Curse of the Cob Man, Bloody Bones Horror #2
Robert P. Ottone
Weird House Press, 2023
ISBN-10: 1957121610
ISBN-13: 978-1957121611
190 ppg., Ebook
Buy links:
Apple Valley may seem like a quaint little family-friendly rural town, but it’s shrouded by a curse. According to legend, every resident must provide an offering to the Lord of the Harvest – locally referred to as the Cob Man – or else death and blight will plague the town. Sounds pretty hard to believe, right? Those who grew up in the valley may cling to this legend and follow the rules, but what happens when someone who was not spoon-fed the legend their entire lives doesn’t play along? That’s when things start going wrong.
Curse of the Cob Man by Robert P. Ottone explores the “what if’s” of an urban legend. That is, what if a typical teenager doesn’t believe the legends and decides to play a prank on everyone just to prove how silly it is? I have always wondered how teens deal with urban legends in their own towns. Do they believe the stories? Have any of them ever rebelled against them? And what happens if they do?
Ottone’s novel is not so much a horrifying tale, but a warning of what could very well happen if the legends are ignored.
That aside, though, this story is not just about an urban legend, but also about a family struggling to fit in. Always the target of gossip and stories, the Tomasi family made their home in Apple Valley hoping for a life of less violence. But when the proverbial poop hit the fan, they go back into survival mode and know just how to battle the monster terrorizing their town and killing everyone. The state police think they have it covered, the local police starts deputizing citizens in order to get more eyes out for the killer, but it’s the Tomasi family that triumphs above it all, ready to kick ass and take names.
I also liked how Ottone describes the evil Cob Man creature – and how he has zombie-like helpers following him! That was so bizarre! Then there’s the part about the things the Cob Man does to the dead bodies. It’s kinda weird and kinda gross. But also creepily cool! I recommend it for fans of folk horror as well as anyone who enjoys stories reminiscent of Children of the Corn.
Curse of the Cob Man is a horrifying spin on an urban legend causing legendary havoc in a small town that failed to pay a tribute it demands on one night of the year. Ottone brilliantly “weaves” together a story that is the stuff of nightmares, complete with a terrifying, gruesome monster that will prompt a reader to never view an ear of corn in the same way ever again.
Five stars
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
%20(1).png)
No comments:
Post a Comment