Black Swan

There is no hunting like the hunting of man…and the demons in Oneka Falls have done it long enough to like it more than any other thing.

Toby, Benny, Shannon, Mike, and Scott struggled to find a strategy against the demons living in Oneka Falls, but in the meantime, the demons found new leaders. Led by Brigitta, Lee LaBouche and Chaz Welsh turned the tables and began to hunt the hunters.

How can Toby, Benny, Shannon, Mike, and Scott hope to win a war with demons? How can they hope for more than survival?

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Praise for Black Swan

"I loved this book! Absolutely brilliant!"

★★★★★ "This was an intense, scare-your-pants-off novel that will make you want to close your eyes, but not really because you need to know what happens next. Oh, I hated Chaz and Brigitta, they were just evil, but I guess this is what Erik Vick wanted me to feel when I read these characters... Even though I read it in broad daylight, I was a little spooked and just wanted to hide for a little bit. The narrative is beyond amazing, the characters have so much potential and I believe that the whole series is going to be phenomenal. I loved this book! Absolutely brilliant!"

--Rabia Tanveer, Reader's Favorite Reviews

"...another success of masterful jump scares, tense settings and truly horrifying plot twists..."

★★★★★ "This exciting new release in The Bloodletter Saga marks another success of masterful jump scares, tense settings and truly horrifying plot twists from author Erik Henry Vick. Having grown attached to these characters this past summer, I’m constantly awed by the inventiveness of the author to bring larger threats with each novel. What I particularly enjoyed in Black Swan was the further development of the villainous characters, who are just as integral to the story, and have their own maniacal motivations at play which are just as scary as the beasts and monsters themselves. Character development and relationships grow yet further with this installment, and the dark corners are darker than ever with Vick’s usual flair for the shadowy atmospheres in his sharp narrative voice and excellent choice of lexis. Overall, Black Swan adds another rich element to a horror series that keeps getting better."

--K.C. Finn, Reader's Favorite Reviews

Praise for Wrecker

"...a tense dash in the darkness..."

★★★★★ "...a tense dash in the darkness to stay together and survive, filled with sudden violence, enigmatic enemies and strange turns of events...[it] reminded me of Stranger Things where the graphic horror side is really allowed to let rip.""

- K.C. Finn, ReadersFavorite.com

"Erik Henry Vick comes across as a master weaver of frightful tales."

★★★★★ "Wrecker is filled with action and disturbing images and these begin right off the bat. It is pulsating and there is a disturbing eeriness that fills every page of the story. The silence, a falling leaf, or a faint footstep echo something sinister in this gritty tale of horrific deeds. Erik Henry Vick comes across as a master weaver of frightful tales; each page is well-spun with action and the kind of suspense that forces the reader to turn to the next page. The prose is beautiful, the plot ingeniously constructed and the characters richly developed. While this is the kind of story that is chilling, it is infused with realism and powerful imagery. Fans of stories that are dark and horrifying will have a great treat in Wrecker. It is a masterpiece, indeed."

– Romuald Dzemo, ReadersFavorite.com

Praise for Demon King:

2019 Top Shelf Book Awards Suspense First Place Winner

 

2019 Top Shelf Book Awards Horror Finalist

 

2018 Readers' Favorite Award Horror Finalist

"...the thrills and horrors are engrossing."

"Vick's dark, tense thriller pits young kids--and their older selves--against a demonic evil and his twisted daughters in Upstate New York... Vick bounces the storyline between eras effectively, and the tension never lets up. Stephen King fans will enjoy spotting the references that Vick sprinkles throughout in homage..."

- Publisher's Weekly

"Utter terror and spiraling demonic involvement...

drive the plot of Demon King by Erik Henry Vick through intense action and psychological turmoil. Extremely well written, with clearly defined characters and steady action with surprising twists and turns, Demon King is a novel that is impossible to put down. Gripping and intense are only two words to describe the effect of the story, but if horror is your pleasure, that is all you need to hear. Erik Henry Vick is certainly an author to fill you with nightmares. Fabulous story. I loved it!"

– Melinda Hills, ReadersFavorite.com

"Evocative of Stephen King’s work”

"Vick’s (Errant Gods, 2017, etc.) supernatural horror story is evocative of Stephen King’s work in its use of a small-town setting and a gang of friends facing a powerful evil."

– Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Demon King

5 out of 5 Demonic Stars for this one!

"What do you get when you mix elements of fear, mystery, suspense, foreshadowing and a perfectly gripping plot? Give up? Well... if all of these elements are woven together in a seamless piece of writing, you will end up with one fantastic horror story! This is exactly the case with Erik Henry Vick's novel, Demon King. This is one intense book you will just not be able to put down as it will captivate, engross and horrify you from start to finish..."

