Book Review: They Feed by Jason Parent

They Feed

by Jason Parent
April 15, 2018
266 pages
The night uncovers all we wish not to see.

A troubled man enters a dusky park before sunset. A young woman follows, hidden in shadow. Both have returned to the park to take back something the past has stolen from them, to make right six long years of suffering, and to find justice or perhaps redemption—or maybe they'll settle for some old-fashioned revenge.

But something evil is alive and awake in those woods, creatures that care nothing for human motivations. They’re driven by their own insatiable need: a ravenous, bottomless hunger.

The campgrounds are full tonight, and the creatures are starving. Before the night is over, they will feed.

An unrelenting tale of terror from Jason Parent, acclaimed author of People of the Sun and What Hides Within.

You know how this goes. A bunch of monster fodder...I mean people...end up trapped in an abandoned shack deep in the woods while sh** pancakes try to eat them. 

Okay, maybe you don't know it <G>. Jason Parent has created his own take on why you don't go into the woods. His cast of characters ranges from chaotic good to chaotic evil.

Tyler is the main character, just released from prison for a murder he committed...or did he? He is drawn back to the woods and the scene of the crime. Multiple others by happy (for the monster) coincidence end up in the woods with him. I don't want to spoil the mystery of the monster but the description "sh** pancake" gets thrown around.

Parent does a great job of creating suspense as you wait and wonder who and how each person will git got (I'm from the south, this is a phrase). They Feed is a great example of using an unreliable narrator to throw a twist at the end. If you are a fan of monster horror then this is one you'll want to read.

4 1/2 Sheep pancakes

SharonS

About the Author:

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In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Southeastern Massachusetts with his cuddly corgi named Calypso.

In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he finally tired of Latin phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real lawsuits are not started, tried and finalized within the 60-minute time frame they see on TV (it's harassing the witness; no one throws vicious woodland creatures at them), he traded in his cheap suits for flip-flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he's back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that's another story.

When he's not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and play just about any sport (except that ball tied to the pole thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists in a knot or takes somebody's head off - he misses the appeal). And read and write, of course. He does that too sometimes.

Things to Know About the Aliens Before They Get Here- Jason Parent Guest Post

*Sharon's opinion: This is probably one of the most brilliant guest posts I've read...Jason Parent used 119 movie titles to write it!

Things to Know About the Aliens Before They Get Here

Aliens: on the day of their Arrival, after Star Trekking 20 Million Miles to Earth—the day that Mars Attacks—the Skyline will light up like Independence Day, so you best be ready. The Battle in Outer Space will be short-lived. Sure, there’ll be Fire in the Sky down to The Last Starfighter, but when The Creeping Terror comes from The Angry Red Planet, you’ll hope you had seen the Signs, heard The Signal, or heeded the Silent Warnings in time to hide in a Cocoon or Slither into an Abyss and avoid Battlefield Earth.

Those bastard Invaders from Mars, those filthy Critters, may say, “I Come in Peace,” but that’s bullshit. Morons from Outer Space don’t go on a Galaxy Quest, journey through endless Dark Skies, just to throw a Pajama Party. No sir, The Invasion spells Doom! The Alien Raiders will be one (or more) of three things: Grabbers, Feeders, or Breeders.

The first, Grabbers, leave me with a Bad Taste. With them, you can expect an Alien Abduction complete with Dark Crystal, Conehead-ed anal Explorers (Batteries Not Included) implanting Pod People up your rectum or Under the Skin, and then its “Welcome to the Space Show, watch now in TerrorVision.” Your Life is over. Those Body Snatchers will make you and your friends their Muppets—from Space Viruses or parasites Not of this Earth. Better hope you don’t get Infected from that Invasion. You’ll be an Imposter in your own skin, your friends Altered into Decoys, The Hosts to The Hidden within them. And they’ll call it Evolution, baby!

Next, there’s the Feeders: The Thing with these Predators is that they ain’t always about turning you into Space Jam. Nope, sometimes they eat you in other ways, e.g., draining your Lifeforce. They Live for that sort of shit.

