the characters were a little two dimensional and the plot didn’t deliver for me. While the writing was easy to understand and read, I also found it repetitive at certain times. This just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #BroodOfVipers #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 25, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first thing I want to say about Brood of Vipers is wow. This book is absolutely fantastic reading the synopsis I was instantly interested and reading it I wasn’t disappointed.
Brood of Vipers gave me vibes of the fantastic Netflix mini series Midnight Mass. Seph is just trying to get his life back on track and build the right life for his son.
I really can’t praise Brood of Vipers enough I will definitely be following Joseph Fulkerson
The first thing I want to say about Brood of Vipers is wow. This book is absolutely fantastic reading the synopsis I was instantly interested and reading it I wasn’t disappointed.
Brood of Vipers gave me vibes of the fantastic Netflix mini series Midnight Mass. Seph is just trying to get his life back on track and build the right life for his son.
I really can’t praise Brood of Vipers enough I will definitely be following Joseph Fulkerson
July 30, 2024
I have once again been fooled by a dope cover. This book follows a preacher and an ex-addict, as their lives intersect when a devil comes to earth to offer deals.
The premise to this book was good—I love a religious horror, and the idea of a preacher working with a devil (although not new) is still an interesting premise. It’s easy to see how power can corrupt a man like that, who already has a taste for it as a spiritual leader. And the inclusion of Seph, an ex-addict who just wanted to be better for his son, was a good juxtaposition for the preacher character (corruption of the “good” spiritual leader, vs his foil, a “bad” person serving out a sentence but who wants to do what’s right).
That being said—a good premise does not make a good book! The writing was unbearably clunky, and nothing was explained past a surface level. Like, there was no complexity or drama to anything I was reading, and the characters were all very one-note. It was just “This happened, then this happened, He said this, He wanted this”. It was like someone had an idea of what they wanted to happen, and then wrote the bare minimum amount of words (while using a thesaurus) to connect those events. Just not an enjoyable read, and seemed to drag on even though it was incredibly short, just because it was hard to stay engaged when I didn’t care about anyone or anything.
Feel free to skip this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
The premise to this book was good—I love a religious horror, and the idea of a preacher working with a devil (although not new) is still an interesting premise. It’s easy to see how power can corrupt a man like that, who already has a taste for it as a spiritual leader. And the inclusion of Seph, an ex-addict who just wanted to be better for his son, was a good juxtaposition for the preacher character (corruption of the “good” spiritual leader, vs his foil, a “bad” person serving out a sentence but who wants to do what’s right).
That being said—a good premise does not make a good book! The writing was unbearably clunky, and nothing was explained past a surface level. Like, there was no complexity or drama to anything I was reading, and the characters were all very one-note. It was just “This happened, then this happened, He said this, He wanted this”. It was like someone had an idea of what they wanted to happen, and then wrote the bare minimum amount of words (while using a thesaurus) to connect those events. Just not an enjoyable read, and seemed to drag on even though it was incredibly short, just because it was hard to stay engaged when I didn’t care about anyone or anything.
Feel free to skip this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
July 27, 2024
I loved the premise of this novella and if this was the first hundred pages of a longer work I would rate it higher, but as is it ends just as it’s getting really interesting! I love the rivalry between Seth and Ezra and I do hope there is more to come.
Read
October 20, 2024Thank you Netgalley, Translucent Eyes Press and Joseph Fulkerson for the eArc of Brood of Vipers.
Brood of Vipers of a medium paced, quick religious based horror which I really enjoyed the premise of. There is enough character development and plot direction to keep you engaged, even though you know what direction this book will take, I did however, find that in the middle, the writing didn't flow as much as I usually would of liked and found it a little clunky.
This book doesn't hold out on the visceral gore, I could almost smell the coppery smell of blood and the descriptions of the sacrifices were great ( I like gore though! ) Keen to read more from Joseph as I did enjoy his writing style.
3.5 stars for story graph 3 for Amazon, Netgalley, Goodreads.
Brood of Vipers of a medium paced, quick religious based horror which I really enjoyed the premise of. There is enough character development and plot direction to keep you engaged, even though you know what direction this book will take, I did however, find that in the middle, the writing didn't flow as much as I usually would of liked and found it a little clunky.
This book doesn't hold out on the visceral gore, I could almost smell the coppery smell of blood and the descriptions of the sacrifices were great ( I like gore though! ) Keen to read more from Joseph as I did enjoy his writing style.
