On an icy wind-swept bluff stood atop a sheer cliff stands the military base known as Telton View. It is one of many that guards against threat posed by the fanatical FADIK army, yet the real threat is insidiously growing around it.
Telton View is manned by soldiers from many different walks of life and ideological backgrounds, a volatile crew that must overcome their differences if they are ever to survive, and the latest new recruits to the base won't make this any easier.
Among these raw recruits are:
Djouy: A religious zealot, whose incessant dogmatic pontification does nothing but rub the others the wrong way
Carrie: A girl of mixed race, raised in a remote village in the middle of the Cronite Forest, and who is intent on finding meaningful companionship in such a harsh environment.
Burny: A Zork girl, desperate to escape the claustrophobic confines of her underground city and to breathe fresh air, no matter how frigid.
And joining them are several other rejects from society who want to carve out a life for themselves in the hope that this will give them honour and dignity. These rejects have all chosen to be part of a fighting force known as the Spectre Marines.
As personality clashes spark open hostility between the recruits and others at the base, strange things start happening in the surrounding wilderness. If they are to withstand the encroaching eldritch horror that wishes to engulf them all, they must discard their deepest prejudices whatever way they can, as unity is their only shield.
In some cases, romance may blossom in such harsh conditions, turning enemies to lovers. However, in such an environment of visceral horror, sacrifices will have to be made, and lovers may have to stay true to their vows beyond the grave.
Trigger Warning: This novel is suitable for mature readers as it contains strong language as well as scenes of violence, horror, sexual assault, torture, and readers may find some themes to be ideologically sensitive.
This book has had some mixed reviews, so, to judge if this is the kind of book you would enjoy, have a look at some of the comments below (from people not listed in the review section here):
"This truly is a character-driven novel, and the characters are so real. Parts are challenging, sometimes uncomfortably so, yet I couldn't stop reading."
-One of my English Students who wanted to remain anonymous.
"I am astounded by such a grand work of world-building (...) The art is fantastic and truly matches the story and the way the story flows really kept me captivated."
-G.A. Sola (Youtube creator and English Teacher)
"The portrayal of Djouy as a religious fundamentalist is very believeable, yet as a reader, you empahize with him. For a fantasy novel, this can get a bit too real."
- Book Lovers
"The story is subversive, challenging your world view without you even realising it, and once you have finished it, you'll never see the world the same way again."
- Anon