Third, the Breeders. Ugh. It’s not all Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders, Flying Saucer Rock’n’Roll (or Heavy Metal, if you prefer), or Have Rocket, Will Travel, if you catch my drift. More like Night of the Creeps. Simply put: Interstellar romances are a bad idea. Cowboys and Aliens just don’t mix. I blame the guy who wrote that Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Earth Girls Are Easy? Really? He had to tell the universe that? Get knocked up and try finding a Doctor Who will take that out of you.

And men, don’t be swinging your Spaceballs so soon. Not unless you want to be dragged through a Stargate and end up Lost in Space, Stranded in Pitch Black with some Devil Girl from Mars’ butt-ugly Progeny, just another one of The Forgotten, Nowhere in a whole Galaxy of Terror. You can ask any Dude, “Where’s My Car,” but you ain’t never gonna find that S.O.B.

Worse still, after a night high on Liquid Sky, taken to sweet Oblivion by whatever The Visitor sells you on, you’ll wake up to find that your Princess of Mars is really a Blob oozing Green Slime from orifices you didn’t know existed and seated at your table on her 5th Wave of pancakes, a swarm of Illegal Aliens just waiting to eat through her skin and call you “Daddy.” What are you going to tell the guys at work, huh? “Hey Paul, I Married a Monster from Outer Space?” And all for what? A Super 8 minute on her Forbidden Planet.

Still, there’s another type, The Fourth Kind, that goes without saying: Evil Alien Conquerors. These Starship Troopers want to start The War of the Worlds or even bring on the Alien Apocalypse. At The World’s End, at least as the few straggling survivors know it, we’ll have become an Alien Nation. In short, these guys are dicks.

So when the Alien Hunters Attack the Block you live on, will you run around like Chicken Little or hide under a Dune, waiting for the Men in Black to come save you? Or, Knowing what they’re all about, will you buck up, Buckaroo Bonzai, act like Real Men do, and use every Faculty at your disposal to become a Suburban Commando, maybe help Mom and Dad Save the World? In The Darkest Hour our nation will ever know, we must fight the Outlanders, tell those Martians, “Go Home” or else make them the Ghosts of Mars.

Be ready, my friends, before the assholes of Alien Species Target Earth (a three-movie string, thank you).

P.S. – Killer Klowns from Outer Space

People of the Sun

by Jason Parent

March 15, 2017

327 pages

All life comes from the sun. Sometimes, death comes with it.

Filled with hope and compelled by fear, four would-be heroes are driven from their home planet in a desperate bid to save their civilization from extinction. But survival takes on a whole new meaning when a malfunction sends their ship plummeting toward Earth.

Surviving the crash is only the first obstacle on their path to salvation. The marooned aliens soon discover that Earth’s beautiful exterior masks an ugly foundation, a place inhabited by a warrior race that’s on a path toward self-destruction.

Brimming with action and intrigue, People of the Sun is sure to entice fans of dark fantasy and sci-fi thrillers such as Watchmen and I Am Number Four.

"Jason Parent has penned a thought-provoking, gripping scifi thriller. This isn't your grandma's alien invasion. My own world stopped the moment I stepped into People of the Sun. Lovers of science fiction, horror and even super heroes will revel in this roller-coaster of a tale. A true must-read!" Hunter Shea, author of We Are Always Watching and The Jersey Devil

“With his own indelible blend of tension and dark humor, Jason Parent’s latest page-turner reminds me of what you’d get if you crossed Isaac Asimov with Kurt Vonnegut. In addition to being fast-paced and wildly entertaining, Parent’s novel also offers the occasional flash of insight into the human (and not-so-human) condition, and displays Parent’s talent for turning a given genre on its head.” -Michael Meyerhofer, author of The Dragonkin Trilogy.

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About the Author:

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In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Southeastern Massachusetts with his cuddly corgi named Calypso.

In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he finally tired of Latin phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real lawsuits are not started, tried and finalized within the 60-minute timeframe they see on TV (it's harassing the witness; no one throws vicious woodland creatures at them), he traded in his cheap suits for flip flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he's back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that's another story.

When he's not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and play just about any sport (except that ball tied to the pole thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists in a knot or takes somebody's head off - he misses the appeal). And read and write, of course. He does that too sometimes.

Book Review: Wrathbone and Other Stories by Jason Parent

Wrathbone and Other Stories

by Jason Parent
Introduced by Kealan Patrick Burke
October 1, 2016
164 pages
Publisher: Comet Press

Terror follows those who let it into their hearts.

Wrathbone
Guests of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, Major Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris attend a showing of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. On that fateful night, a great man falls, but he is not alone. For Henry and Clara, the night is only the beginning of lives wrought with jealousy, madness, and horror.

The Only Good Lawyer
Bradley is a savvy defense attorney with no scruples. Under his representation, many a guilty man has gone free. But when a voodoo priest takes the stand, Bradley soon discovers that he, too, is on trial, and the punishment for guilt may be more than he could bear.

Dorian's Mirror
Dorian loves himself, and why wouldn't he? Every guy wants to be him, and every girl wants to be with him. He would trade all he has to make his looks last forever, but bargaining with the devil may leave him short a soul.

For the Birds
Nev's best friend is his parrot. In fact, it's his only friend… and his only ally when his home is invaded.

Revenge is a Dish
Maurice has landed a dream job, chef for a rich couple on their yacht. The wife has carnal desires for him. Maurice has some carnal desires of his own.

"From the eerie opening tale to the grisly closer, and all of the wonderfully mean-spirited tales in-between, Wrathbone is a winner!" --Jeff Strand, author of Dead Clown Barbeque

"This is horror of the mind at it's very best . . . Very dark, very atmospheric, very powerful writing. Excellent stuff . . . Only the second time ever that I have given every story in a collection five stars. This one is going to be hard to beat." --Nev Murray at Confessions of a Reviewer and Scream Magazine

"Wrathbone and Other Stories is a hard-hitting collection that you can completely immerse yourself in. The title story is a beautifully written period tale of love and tragedy." --Mercedes M. Yardley, author of the Bram Stoker Award winner Little Dead Red.

"Jason Parent channels the darkness. Wrathbone and Other Stories offers a glimpse into the twisted mind of a gifted storyteller, whose characters are every bit as vivid as the demons that haunt them. Parent's definitely an author to watch!" --Michael McBride, author of Subterrestrial and Burial Ground

"An elegantly written novella of madness, murder, and demons, Jason Parent's Wrathbone reads like Edgar Allan Poe's take on 'Jacob's Ladder.'" --Adam Howe, author of Tijuana Donkey Showdown, Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, and Black Cat Mojo

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Wrathbone and Other Stories is exactly that. A collection of horror stories by Jason Parent. The longest story, "Wrathbone," is about Henry Wrathbone's spiral into madness after witnessing the death of Lincoln. The story has been compared to the writing style of Poe and I agree. While I'm not a fan of this particular style, I can appreciate how beautifully written it is.

The other four short stories are more my style, horror along the lines of Tales of the Crypt. In "The Only Good Lawyer" the main character gets what he deserves...a little karma. In the case of "For the Birds", the poor guy is a victim of circumstance. You see what is coming, but know that the guy is powerless to stop it. "Dorian's Mirror" is exactly what you think it would be about...vanity, and "Revenge is a Dish" is probably the most disturbing (this is a good thing when talking about horror, by the way <G>). The main character, Maurice, isn't the nicest person, but he doesn't deserve what happens to him. But there is an opportunity to get back at those who left him for dead...unfortunately for them, survival has changed Maurice.

Jason Parent is an excellent writer and story-teller. Even though you know what is going to happen to the characters (there are no crazy twists) you can't help but keep reading the train wreck coming.

