Book Review – The Fearing (Book One – Fire & Rain) by John F.D. Taff

I’m not a fan of spoiler-ridden book reviews, so I’m going to try to give you my thoughts on this title without giving too much away to detract from your reading pleasure.

First of all, let me say a big “thank you” to Anthony Rivera and Grey Matter Press for the advanced reader copy. I read “The Fearing – Book One – Fire & Rain” by John F.D. Taff over the course of a couple of evenings and loved it. I was hooked from the first word to the last.

I’ve read several of Taff’s titles and enjoy his work, but “The Fearing” takes it to a whole new level of enjoyment. It’s a riveting read and one of that rare breed of books you don’t want to put down.

Here’s the Goodreads/Amazon blurb –

John F.D. Taff’s highly-anticipated epic supernatural thriller, “The Fearing,” begins with ‘Book One: Fire & Rain’ where humanity faces a series of catastrophes spawned by a worldwide event that unleashes all of mankind’s greatest fears.

In the American high desert, vacationers returning from a road trip are thrust into a heart-stopping flight from death as they try to avoid a cataclysmic end. In rural Missouri, the lives of a group of high school students are destroyed after their small town is devastated and they’re forced to confront the end of everything they’ve ever known.

And on the eastern seaboard, there’s someone else. An enigmatic man who thrives on despair and embraces all fear. A man with his own dark and sinister goals. Someone who wants to ensure humanity goes out with the biggest bang possible.

I’m not normally a fan of this style of apocalyptic horror, but “The Fearing” has changed my point of view. “Fire & Rain” is a tale packed with tension, chaos, and horror. Taff’s writing is vivid and sharp, with no wasted words.

The story grabs you by the throat and never lets up from Chapter One. The pacing is nonstop and I enjoyed the way fear builds and manifests throughout. The dialogue sounds natural and there’s even a little humor. The characters are left in the dark, facing unimaginable horrors in a world where nothing is safe anymore.

The series promises to be an epic read. The author places us into a world that is in chaos. The characters are strong, with plenty of depth, and there are many different subplots I want to see explored.

Grey Matter Press and John F.D. Taff have broken the story into four narratives that will be released from July to November 2019. Here’s the publication schedule:

Book One: Fire & Rain – July 9th
Book Two: Water & Wind – August 20th
Book Three: Air & Dust – October 1st
Book Four: Earth & Ember – November 11th

If I had one complaint about the story it would be three simple words, “To Be Continued…” It’s a story that leaves you breathless and wanting more, itching for the next installment. I’m already ticking off the days until ‘Book Two: Water & Wind’ is released because the concept is so damned epic.

“The Fearing” is good, very good. I already know it’s going to be one of my favorite stories of the year. Do you yourself a BIG favor. Go buy this book ASAP. You won’t regret it. Trust me.

Once again, my sincere thanks to Grey Matter Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Haunted Pen Rating: