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.

All the Hearts They Ate: The Beauty in the Wreckage is a story of the struggle for individuality and freedom

 

THE BEAUTY IN THE WRECKAGE: OR THE BIBLIOTHECA TREATMENT: AN EXPERIMENTAL HORROR NOVELLA

Andrew Buckner

Alien Buddha Press, 2026

ISBN-13: 979-8246708750

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Fiorella leaves hearts on the doorstep of houses and everybody who eats the hearts will die. Her plan is to go from one town after another, leaving these hearts on doorsteps for the unsuspecting residents, until everyone is dead and she can create her own world of Fiorellas. But then Fiorella starts to question why she is doing this and if she is being programmed to do this. This changes everything and Fiorella is plunged into a world she no longer understands.

 

THE BEAUTY IN THE WRECKAGE: OR THE BIBLIOTHECA TREATMENT: AN EXPERIMENTAL HORROR NOVELLA by Andrew Buckner is a bizarre story of a young woman who has lost all memory of who she is and her past and only functions by doing what she is programmed to do. What she has been brainwashed to do. It is only when she breaks free – or tries to – that everything turns to chaos. When she begins to rebel against religion and against presidential orders, she becomes a target, and she knows she must do something to save herself before it is too late.

 

Even as Fiorella thinks about what she is doing and tries to change her actions, something called the “Father Figure” tries to stop her. It talks to her through her dreams. I couldn’t help but see this as religion forcing its beliefs and its ways on people, and stopping them from trying to get out of their bubbles and think for themselves. This is reinforced when I later read that the Father Figure’s spiel is ““not thinking and just doing is easier and more comfortable for you.” (page 58)

 

I loved how Fiorella’s love for books inspires her to write her own. On page 53, it reads (in Fiorella’s POV): “Now, I, too, must take up my pen, the mightiest of weapons in this barren warzone of bombs, tanks, and guns we naively call “life”, and fight by writing my memories, carving them for myself as well as for eternity, and dreams habitually, creating in any way that I can, so that the whole world can wake up through words and remember.”

 

I especially liked how she also uses her love for books to find a way to fight book bans. This love for books changes her and gives her new ideas, something the “monster-in-chief” oft mentioned in this story, as well as the “Father Figure,” would not approve of.

 

The Beauty in the Wreckage is a story not only of an individual who struggles to have the independence to think for themselves but also of an individual who wants to be free of an oppressive regime. Readers get to know Fiorella’s world through her stream of consciousness poetry and journal entries. She brings to light our natural desire for self-expression in a world that forbids individuality. Her story is a voice crying out for freedom from the chains her country has her in and one which readers may take heed of to create change in our own country.

 

Five stars

 

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

Shameful Christianity: Jesus is an Infidel is a collection of poetry exposing the destruction of a once benevolent religion

 

Jesus is an Infidel

Benjamin B. White

Alien Buddha Press, 2025

ISBN: 9798313005775

Print, 63 ppg.

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When someone reads a book that is about a religious figure and/or deity, it’s important to have an open mind. This is especially true if the book in question is a collection of poetry.

 

I am not a religious person. I have no religion and I don’t hold myself to any dogma or beliefs. I used to be a Christian (among other things), so I know a bit about the Bible, church sermons, Sunday school teachings, and basically living as a Christian. I am no longer a Christian, but that doesn’t mean I entertain hatred towards the Christian faith. All the same, even as I am exposed to blasphemy and hate towards a religion, that does not mean I’ll jump on that bandwagon. I take what I see, read and experience with a critical eye.

 

That said, this collection of poetry does contain some blasphemous material (if you’re a Christian), but I perceived it as non-religious writing. Just another person’s opinions and ideas. None of the stuff in this book is meant to be a call to attack Christianity; it’s only literature.

 

I actually found some of the poems to be thought-provoking, as well as entertaining. I was laughing in some parts of the book and rolling my eyes in others.

 

“Fall into Place” is a poem that touches on the fact (NOT a “theory”) that the King James Bible was changed and revised according to the whims of a group of men in government. The Bible we know of and read today (KJV) is the result of all of those changes and wrong translations. It is not the original Word of God.

 

The last 8 lines of the poem “Carpenter” made me laugh!

 

In the poem “Pity,” these lines stood out, in talking about Jesus:

 

“As his is a religion

Of self-pity

Built on obeying

And staying

Out of the orchard

And within the parameters

Of behavior

Without thought

Where knowledge

Has always been

Forbidden.” (Page 43)

 

This is one thing that always bugged me about being a Christian. Being told that I had to obey and not ask questions. Heck, when I read the Bible, I filled up pages of a notebook with questions! And any time I tried to learn about other religions, I was scolded by Bible-bangers and warned that I would start growing horns on my head. When I studied the Druids for research for my novel, my dad kept warning me that they were evil, Devil worshipers and that I shouldn’t believe what I was reading about them.

 

I believe we should be allowed to ask questions. We should be allowed to think for ourselves. We cannot blindly follow leaders! We should not be forced into compliance without being able to have a voice or to seek understanding. But that is what my experiences with Christianity was like and I refused to play along. (And that’s actually not the reason why I decided that I no longer wanted to be a Christian.)

 

Now back to comments on the poems in this book. I have just one more!

 

“The Exorcist” was a hilarious poem! But, really, would Jesus actually choose to drink Cherry Coke? I always thought he would be more of a Mountain Dew guy.

 

Jesus is an Infidel is a collection of poetry showing a different, less brainwashed view of what Jesus’ life was like, how he probably views the Christianity of today and what sort of twists his original idea of religion has gone through to this day. I do not feel that the Christianity that is preached by conservative followers of the faith is not the same that Jesus envisioned (because didn’t he tell us to love our neighbor?), and a lot of the poems in this book address that very thing and goes on to add a bit more of just how far Christians of today have strayed from the path of their religion.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author without any expectation of a review and this review is entirely voluntary.