Sheep Review: What Hides Within by Jason Parent

4 "Tasty" Sheep

SharonS

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter

In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Southeastern Massachusetts with his cuddly corgi named Calypso.

In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he finally tired of Latin phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real lawsuits are not started, tried and finalized within the 60-minute timeframe they see on TV (it's harassing the witness; no one throws vicious woodland creatures at them), he traded in his cheap suits for flip flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he's back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that's another story.

When he's not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and play just about any sport (except that ball tied to the pole thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists in a knot or takes somebody's head off - he misses the appeal). And read and write, of course. He does that too sometimes.

Book Review: What Hides Within by Jason Parent

What Hides Within
by Jason Parent
December 15, 2017
354 pages
What Hides Within tells the story of a man held captive by an unknown evil. Clive Menard is a spineless slacker leading an ordinary existence. But when Chester enters his life, it becomes far from ordinary. A disheveled Clive stands alone in a hospital waiting room. A series of incidences have led him to undergo unnecessary neurosurgery. A voice inside Clive's head nags him to kill the doctor.Weeks prior, a murder investigation and an unrelated kayaking excursion set the story's interlocking events in motion. When a remorseful killer, a bomb-happy psychopath and a mysterious widow spider converge upon Clive, they bring with them destruction and death. Clive must discover who or what is steering his very existence before he, too, is consumed by the carnage around him.With a driven detective following his every step and a vicious killer hiding within his circle of friends, Clive must walk a narrow and dangerous path, teetering between salvation and damnation. He must confront Chester and his own demons. But is he powerless to overcome them?

This is a story that almost was. There is a fabulously creepy plot with a cool twist and you have no idea what the evil is until the very end. But… for me, it gets lost in its execution. There are many subplots going on that merge together at the end, but they don’t feel connected to the main story and only added unnecessary length to the book. With the help of a top-notch editor this book could be a 4.5 sheeper, but I think since this is a debut book and most of its problems were with the technical aspects of storytelling the author will only get better with each book. You should keep an eye on his name.

I have to be careful talking about the plot because spoilers would ruin the story. If you have spider issues, stay away from this book! <G> Chester is a black widow spider who takes up residence in Clive’s ear and the reason why is one of the surprise twists of the story. I liked Chester, but I felt he acted more like an angry teenager than what he is supposed to be, which I can’t tell you without ruining things. I really didn’t like the main character Clive. He is an ass for the most part and I never really felt sympathetic to his plight or any of the other characters for that matter, but this might have been the intention of the author. There wasn’t much suspense until near the end of the story so it was easy to put the book down, but I always wanted to go back and find out what was going on.

It seems like I found a lot wrong with the story but like I said earlier, it is a good editor away from a great book. I think it is still worth the read for those who like a serial killer horror story. I read a variety of genres, everything from Oedipus to The Haunted Vagina and I have loved (and hated) everything in between, so I don’t want any grief over what I am going to say <G>. I think this is a guy’s book. Some stories appeal to both sexes and some appeal to only one. Movies are the same way. A guy’s idea of love and relationships is different. Girls won’t like Clive, he is a loser and a jerk. Having said this, there are a lot of female reviewers who have given this book 4 and 5-star ratings. So there you go… make sure to check out what others are saying.

3 “wearing pantyhose on my head while I sleep” Sheep

Sharon Stogner (edited by Kalpar)

About the Author:

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In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Southeastern Massachusetts with his cuddly corgi named Calypso.

In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he finally tired of Latin phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real lawsuits are not started, tried and finalized within the 60-minute timeframe they see on TV (it's harassing the witness; no one throws vicious woodland creatures at them), he traded in his cheap suits for flip flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he's back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that's another story.

When he's not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and play just about any sport (except that ball tied to the pole thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists in a knot or takes somebody's head off - he misses the appeal). And read and write, of course. He does that too sometimes.

What Hides Within Blog Tour - Jason Parent

We are the first stop on Jason Parent's book tour for What Hides Within. Here is chapter 2 and an explanation of why it was written. You know if it is dark and bloody then I am interested! There will be a review coming soon.