3.5 stars for story graph 3 for Amazon, Netgalley, Goodreads.
July 28, 2024
Which side are you on? This made me think of where I want to be when the time comes to make that decision. Good or Evil. And it is left open to continue the fight.
I received an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 22, 2024
So, this is a complex one.
The storyline is engaging and tense, especially given how much “power” the reader is given in knowing things “only the bad guy knows”. The story quickly goes in a very interesting direction, and it’s hard not to be engaged.
There’s really not a single character you root for, but the book seems to delight in putting you in that malicious role of not REALLY caring what happens to characters in the story, you’re just enjoying the ride.
Rhythm is my main gripe here. Scenes and chapters need a little bit more in terms of cohesion between them. Might be on purpose, but more than a unique story, Brood of Vipers seemed like a collection of events, almost like scenes to be shot for a movie: slightly out of order, with no discernible way of connecting them through emotion instead of events.
The storyline is engaging and tense, especially given how much “power” the reader is given in knowing things “only the bad guy knows”. The story quickly goes in a very interesting direction, and it’s hard not to be engaged.
There’s really not a single character you root for, but the book seems to delight in putting you in that malicious role of not REALLY caring what happens to characters in the story, you’re just enjoying the ride.
Rhythm is my main gripe here. Scenes and chapters need a little bit more in terms of cohesion between them. Might be on purpose, but more than a unique story, Brood of Vipers seemed like a collection of events, almost like scenes to be shot for a movie: slightly out of order, with no discernible way of connecting them through emotion instead of events.
July 26, 2024
This was definitely a creepy read, at 115 pages it’s also a super quick one. I will warn that there is some animal abuse. It kept me turning pages although the content was a bit disturbing.
September 17, 2024
📚Book Review: Brood of Vipers by Joseph Fulkerson
🔥Genre: Horror
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
✨Prepare to be pulled into a twisted supernatural thriller that blends faith, addiction, horror, and the apocalyptic unknown! Brood of Vipers by Joseph Fulkerson is a powerful and unsettling debut that explores the depths of human psychology, redemption, and the brutal collision between faith and horror.
🐍Why You'll Love It:
💀Deep Psychological Horror: If you enjoy horror that delves into the mind, questioning faith and morality, this is the book for you.
💫Apocalyptic Supernatural Themes: The blend of Christian mythology, supernatural forces, and Armageddon creates a chilling and thought-provoking setting.
🎭Complex Characters: Seph and Ezra's struggles with addiction, redemption, and loss will hit you hard emotionally, making their fates all the more impactful.
📜Religious Tension & Mysticism: This isn't just a scary story—it's a deep exploration of religious belief, spiritual battles, and the dark forces that lie just beneath the surface.
🌑Perfect for Fans Of:
✨Stephen King's The Stand: With its apocalyptic themes, small-town setting, and battle between good and evil.
✨Clive Barker's The Hellbound Heart: For readers who love their horror with a deep sense of dark spirituality and psychological depth.
✨Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts: A perfect match for those who like horror that intertwines with faith, religion, and mental health.
✨H.P. Lovecraft: The cosmic horror and looming sense of the unknown in Brood of Vipers would appeal to fans of Lovecraftian nightmares.
Ready to question your beliefs? Brood of Vipers is waiting to pull you in… 🖤🐍📖
#BookReview #BroodOfVipers #JosephFulkerson #HorrorDebut #SupernaturalThriller #DarkHorror #HorrorBooks #ReadingCommunity #ReadersOfInstagram #IGReads #InstaBooks #Bookstagrammer #BookstagramCommunity
🔥Genre: Horror
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
✨Prepare to be pulled into a twisted supernatural thriller that blends faith, addiction, horror, and the apocalyptic unknown! Brood of Vipers by Joseph Fulkerson is a powerful and unsettling debut that explores the depths of human psychology, redemption, and the brutal collision between faith and horror.
🐍Why You'll Love It:
💀Deep Psychological Horror: If you enjoy horror that delves into the mind, questioning faith and morality, this is the book for you.
💫Apocalyptic Supernatural Themes: The blend of Christian mythology, supernatural forces, and Armageddon creates a chilling and thought-provoking setting.
