Why good-hearted copywriters dig on my evil-hearted novels
Published: Sun, 08/20/17
(4th book in my “Enoch Wars” series — book 6 should be out soon).
If you’re on the fence about the novels, mayhaps this’ll pull you to the dark side…
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I was floored when Ben asked me to write an introduction for “Evil’s Child.” It’s such an honor. Because I’m a massive fan.
Why are Ben’s books so good? Simply because his stories are so fun to read!
There’s constant action, simple language to keep those pages turning, and more than anything, awesome monsters.
Ben doesn’t get hung up in long, drawn out philosophizing and exposition. He keeps the monsters coming and the heroes fighting. He knows what his readers want: terrifying creatures and great action.
The story never gets boring. You keep turning the pages, eagerly waiting for your next glimpse of the monster devouring its poor victims. And Azriel handing out (or taking) the pain.
And that would make a great format for any horror novel. But Ben’s books elevate the genre to new heights.
Because his monsters always take center stage. In fact, most of his heroic characters are a little monstrous themselves. Azriel doesn’t have two meanings to his name for nothing.
Also, Ben doesn’t rely on the classic monster tropes that have been copied over and over to death.
His zombies can talk and think. They’ve still got a glimmer of their old personalities, especially the memories that haunt them. His vampires ditch the glittery, emotionally-drenched sappiness of Twilight. Fezziwig is old, crotchety, with a concubine in the corner. And an intense appreciation for Miami Vice.
Then we’re introduced to the demons in Ben’s third book. Anyone could write a demon. Blood red, horns on the head, goat hooves, hates God. No problem. But Ben’s demons are genuinely terrifying. They showcase Ben’s knowledge of the Bible even as they break new narrative ground.
And now we have Ben’s newest creation, the dreaded Tarasque.
This one took me back a few years, to my Saturday nights playing D&D (Dungeons and Dragons to the uninitiated).
I remember long afternoons turning into nights. Rolling dice in my parent’s basement, flipping through colorful books of creative monsters and determined heroes. Surrounded by pizza boxes, red solo cups, and half-finished bottles of Coke. Your DM (aka Dungeon Master, the storyteller) set the scene for an engrossing story you became part of.
Now back when I was a newbie player, I remember a friend flipping through our monster compendium and pointing out the Tarasque. The thing was so powerful, there was only one in existence. It was a force of nature and destruction, unpredictable and focused on only one thing: consuming everything in its path.
I fished out my old Monster Manual (version 3.5 in case you’re a super nerd like me). I dusted it off, cracked it open to page 240, and refamiliarized myself with the old boy. Here’s what the D&D writers had to say about the Tarasque:
“This scaly biped seems about as tall as a five-story building. It carries itself like a bird of prey, leaning well forward and using its powerful, lashing tail for balance. It has two horns on its head and a thick, reflective carapace on its back.”
The Monster Manual also mentions the Tarasque is a magical beast, immune to fire, poison, disease, with regenerative capabilities. And it can only be damaged by epic weapons, the kind your average blacksmith is never gonna sell. To hurt it, you’d have to have access to godlike powers. Or allies in the higher realms.
The truth is, the Tarasque was so strong my friends and I couldn’t use him in our adventures. Our characters would have been turned to mush in seconds.
And as cool as the monster was for D&D enthusiasts, it had some major flaws. The Tarasque was neutral, a force of nature. Not much different than a typhoon or a massive earthquake. It had no personality, no backstory, no origin, no speech. And this made it less a monster, more a natural disaster you fled from.
The Tarasque wasn’t something you could fight.
Now enter Ben Settle’s Tarasque. As you’ll see, his monster has character. It has a father, it has a history. It can talk, it can think, it can mate. It’s still a killing machine, and almost invulnerable.
But as you’ll see, it has a special weakness. (However, if I told you, that’d be a huge spoiler. And I don’t want to ruin the fun you’re in for.)
The Tarasque fits perfectly into the Enoch War’s mythology. And, best of all, makes a truly challenging adversary for Azriel.
Ben’s Tarasque stretches Azriel’s skills to the limit. The ultimate battle near the story’s end pits Azriel one-on-one against the Tarasque’s brutal strength and natural weapons. Azriel must use everything he’s learned to stand a chance.
Ben does what all great storytellers do. They know their monsters and heroes inside out: their weaknesses and their strengths, their weapons and their sore points. And they know how to craft situations that surprise and delight readers, and make full use of each character’s bag of tricks.
Ultimately, what makes Ben’s “Evil’s Child” so thrilling, and in fact makes all his novels so successful, is that they take you back to being a kid. You remember that you once believed in monsters hiding under the bed or peering out at you from your closet.
But of course, Ben adds a dose of a little something extra. His monsters go a step further than what you might expect. They’re more brutal, more sexually depraved, more terrifying than any drooler you once imagined under the bed.
Screaming for Mommy and Daddy can’t save you from these things. They’re out for more than your blood. They’re not even out for just your soul. They’re out to take over your whole being and transform you and your world into something…other.
That kind of terror will keep anyone shivering under the sheets.
And with that, I invite you to sink your teeth into Ben’s newest creation. Get comfortable on your couch, put your feet up. Crack open a Coke, order a pizza. And enjoy another monstrous tale by a master storyteller.
Just don’t read “Evil’s Child” at night. Unless you love nightmares.
In Sincere Appreciation,
Kate Stelmaszek
Copywriter and Enoch Wars Fangirl
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To read the book (and/or the new Enoch Wars t-shirts) get your lovin’ here:
http://www.EnochWars.com
Ben Settle