Harper didn’t want to leave the library to take the temporary position at the Historical Society. There was something unsettling about the place, something sinister. She had no idea her presence there was about to trigger the escape of monstrous entities from a higher dimension, ones imprisoned there by their own kind decades ago.
Facing primordial horrors, Harper and her friends realize there have been alien gods in their midst all along, some closer than they ever could’ve believed. Together, they must stop a cataclysm that even gods can’t walk away from.
Title: Celestial Seepage | Author: Brian Fatah Steele | Publisher: Amazon Digital Services| Pub. Date: 15 October 2019 | Pages: 145 |ASIN: B07Z6L1TXM | Genre: Cosmic Horror/Fantasy | Language: English | Triggers: None | Rating: 4 out of 5 | Source: Received a copy from NetGalley
Celestial Seepage Review
This is a wild fantasy/cosmic horror story that’s quick-paced with an imaginative plot and fun characters. The fantasy elements were perfectly woven into the beginning creating a hint of the despair to come. Tension builds as more mysteries are unraveled. The descriptions and images were just the right amount of terror without ever crossing the line into grotesque or gore. The aliens won’t give you nightmares, but they certainly leave an unsettled feeling in your gut.
Harper, the librarian, was a fine protagonist but I think her character competed with the aliens for center stage. In my opinion, the aliens won as their character arcs seemed more interesting and dynamic. I don’t want to give too much away, but I was pleasantly surprised with the reveal of these celestial beings powers and how they ended up on Earth. I would have preferred more time spent on them and their backstories, but overall character development was solid.
While I enjoyed this book, and I certainly think people should give it a chance, there just seemed to be something missing overall in terms of the storytelling. There were some bits of the plot that never fully got explained. Plus, the big final action scene didn’t leap off the page in the way I expected, and the ending felt a bit safe. I feel like everything could have been hiked up a notch in order to add just a little more sizzle.
But overall, it’s a good story. If you’re looking to escape reality for a few hours, I recommend giving it a read. It’s fun and engaging. Will it stick with you long after you’ve finished the last sentence? Probably not, but there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a quick read that transports you to a small town where alien monsters are lurking in plain sight. I’d say it’s a satisfying and entertaining read.
You can find this book at many retailers via clicking on the appropriate link on GoodReads (Buying direct from retailers is a good way to support indie authors); however, in the spirit of supporting literacy programs, we would like to point out that you may be able to purchase this book through BetterWorldBooks.
Nico Bell is a horror and science fiction writer. Her work has appeared in The Second Corona Book of Horror Stories, Drabbledark Anthology and Horror Tree’s Trembling with Fear. She joined the Coolthulhu Crew in May 2018.
