Goodreads: Caligation

Author: Brhi Stokes

Published: 29th July 2017 (Barghest Press)

Source: Copy from Author

Rating: 4/5 (Liked it)

Official Summary: “//Darkness closed in on him like a pack of hounds. Buildings passed, warehouses, factories; shadows of silent windows disturbed every so often by dim light, taunting him.//

A city of the bizarre and the unfamiliar, inhabited by monstrous beasts and people with unnatural gifts. A city of tall glass spires mingling with old gothic architecture, where wild animals roam alongside the populace.

This is where Ripley Mason awakens after the car accident.

University dropout, casual drinker, and newly fledged hitchhiker, Ripley is tired of the daily grind of study, drink, repeat. Only halfway done with a degree he never chose, Ripley heads north to see if life won’t throw him something less monotonous.

Early into his journey, Ripley suffers a brutal car accident and awakens in a rundown hospital. Nervous, he ventures into dark, unfamiliar streets and comes face to face with horrific beasts. Thrown into a world of supernatural fantasy, Ripley fights to discover where he is, how he came to be here and, most importantly, if he can even get home.

//Ripley was still staring at the wallet in his hands. The clinic – as he had found out the place was – had graciously returned it to him. The problem was, it wasn’t his. There was no identification, no cards, nothing. Just some strange currency he didn’t recognise…//

All he knows of this place is a single word: C A L I G A T I O N” – Goodreads

(That is one long ass blurb sorry)

(Disclaimer – I received a copy from the Author. This does not affect my review in anyway.)

Review: Where to start? This book took me on a ride through a very unique if not messed up world. Where 4 different species coexist in a big city. Most people hate each other, most people fight each other. Leads to a lot of confrontations and ‘gangster’ like situations. Everyone has their own effigias (animals) as a ‘partner’ of sorts. Would have loved to see more of this side. Also enjoyed how every side pretty much had a dark group, didn’t matter what species.

I liked the fact it showed you the world and let you blunder you way through it. The main character is confused and has no clue, which = the same for you. I liked that you learnt at his pace, even though at times you were going what the hell? Em who is that? What? The world was build amazing well, I couldn’t put my finger on anything that was missed.

I found myself not rushing with this book, I just took my time and enjoyed it. Which is a pleasant change. I normally find myself in a rush to finish the book in order to get to a new one.

(Spoiler/Kind of, not really.)

That mind twist of an ending. Did not see that coming.

Would I Recommend It? Yes.