🎭Complex Characters: Seph and Ezra's struggles with addiction, redemption, and loss will hit you hard emotionally, making their fates all the more impactful.
📜Religious Tension & Mysticism: This isn't just a scary story—it's a deep exploration of religious belief, spiritual battles, and the dark forces that lie just beneath the surface.
🌑Perfect for Fans Of:
✨Stephen King's The Stand: With its apocalyptic themes, small-town setting, and battle between good and evil.
✨Clive Barker's The Hellbound Heart: For readers who love their horror with a deep sense of dark spirituality and psychological depth.
✨Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts: A perfect match for those who like horror that intertwines with faith, religion, and mental health.
✨H.P. Lovecraft: The cosmic horror and looming sense of the unknown in Brood of Vipers would appeal to fans of Lovecraftian nightmares.
Ready to question your beliefs? Brood of Vipers is waiting to pull you in… 🖤🐍📖
#BookReview #BroodOfVipers #JosephFulkerson #HorrorDebut #SupernaturalThriller #DarkHorror #HorrorBooks #ReadingCommunity #ReadersOfInstagram #IGReads #InstaBooks #Bookstagrammer #BookstagramCommunity
November 17, 2024
A big thank you to Joseph Fulkerson, Translucent Eyes Press, and Netgalley for this copy of 'Brood of Vipers'.
We follow along with two different men going through two very different journeys. Dr. Ezra Solomon, a preacher who endures a major loss, and Seph, a recovering drug addict trying to get his life right to be back with the family he lost. This book took a turn on the religious side I wasn't prepared for in the most grotesque and hell-bent way, and I actually loved every second of it. Some of these scenes' descriptions took me out but were morbidly some of my favorites. The story itself was good, but sometimes I wished it was a tad longer in certain spots, because it carried this rushed undertone that I felt took away from some of the scenes in the book. The author did put a good amount of depth in for the characters that I appreciate that helped flush each of them out individually in the short amount of time we had with them. While I think the ending was a little lackluster, it did end in a place where your imagination can fill in the details. It felt like a mixture of Constantine meets Blumhouse and I truly enjoyed this for what it was.
All - in - all this was a 3.50 star read for me.
We follow along with two different men going through two very different journeys. Dr. Ezra Solomon, a preacher who endures a major loss, and Seph, a recovering drug addict trying to get his life right to be back with the family he lost. This book took a turn on the religious side I wasn't prepared for in the most grotesque and hell-bent way, and I actually loved every second of it. Some of these scenes' descriptions took me out but were morbidly some of my favorites. The story itself was good, but sometimes I wished it was a tad longer in certain spots, because it carried this rushed undertone that I felt took away from some of the scenes in the book. The author did put a good amount of depth in for the characters that I appreciate that helped flush each of them out individually in the short amount of time we had with them. While I think the ending was a little lackluster, it did end in a place where your imagination can fill in the details. It felt like a mixture of Constantine meets Blumhouse and I truly enjoyed this for what it was.
All - in - all this was a 3.50 star read for me.
August 1, 2024
The premise of this book was good and that was what caught my attention--- I love religious horror and a good one at that. The story follows the story of two men, Ezra and Seph, and a rogue angel. Ezra is a small-town preacher reeling from a great loss. In his grief, he cried out to God for a sign, and what appeared was not God but a rogue angel who promised to heal him on the condition that Ezra would abandon God to serve him. And there is Seph, a former drug addict looking for a fresh start, to become a better father to his son.
The story gripped me from the very start. It was great, interesting, and exciting until it got to the part where it said that God was sick and weak. I find that quite blasphemous. Fiction or not, Elohim cannot be sick or weak. He is the Almighty God, He is stronger than any other god or demon, He is the Ancient of days, and nothing can ever make Him sick. My God is not a weakling!
So aside from that, I find it a fast-paced novel filled with disturbing and gory details of murder and blood sacrifices. Read only if you have a strong stomach for such details.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story gripped me from the very start. It was great, interesting, and exciting until it got to the part where it said that God was sick and weak. I find that quite blasphemous. Fiction or not, Elohim cannot be sick or weak. He is the Almighty God, He is stronger than any other god or demon, He is the Ancient of days, and nothing can ever make Him sick. My God is not a weakling!
So aside from that, I find it a fast-paced novel filled with disturbing and gory details of murder and blood sacrifices. Read only if you have a strong stomach for such details.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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