Reaper: A Horror Novella by Jonathon Pongratz | Review

Gregory and his little sister Imogen love spending Halloween with their parents. But this year is different. If he proves he can take care of Imogen all by himself, he’ll finally have the allowance he’s dreamed of.

That was before the basement door opened on its own. Before the strange door appeared in the basement and Imogen was taken from him by the monster.

Now everyone in town is blaming him for her disappearance, but no one is listening to his story. Where did the door come from? What was that creature? And most of all, can he find his sister before it’s too late, or will he bury his memories of her along with his parents?

Reaper was one of those reads that will fester upon the psyche.  It will allow you to get on with everyday things but in the dead of night it will re-emerge and make you realise that sleep will be futile.  Right from the start we can feel the deep-seated fear that everything is not as it seems.  Halloween – a breeding ground for all that is unnatural and terrifying.  A long-awaited opportunity to take care of a little sister without their overbearing parents.  One should be careful what you wish for.

I’m always intrigued when reading POV’s from a teenage viewpoint.  They are not quite matured for the big bad world.  Some are way too big for their boots; some are wise beyond their years and some are just lacking the confidence and the were with all to be given such big responsibilities.  Are they more inclined to see beyond the veil, are they Intune to other possibilities?  Halloween just has that fear that anything is possible and in this case Gregory and his little sister should keep as far away from the basement as possible.  A door that is never entered…stark warnings about going near it?  Yep, it’s safe to say, I wouldn’t be seen there for dust! Reaper is the master of famous last words!

Gregory is finally being entrusted with babysitting his little sister in lieu of his long-awaited allowance.  It’s about damn time and he is confident that nothing will stand in his way of that allowance…nothing except an otherworldly demon who kidnaps his sister, Imogen.  He’s not without his battle scars but that is nothing compared to the mental agony of losing his sister.  It appears there is nothing he can do, and he is devastated.  He discovers a long-held town secret and when he discovers it, there will be no letting the past lie. 

Reaper can make your skin crawl and your eyes willing want to escape.  Jonathan Pongratz has the immaculate skill of manipulating the reader into falling into the pages and letting the words seep into their pores.  Reaper is a tragic tale of soul wrenching loss that transcends into a tale of revenge and comradery.  The story had me immediately hooked and the effortless narrative felt like a smooth rum and coke going down, it kept me consuming more until I was intoxicated with the journey.  It really is the kind of story that warns you to buckle up, and although you are hesitant, you place your trust in the author because you just know you are going to be in safe hands.   

ABOUT JONATHAN PONGRATZ

I’m Jonny. I’m a self-published writer of urban fantasy, horror, suspense, and anything paranormal. I’ve been reading and writing most of my life, and I’m excited to share my thoughts with the world.

My blog tends to center around my writing, author and blogger interviews, book, movie, and television reviews, and anything else that crosses my mind. 

At this time, I’m happy to accept interview requests for indie authors and writers. 

In general I’m an open book, but in case you are curious, here are a few quirks of mine.

• My two loves are finance and writing.
• I adore cats and have a Halloween kitty named Ajax. He drives me nuts, but I love the little booger.
• I was raised by a family of Trekkies and Whovians. It’s how I first discovered my love of science fiction and fantasy.
• I’ve been a vocalist all my life, but specifically enjoy a few rounds of karaoke with my close friends.
• I have a real soft spot for books and video games, even though I don’t get to indulge as often as I would like.

Still curious? Check out the rest of my site or my social media links.

Jonathon Pongratz