| Title | : | The Depths of the Valley: A Medieval Horror Novelette |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 61 |
| Publication | : | First published October 26, 2022 |
Expecting the settlement to be mostly empty, the trio are surprised to find much activity taking place, with numerous residents having remained, working to restore Hekara back to its former state.
Meanwhile, the hunt for plunder proves to be far more difficult than they could have envisioned. And to make matters worse, explorers hailing from a rival kingdom are stationed in Hekara for the same reason, and they seem capable of locating gold and silver as easily as if it grew on the trees.
With their frustration building, Grimall’s crew must work to discover what their opponents are hiding, and why their own luck has been so incredibly rotten. The answers must arrive soon…for the rain has started falling again…
The Depths of the Valley: A Medieval Horror Novelette Reviews
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I gotta tell ya...Caesar Ruell's writing is about as smooth as a baby's butt. Guy can write his ass off, and I don't say that about many authors. This was a fun, short little horror experience. Very uneasy atmosphere, some basic characters to follow, and a plot that kept getting more sinister. Just when you thought you'd figured out how things were about to progress, it all pivoted to an unexpected, yet pleasantly sinister, situation. Not my usual preference for a book, but I really enjoyed my time with this one. My only critique is that I wanted some more development and time with Grimall's crew, including himself. Just felt like there was some unexplored territory there, possibly with past attempts working together to procure certain items, that would have further heightened this adventure. But, otherwise, this did nothing to reduce my fandom of the author.
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The Depths of the Valley: A Medieval Horror Novelette is equally enjoyable and completely distinct from the same author's The Circus of Hungry Clowns. In this odd tale, three mercenaries are sent to recover loot from a valley within a protected mountain range, which was severely damaged by a catastrophic flood. Upon arrival, they are greeted frostily by the villagers and find other mercenaries already searching for the treasure deep in the mountain caves where it has been hidden. This is another terrific story, with a great setting and some memorable scenes, particularly in the frustrations around locating the treasure, and I would recommend this just as highly as The Circus of Hungry Clowns.
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The baron has selected Grimall, Kella, and Vikern to go on an expedition.
We learn that Grim’s been working for the baron for years; the trio is traveling to the village of Hekara, very far from their home in the kingdom of Bournin.
There’s allegedly a trove of treasure in the mines of Hekara, but the mines were drowned after a massive flood.
The three companions meet Athelis and Brill outside the mines.
The author sets the table well with the camaraderie of the three warriors. Skillful storytelling in different genres and settings—quite a flex for a newbie.
It’s all fairly solid until about 80% in, then the bottom pretty much falls out. Comes off as less of a horror story; more a suspenseful drama. The conclusion is bizarre and a bit on the disappointing side.
