When Monsters Roamed the Earth: War of Dictates combines creatures of myth and fantasy in an epic battle for power

 

 

War of Dictates 

John Baltisberger

Ebook, 107 ppg.

ISBN-10: 1734893710

ISBN-13: 978-1734893717

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Many writers enjoy setting historical and modern-day settings as the backdrop for stories of fantasy and myth. John Baltisberger is one of those writers. In the horror fantasy book that is written in a series of poems, War of Dictates by John Baltisberger has creatures and beings from mythology, as well as creatures of fantasy, fighting for dominion over the earth. Both sides use up and destroy humans, often setting them up as pawns in their battles.

 

While this may be a story written as poetry, one must keep in mind that the timeline is not consistent. It starts at the very beginning of mankind, then jumps to the present day, then goes back to Biblical times. Nevertheless, this timeline hop did not cause confusion, and each of these passages was interesting to read, especially with the Nephilim and the Watchers. There is speculation that giants once roamed the earth, and here they are presented as deities. An accurate portrayal, actually.

 

Human women are not treated fairly in these poems. At the beginning, women are seen as sex objects, often raped to death. Then they are seen as reproductive objects, valued only for being able to have babies. Then they are used for trade: 

 

“Human men had learned from the twisted Grigori and traded women;

valued their progeny and title and legacy above human life.

And so, the first Nephilim lords learned

to make peace, offer a woman.

To make war, take a woman.

To reduce men to idiots, show them a woman.

To sap men’s life, unmake a woman.” 

 

Human women may not fare well in the stories, but one of myth has better stature: Lilith. I was surprised to see this mythical being in this book, but with the other creatures and beings of myth and fantasy, it felt right. This is especially true given that some of the stories are set in Biblical times (Noah and the flood, Adam and Eve). 

 

The battle between the gods, the Watchers, and the angels continues in the stories. It was all extremely fascinating to read, even though I know it’s all fictional. But it is written so well. The style of the writing for the poems makes it appear as though it’s from an old book. There is no “thee” or “thou” but the word choice makes it seem as if the stories come from ancient text. 

 

I especially liked the last part of the book, where these beings took on the human forms of certain people in history (as well as in the year 2020) and Lilith returns for one last battle. It was entertaining to read. 

 

War of Dictates is a recommended read for fans of mythology, fantasy, and Biblical studies (and with that last part, one must keep an open mind when reading such content. Remember, it’s just fiction!). It’s a book of epic battles and the quest for power. Brilliantly written and plotted so well, these poems are sure to entertain and fascinate readers. They are tales that linger in the mind long after the very last poem is read.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of this ebook for research purposes. This review is entirely voluntary.

Horror Stories with Bite: HOWL is an anthology of shapeshifting creatures that will haunt you long after you stop reading

 

HOWL: A Shapeshifting Anthology

Edited by Kelley York, Lauren Woods and Sarah Sanny

Graveside Press, 2025

ISBN: 978-1-964952-94-9 (Ebook)

Ebook, 253 ppg.

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Fans of shifter stories take note: HOWL: A Shapeshifting Anthology is one collection of stories you would not want to go without! These stories, edited by Kelley York, Lauren Woods and Sarah Sanny, were all gripping and spine-tingling tales that drew me in from the first word to the last. I sincerely enjoyed reading these stories and I will likely be picking this book up again to reread!

 

Before I started reading the stories in this anthology, I thought all of them were werewolf stories, on account of the “howl” part of the title. But I discovered this was not true. These are not just werewolf stories, but shifter stories that include other creatures too. This was a pleasant surprise. While of course I enjoy reading werewolf stories, the mix of shifters in this anthology was a nice change in my reading experience.

 

Not only are these stories different, but they also vary in the setting. Some of them are horror while others are fantasy. Some of them are set in times reminiscent of the Salem witch hunts, while others are set in a world where shifters are a part of the society. All of them were entertaining to read, which each story being better than the last.

 

Here are some of the stories I enjoyed reading the most:

 

“A Damnable Life” by C.W. Stevenson. This story stirred so much anger within me because it portrays religious corruption and the oppression of innocent people. I loved the surprise at the end!

 

“The Last Bus Out of Black Mouth Canyon” by Michael A. Reed. I love how this story came together. It really captured a real-world response to an epidemic that makes people turn into werewolves. I thought it was silly how people thought that they could actually control a werewolf but they pretty much had to learn that you can’t the hard way. The ending was awesome, too!

 

“The Marzipan Dog” by Octavia Cade. I was pleased to see not only a blind character but also a service dog in a story in this anthology. The bond between the character, Beth, and her dog is so sweet. She holds fast to him and she’s grateful for how protective the dog is not only of her but also her brother. And this story’s ending really gripped me too!

 

“Duty & Mercy” by Carlos Dias is one of the fantasy stories that had me hooked from beginning to end. I loved how the werewolf had to fight with another kind of character often found in fantasy stories and especially the big surprise at the end. Great story!

 

“Moth{er}” by Chase Anderson is one of the non-werewolf stories that I also really enjoyed reading. It was sad reading about the character’s complicated relationship with the mother and how her being different sort of affected the character’s reality. But in a way, it helps the character to understand the mother better.