– Leonard Tillerman, LeonardTillerman.com

Monsters are real!

"I really enjoyed this book, it is sufficiently scary and nail biting suspenseful! The characters are wonderfully written and beautifully evolved. Finally a truly scary story that had me held in it's grip from beginning to end! Most stories claim to be a horror story and fail to deliver that true sense of dread and fear. This story does will not disappoint horror genre fans. It was a griping nerve jangling tale that will chill you to the bone and yet have you coming back for more! A smart well written story that in my opinion makes this author one of the best writers out there. I recommend this book highly to anyone who can handle a griping, nerve rattling story with heart. Well done honestly I loved it!"

My absolute favorite new author

"I read the first book in 36 sleep deprived hours and bought every book he has written that I could find.... If you like Stephen King, Robert McCammon, or Clive Barker then check out Erik Henry Vick, you won't regret it."

The best horror story I've read in years!

"Read the entire book in two days, couldn't put it down. Well written and Erik Henry Vick is one of the best writers today. READ THIS BOOK, you'll love it."

This writer in my opinion is an amazing talent!

"The characters and the plot were really good! I liked how he nods at Stephen King but keeps the story very much his own style. While reading this I was trying to figure out all the mysteries and clues to the very end and I wasn't disappointed when I reached the last page."

Before you know it you're hooked.

"Similar to early Stephen King! Loved the book! Gradually introduces the bizarre in a way that is acceptable. Before you know it you're hooked. I was pleasently surprised."

Grab this one right now!

"If you like a fast moving story with two time lines then grab this one right now!"

Awesome.

"A combination of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Awesome."

Future of the horror book scene.

"This author may just be the future of the horror book scene. I enjoyed everything about this book, give it a try you will not be disappointed."

This book sucked me in from the first pages...

"Wow! This book sucked me in from the first pages and didn’t let me go until the very last page. Give me more!

"Demon King" reminded me of Stephen King’s "It" in the back-and-forth, then-and-now story structure. Children are assailed by unknowable evil; then as adults, they must face it again, but without the benefit of the memory of their earlier experiences. Encounters with these vile creatures does some serious damage. Will they be able to pull the necessary courage and grit to survive and triumph?

This guy has some serious story chops.

This is a fast-moving, vivid tale, told with bright imagination and fresh ideas. I first discovered Erik Henry Vick via his novella "The Devil", then "Devils", the short story anthology "The Devil" was rolled into. I had wanted to find a new favorite author, and I certainly did! This guy has some serious story chops.”

– Jackson W Barnett, Poland, Maine

Demon King easily earned 5 stars from me!

"It kept my interest all the way through. Although my days of reading a book a day are gone, I read this in 2 days."

Very solid.

"Often a writer begins a story involving supernatural elements and it seems as if they feel compelled to justify those elements and dilute their impact. Not here."

Perfectly executed horror

"If you are a fan of perfectly executed horror, then I would highly recommend this book!"

Reminds me of Stephen king or dean koontz.

"His writing reminds me of Stephen king or dean koontz. I hope there's a part 2 to this book very quick!"

One of the best books I've ever read!

"I highly recommend this book. It was one of those books that you think about when you're not reading it, and then you're sorry to see it end because you've become so attached to the characters. What an amazing book and an amazing author. You will not be disappointed!"

1

“Greg!” yelled Joe at his grandson’s retreating back. The boy was crying—sobbing—but Greg only shook his head at his grandfather’s entreaties and kept running. He didn’t even look back.

A strange mist settled above Joe’s head, almost hiding the branches of the trees. It diffused the moonlight, making the surrounding area seem darker, almost malevolent, while adding a layer of brightness above.

Greg’s head pivoted back and forth as if he were looking for something—or maybe someone. Joe didn’t follow his gaze. He kept his eyes focused on Greg’s back, but he didn’t yell for the boy to stop any longer. He couldn’t fix whatever drove his grandson to run from him that way.

Plus, his wind had gotten sparse.

They ran on and on, moving deeper and deeper into the woods that surrounded Lake Genosgwa. Joe’s booted feet thudded on the soil, and his arms ached with the weight of the M1. Despite his growing fatigue, he pushed himself on—faster and faster.

Something flickered at the edges of Joe’s sight. Something black, but a darker black than the gloom that surrounded them. He ripped his gaze away from his grandson’s retreating form without breaking stride, but what he saw…the thing running parallel to his course made him stumble and almost fall.