Top Moment No. 1

            Nine weeks ago.

Timothy sprinted through the thick underbrush. Prickers clawed at his clothes and skin, tearing both. Wet mud from a passing shower kicked up from his soiled sneakers onto his calves and white socks. The sun's rays had not yet baked the earth into solid clay, blocked out by tall pines and shady willows.

Timothy's eyes darted from tree to tree as he overcame them. He frantically searched for a place to hide. She'd be coming for him soon, and he knew it. She was probably already gaining on him, not far behind at all. He needed cover fast.

He spotted a felled tree, a remnant of a hurricane whose passing had been forgotten. He ran to it. The dense, fat base of the dead oak would veil him from her view. For now, he could rest, but he'd need to move again soon.

Her voice grew nearer. Its soft, seeking tone and her impetuous laughter traveled as if on fallen angel wings to his uninhibited ears. She hunted him, seeming to prey upon her own excitement.

Timothy crouched into the orange, red and yellow leaves of fall's beginnings. The leaf pile was high, an unusual accumulation for so early in the season. He thought to bury himself in them. Surely the pile was big enough for it. But the smears of blood painting his legs and the droplets still running down them would act as an adhesive, accumulating plant life. His flight would be harrowed by the crinkling of dead leaves rubbing together and crumbling as they fell from his body. There was so much blood that it startled him. He paused to check his wounds. Blood stained the leaves around him. But he felt no pain and could only find superficial cuts, no cause for alarm. At the moment, he had more pressing concerns.

His breath came out more and more slowly as he regained his stamina. It formed into a layer of condensation, melting in the air like steam from the mouth of a dragon. He closed his eyes and waited for the right moment to move.

The above selection is Chapter 2 of my debut novel, What Hides Within. Readers may wonder why I chose to add this chapter, barely more than a page long. In truth, I wanted to start the book with it, but since Timothy and his pursuer aren’t primary characters, it didn’t seem appropriate. However, the chapter sets up the first of many felonies, none of which are as simple as they may appear.

Still, this chapter was immensely fun to write, offering me a chance to mislead the reader into seeing something dark and dangerous in an ordinary childhood pastime. Did it work? You tell me. At the least, the chapter seems to gel with the overall tone of What Hides Within--dark, mischievous, and sometimes brooding. Plus, there’s blood. Who doesn’t like blood?

What Lies Within
by Jason Parent
December 15, 2017
354 pages
In all of us, there is darkness. In Clive, it’s tangible, and it’s aching to get out.

What Hides Within tells the story of a man held captive by an unknown evil. Clive Menard is a spineless slacker leading an ordinary existence. But when Chester enters his life, it becomes far from ordinary.

A disheveled Clive stands alone in a hospital waiting room. A series of incidences have led him to undergo unnecessary neurosurgery. A voice inside Clive’s head nags him to kill the doctor.

Weeks prior, a murder investigation and an unrelated kayaking excursion set the story’s interlocking events in motion. When a remorseful killer, a bomb-happy psychopath and a mysterious widow spider converge upon Clive, they bring with them destruction and death. Clive must discover who or what is steering his very existence before he, too, is consumed by the carnage around him.

With a driven detective following his every step and a vicious killer hiding within his circle of friends, Clive must walk a narrow and dangerous path, teetering between salvation and damnation. He must confront Chester and his own demons. But is he powerless to overcome them?"

About the author:
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Jason spends his days writing, but it’s mostly drafting legal memoranda as a civil litigator in New Bedford, MA—not exactly a venue conducive to creativity. But during his lunch breaks and after hours, you can often find him at one of the area’s charming coffee shops, huddled over an unadulterated iced coffee with a pen and paper in hand (somewhat old-school in his methods). Hopefully, when you see him, the pen’s moving, and he hasn’t dozed off.

Either way, be sure to say, “hello.” If he’s asleep just poke him with a stick. Jason always welcomes the chance to meet readers and to field their questions and comments, be it in person or through this website.