 

“Kindertransport” by Elana Gomel was another great story! It’s certainly not your average werewolf story. I loved how the main character, Debbie, takes something she learned about the not-too-distant past of when there were werewolves and applies it to a present situation, of when there are quite possibly werewolves roaming and killing in her village. I loved this line: “By being the book’s keeper, she had become the voice of history.” Sometimes we need to turn to history to find solutions to modern-day problems. I also liked how the group of kids banded together in light of what was happening. I could go on and on about what I loved about this story but I don’t want to give away too much. It is written so well and really held my interest!

 

“Time for a Change” by Mark Towse was another great story. As I started reading it, I thought I knew what kind of story it was, only to find that I was wrong. It kept me guessing! I enjoyed the way this story played out; it gives away just enough to the reader to let them know that things are not what they seem. I was really hooked on this story and I knew that I just had to trust that what seemed to be happening was not how it was going to end. Something different was going to take place. Yes, the man in this story angered me and I hated how helpless the woman appeared to be at first. But maybe that was all a part of her plan? Maybe that is what she wanted him to think. I loved this story and the ending, while a surprise, was a really good one!

 

All of these stories were entertaining, frightening and unique tales of shifter stories that will hold a reader’s interest. They are well-written stories that drew me in and I enjoyed reading all of them. I highly recommend this anthology to anyone who enjoys reading werewolf and/or shifter stories, as well as anyone who enjoys a good horrifying tale!

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Of Mountains and Monsters: Nine Levels is a mythological quest of courage and survival

 

Nine Levels

Elana Gomel

Mirror World Publishing, 2024

ISBN-13: 978-1998360024

Ebook, 282 ppg.

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“There was power in knowledge.” This is a thought that strikes the main character of this novel, Cleo, as she is hiding from a group of harpies that would no doubt attack her without mercy.

 

Yes. That’s right. Harpies. The same creatures in Greek mythology. And, in Cleo’s case, her knowledge of Greek mythology becomes handy. As she eventually discovers that she is trapped on what she learns is the very first level of a mountain called Orcus, where myth becomes reality. She eventually finds out that there are nine levels which she must ascend in order to escape from this hell she is in, and her attempts to do so are a matter of life and death.

 

If you know Greek mythology, you know that there are some pretty sketchy and dangerous creatures. Not to mention those who like to knock boots with anything that breathes. So Cleo definitely has quite a few scary adventures to contend with.

 

But it’s not just creatures from Greek mythology which are in this story. Other figures, such as Hekate, are in it too. Which sort of complicates things for Cleo in trying to figure out the puzzle she has to solve in trying to survive each adversary she faces! She can’t rely on what she knows every time; she has to sort of study them and try to pick up on clues to understand who she is dealing with on each level.

 

It seems like each new level she reaches is harder than the last. Still, she presses on. She does try to figure things out along the way, perhaps so she can have some kind of edge against her opponents or the next thing she faces, but she knows that this can slow here down. “She forced herself to fall into the same mindless rhythm that had saved her on the rockface. Don’t think, don’t feel, don’t fear. Touch the wall, pull yourself up, feel the last ledge dissolve under your feet, touch the wall…But while her body, toughened by her stay in Orcus, labored to keep her alive, her mind churned like a pond of muddy water with a stone tossed in.” Even so, Cleo keeps facing one setback after another, one difficulty after another, and one failure after another. She is exhausted, mentally and physically, and constantly fighting to keep going. She is tempted to give up but she won’t because she knows her sister is out there somewhere, and she needed to help her:

 

“My sister is not dead.

It came to her with absolute conviction. And together with it, the

determination to stay alive. She owed it to Cora. Twins always stayed together, in life as in death. Even the Dioscuri, with one brother immortal and the other mortal, refused to be parted. If Cora was alive, she would try her damndest to stay alive too.”

 

One lingering thought I had as I read this book was this: How did this even happen? How was Cleo suddenly on Orcus, a mythological mountain where a warped sense of mythology reigned, and how was her sister lost? This is all explained, at some point. Not right away, but as I read, pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Her memory lapses are also explained, and I was surprised to learn the cause of it. I also appreciated how the author touched on the fact that Cleo has a twin sister, and tapped into aspects of things that can only happen between twins – even one being mistaken for the other. (There’s actually a lot involved on the subject with twins and the author touched on some of these aspects beautifully. It’s not overdone and has just the right balance.)

 

This was an extremely interesting story! The author knows her Greek mythology very well. Each level that Cleo ascends to is ever more interesting than the last, and the big reveal in the climax was very surprising. I definitely did not see it coming, and the image of Cleo standing with Medusa and Lamia was jarring. Almost surreal. Humans in Greek mythology are often looked down upon, seen as sex objects or as pawns for the gods and goddesses in their many battles. So to see this in the story was really unusual, if not a reminder of just how different all of the mythologies are in this fictional albeit mythological universe this author has created for her story. It is so well done and leaves a lasting appreciation for the Greek mythology which we all know and love.

 

Masterfully told and captivatingly pieced together, Nine Levels by Elana Gomel is a novel of adventure, myth, legend and courage. A story that twists together fantasy, mythology, folklore and contemporary fiction, this novel is an unforgettable quest holding reader interest and entertaining the imagination. Every level of this story reaches ever higher than the last one, enriching the enjoyment of the story right along with it.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.