It was unlike anything he’d ever seen before—a shadowy humanoid form, swathed in darkness, with hints of human features, but at the same time, the thing seemed…inhuman. It floated an inch above the ground, disappearing and reappearing with recurring pops. Its feet never impacted the forest loam, despite its moving legs.

So that’s why there were no footprints! Joe thought. He stopped running, planted his feet, and raised the M1 carbine to his shoulder in one fluid movement. “Greg! Get down!” He aimed at the black thing but checked his fire. He darted a glance at Greg, who was still running despite his shouts. “Dammit!” Joe muttered.

He needed to be sure no stray rounds hit his grandson, but the need to shoot at the thing chasing Greg mounted until drawing breath grew difficult. Joe doubled his speed, running flat out through the woods, not seeing the blurred detritus of the forest in his path. He leaped over fallen branches, slid through piles of rotting vegetation, and skipped past gnarled roots—all on automatic.

When the urge to do something grew too strong, Joe slammed to a stop, raised the M1 and shouted, “Greg! Get down now!” Without waiting to see if his grandson complied, Joe sighted on the black thing in the forest and fired three shots in rapid succession. The rifle’s reports filled the woods, and all three rounds slammed into the thing chasing Greg. Splatters of something thick and black flew to the ground surrounding the creature. It shrieked in the high pitch of a woman but sounded more angry than hurt. Greg darted a glance over his shoulder and slowed to a stop.

“Greg, no!” Joe yelled, waving at Greg to continue running, to get away.

The black thing snapped its head to face Joe and glared at him.

Is thatThat’s a woman! What’s she covered in, mud? What’s she supposed to be? The creature from the Black Lagoon? Her eyes were as green as the meadow in springtime, but as he watched, they dimmed and grew dark, menacing. She screamed at him, and the sound was unlike anything Joe had ever heard, eliciting a running shudder up and down his spine.

Whatever she pretended to be, she was after Greg, and that, Joe wouldn’t abide. He fired again and again as he tracked the running woman with the barrel of his rifle. Each shot flew true, and each shot sent what looked like black mud splattering to the ground and brush surrounding her, but she didn’t hesitate, didn’t slow.

“Greg! Greg!” Joe shouted. Hits to the body aren’t cutting it, Marine! He drew a bead on the woman’s head, leading her about a foot, and he took a deep breath and exhaled it all but didn’t draw more. He tried to calm himself, to still his racing heartbeat, and he tried to stand loose, relaxed, remembering his marksmanship training. Joe timed his shot for a narrow instant between beats of his heart and pulled the trigger. Time turned sluggish, and Joe imagined he could almost see the bullet inching through the space separating him from his grandson’s tormentor.

Her head snapped to the side, and finally, she stumbled.

“Stung you there, you bitch!” shouted Joe. Why hasn’t she fallen? I must’ve winged her. He fired again, still aiming at the woman’s head, and that round rocked her head to the side for the second time. She whirled to face him, and Joe could distinguish her features at last. Despite the mud or whatever covered her, she had a beautiful face—almost elfin features in perfect proportions.

She opened her mouth and screamed, her eyes boring into Joe’s.

A cold, analytical part of his mind had kept track—only three rounds remained in the magazine. He couldn’t remember whether he’d picked up a spare magazine and shoved it into his back pocket as he’d always done when he rehearsed retrieving the weapon. His memory of the events leading up to the chase through the woods had hazed, had misted over as surely as the early morning sky above his head.

The woman froze, glowering at Joe. Her head hunched forward, and her arms hung straight at her sides, ending in fists. Fists with long, age-yellowed, broken and cracked fingernails. In the woods surrounding them, something popped like corn in a popper.

Joe still held the M1 to his shoulder, his finger still on its trigger. He began to take up the trigger’s slack when something slammed into him from the darkness at his back. The M1 fired wild, sending a bullet racing off through the trees. Joe stumbled forward, fighting to remain on his feet, his left arm flailing for balance.

Something else hit him from the side, and he got a vague impression of black fur and flashing fangs. Dogs? The third weight slammed into him, and he fell, losing the rifle in the confusion. He landed amidst the knobby roots of a tree, and his breath whooshed out of him all at once. He flipped to his back, drawing his knees up to protect his groin and belly, ready to fend off the dogs that had knocked him to the ground.

There was nothing there.

Joe rolled to his knees, his head rotating back and forth, scouring the woods for any sign of his four-legged attackers. He darted a glance toward where the woman had last stood, but she too had disappeared into thin air. Greg had put quite a distance between them and ran still.

Sweeping up the M1, Joe resumed his chase, but this time he kept his eyes moving and his head on a swivel. He searched every shadow, every dark tree trunk, but it was as if the woman covered in black had disappeared.

Grab Black Swan today!

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