Karla's Literary Korner: Hellweg's Keep by Justin Holley

Rating: ★★★☆

Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror

Format: e-ARC

Pages: 283

Synopsis:

Thirty-seven miners disappear without a trace within a Titanium mine, Hellweg’s Keep, deep within Zeta One, a moon orbiting the planet, Terra. When FBI agent Kendra Omen arrives via the spaceship Marietta, strange phenomenon begins to manifest…suicides, shadows a shade darker than the shadows they move within, disembodied whispers, and Kendra would swear she catches a glimpse of her own deceased daughter walking the dimly lit halls of Hellweg enterprises. But that’s impossible. Isn’t it? As evidence of occult practices at the mine emerges, Kendra realizes the answers they seek, and hopefully the thirty-seven miners, will only be found underground in the claustrophobic labyrinth of shafts and natural caverns within Hellweg’s Keep.

Review:

"It rippled with power, like something beneath it disturbed the event horizon."

When FBI agent Kendra is hired to fly into space to investigate the disappearance of miners at Hellweg's Keep, she is on a mission to find out what happened to them and hopefully rescue them. What she finds is many unanswered questions, strange occurrences, and disturbing occult practices that affected many lives. As the crew she has helping her descends into the deep caverns, they must not only search for the missing, they must also protect themselves from what lurks beneath. Haunting whispers, apparitions, and creatures from beyond that will devour their existence.

Hellweg's Keep is science fiction with a mix of horror and paranormal elements. Deep in the caverns the claustrophobia can be clearly felt as the darkness surrounds and the tunnels narrow, all the while knowing that something monstrous is lurking within. Whispers and orbs floating in the abyss, trying to tempt the mind into dark places.

This is my first endeavor into the writing of Justin Holley. I do not know quite yet what his writing style is like. With that being said, I did feel that this wasn't as cohesive as it could have been. I felt there were a bit of repetitive statements from or about the characters, an overuse of similes, and an ending that left me a little underwhelmed.

I also feel that the majority of books have redemptive qualities and there was quite a bit to like about this one. As with all books, they need the right audience and I feel that this can be enjoyed by those that are into sci-fi/horror.

A very kind thank you to Flame Tree Publishing and Justin Holley for sending me a complimentary copy. Much appreciated!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Justin-Holley/

Author Website:

https://justinholley-author.com/

About the author

Justin lives somewhere on the Cass Lake chain of lakes with his wife, and also a rather large Daneiff named Nu and a clever but tiny Devon Rex named Jinx. Justin is the author of the novels, Hellweg's Keep, Blood from the Stars (3-book serialized novel), Tethered to Darkness, Seven Cleopatra Hill, the 3-book Bruised series, and several short stories. Bruised was mentioned in Brian Keene's "Top Ten Books of 2015". Correspondence from his fans is most welcome.

Publisher Website:

https://www.flametreepublishing.com/