Alan Ryker

Oh, now this story packed a punch! I love when novellas manage to suck me in so wholly. Alan Ryker proves that it doesn't matter how many pages he has to work with, he can write one hell of a story.

Since this is so short, I won't go too into detail. I wouldn't dare take the experience away from you. Instead I'll simply say that this story is very well done. Aaron's character, with his locked away memories, is believable. I understood his pain, felt his unwillingness to fight the demons show more lurking inside him, and cheered him on as he bravely fought anyway. There were plenty of moments that had me shivering, because the writing definitely evokes a sense of dread. Best of all, everything wrapped up in a way that I wasn't expecting.

In The Shadows Of Children starts a bit slow, but keep going. Trust me. It ends up being well worth it! show less

One of the best vampire stories that I have read in a while. Economical prose, yet detailed enough to provide good characterization. Upon reviewing Ryker's bio I discovered that he writes both literary fiction as well as dark fiction. No surprise once I had read this very well written short novel. Ryker clearly not only knows how to fashion a well-paced, exciting horror novel with good characters, settings, and imagery, but he has the chops to tackle other genres as well.

And the best part show more is that the vampires are old school nasty, unattractive predators. The story line follows these dangerous creatures, and some equally dangerous and aggressive humans, down a path that I think is original. Clearly the capacity for mindless cruelty goes both ways.

If you like well written horror stories and you hate the "sparkly" type of romantic vampire, then this is the book to read. After I finished, I bought the sequel. show less

I received this book as a member of the Darkfuse book club which, as I have said elsewhere, is the best investment that I have made to my reading pleasure since I bought my Kindle. You not only get tons of great books and novels, you get to interact with the writers themselves and discuss their works. That is entrance into the pearly gates (or the gates of your choice I suppose...) for fans of dark fiction. Seriously, check it out. In the interest of full disclosure I got nothing, nada, show more zilch for that endorsement other than the hope that someone takes me up on it and thanks me later.

Alan Ryker is a really good writer. I read and thoroughly enjoyed Burden Kansas and Blood Tells True (the Vampires of the Plains series).I am not just saying he can write a good horror story, which he can. His stories are populated with characters we care about. His plots are compelling---and in this case squirm-inducing. He can sure create a scene. In this case the inside of a hoarders abode.

A story of possessions and the possessed.

There are more things that you don't want to know about in that trash heap than bacteria and TV guides from the Carter administration. Things that really do have a life of their own and pose a great risk to yours.

Loved this book. Loved the characters. I felt for them as they confronted one awful situation after another. Even more amazing than that, Ryker gets into the thoughts of the characters in the story. What drives a hoarder to insist on living in a stockpile of rotting trash, unwilling to part with what most of us would consider to be waste? What effect does it have on their families who must wrestle with this destructive and dangerous obsession. Ryker even gets into the squirming, predatory, and thoroughly nasty brain of the absolutely vile creature living in the refuse of our civilization---seeking migration to a human host to claw its way up the food chain.

Be prepared to be horrified at the events and amazed at how much you care for the characters. You will also probably take a shower or two after you finish the book. It will probably literally make you itch---the scenes and description are that good.

I saw those shows on TV about hoarders. I may have watched an episode or so. But I never really thought about it very much.

Not any more. show less

The last thing I expected when I picked this up was a love story, yet that's just what it is. Haunting, tragic, and terrible, yes, but a love story nonetheless.

Cody Miller is on the verge of having it all. One he finishes school, his beautiful fiance's father has promised him a lucrative job that will form the foundation of lifelong success. All of that is taken away in an instant, though, thanks to a careless mistake. But whose fault was that mistake? And can Cody change the past?

The first show more third of this book is a brutal look at what a severe burn victim has to go through. It's obvious Ryker really did his homework here because, honestly, the passages here describing the pain, both physical and emotional, and the long (and sometimes impossible) road to recovery are some of the most harrowing I've ever read. No punches are pulled. The fire breaks Cody down in every way possible, and he doesn't consider what's left a person anymore. His toxic attitude soon infects everyone he cares about and things start to spiral out of control.

Then...everything changes. Literally. Cody wakes up hale and hearty. The accident never happened and his life is very much like he dreamed it would be, but there are some very important differences. He has distinct memories of the recent past, both as a burn victim and as a successful businessman. The turning focal point seems to be the night of the accident. In one memory, he was burned. In another, he was not, but his fiance disappeared, altering the course of his life. To find answers to all of his questions, Cody must venture into the darkest parts of both his city and his soul.

When we meet him, Cody is largely a selfish person. He cares about other people, but typically only insofar as they can help him further his goals. However, over the course of the story, he changes. Through memories of both lives he comes to understand himself and just how much pain he's put those closest to him through. This journey of self-discovery prompts a real journey through the darkest aspects of society.

Cody's journey is beautiful. Ryker is able to perfectly capture so many emotions and put them on the page. When Cody is at his lowest, you can feel his pain as if it were your own. When he receives a nebulous series of clues that offer the barest hints of what's going on, his hope is your hope. It's not surprise that a DarkFuse author can impart a sense of dread and horror in the reader, but Ryker is able to impart feelings of hope and love just as ably. I just was not expecting that, but I'm glad it happened. I can't recommend this book highly enough. show less