Title: The Last SlaughterAuthor: Douglas Ford
First Published: January 12, 2024
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 71
Genre: Horror
Format: eARC
Source: Review Request
Rating:
As the land withers under a changing climate and resources grow scarce, a hungry family confronts a dark legacy. An old storehouse holds an ancient secret: an imprisoned girl who can bestow bounties of food and prosperity. But in return she requires sacrifices.
Her ancient power contains the truth they must face. You can deny family, but you can’t deny blood.
The Last Slaughter is a family tragedy set in motion by a small act of rebellion. John Teecar has had to live with the weight of his illegitimate birth hanging over his head. He was raised on his mother’s resentment of his father, the only rich man living in a small town that is dying. I became invested in the characters quickly, and the story kept my attention from start to finish and reminded me that sometimes it’s better to leave things well enough alone. I wish this novella could’ve been a bit longer. The supernatural aspects of the story didn’t feel fully utilized. Regardless, I found the novella to be an enjoyable read.
“Don’t you like what I’ve given you?”
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About Douglas Ford
Douglas Ford’s short fiction has appeared in a variety of anthologies, magazines, and podcasts, as well as two collections, The Infection Party and Other Stories of Dis-Ease, and Ape in the Ring and Other Tales of the Macabre and Uncanny. His longer works include The Beasts of Vissaria County, The Trick, and Little Lugosi (A Love Story), which won the Literary Nastie award for best long fiction in 2023. He lives on the west coast of Florida, a frequent target for hurricanes.