A Torment of Savages (The Reanimation Files Book 4)
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Authors: A. J. Locke
Tags: #paranormal, #fantasy
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Acclaim for A.J. Locke
For
Affairs of the Dead
“The best thing about a well paced book is that feeling that you can't put the book down, and I definitely got that feeling from reading this book. Anyone looking for something new in the urban fantasy genre should definitely check this book out…”
—
Urban Fantasy Reviews
“This story is hysterical. I laughed out loud, and I don’t do that very often. I loved the sarcastic, rule bending-to-the-point-of-breaking, tough talking, softie Selene. She is my kind of heroine.”
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Books, Books, and More Books
“This was a really fun read, I love books about ghosts and the paranormal… A.J. has a great writing style that kept me glued from beginning to end.”
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Stitch, Read, Cook
“From the first page this story grips you. Selene, Micah, and Ethan are great characters. An on-the-edge-of-your-seat read that will have you impatiently waiting for book two!”
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Faerie Tale Books
“This urban fantasy is a fast-paced, fun and sexy read. There were many twists and turns that kept me hooked from beginning to end in this laugh-out-loud page turner. I look forward to reading more from A. J. Locke.”
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Who’s Reviews
“The humor and sarcasm that runs rampant throughout this novel is fantastic. Our heroine is a very likable character… The world-building was done well; not too much or too little, and it all makes sense in the end. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.”
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Sapphyria’s Book Blog
“This book really put me through the wringer. But in a good way. Locke's world building is amazing. This woman is a great storyteller.”
—
Offbeat Vagabond
Look for these titles from A.J. Locke
Now Available
The Reanimation Files
Affairs of the Dead (Book One)
Requiem for the Living (Book Two)
The Ravaging In Between (Book Three)
A Torment of Savages (Book Four)
Black Widow Witch
A Torment of
Savages
The Reanimation Files Book Four
A. J. Locke
Copyright Warning
EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (
http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/
).
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Published By
Etopia Press
1643 Warwick Ave., #124
Warwick, RI 02889
A Torment of Savages
Copyright © 2016 by A. J. Locke
ISBN: 978-1-944138-47-9
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Etopia Press electronic publication: May 2016
CHAPTER ONE
“Selene Vanream is a hero who saved countless lives from slaughter. She made the ultimate sacrifice by being willing to end her life in order to stop a raving murderer. Selene has strength, valor, and the ability to bring order where others would bring nothing but darkness and chaos.
“I disagree.
“Selene Vanream is a woman who acts without thinking and too often finds herself tangled up in bloody, murderous problems. And while something can be said about her role in resolving those problems, one might say that if it weren’t for her careless antics, none of these things would have happened in the first place. She is a woman of low morals who saw fit to have an affair with her married boss for months, thinking nothing of the man’s wife. Her sordid affair eventually led to the complete destruction of Andrew McNabb, body and soul. And I mean that literally. Andrew McNabb is not resting in peace, for there is no body to lay to rest, and no soul to send to peace. Because of Selene Vanream.
“Selene’s evolution of power, gained from being bound to a ghost, paved the way for more death and destruction than this city has ever seen. Her irresponsible attitude toward protecting those around her from her dangerous power caused Renton Morse to gain control of something he never should have been able to take control of. Above all, Selene thinks only about herself, and only seeks to help when there is no choice but to plunge into the mess she made. Innocent people have suffered, the streets stained with their blood, and countless ghosts have been denied the eternal peace we all strive for at the end of our lives.
“All because of a woman who has power and abused it, and because of the network of people around her who saw fit not to lock her up the moment she became a danger to herself and those around her. She is not a hero; she is a terrorist masquerading as a martyr.
“She should be exposed, she should be stopped. And if I have anything to do with it, she will be brought down and given the punishment she deserves.”
I slowly lowered the tablet I’d been reading from and looked up at the faces around me. Closest to me were Micah and Ethan, whose wide eyes and shocked expressions mirrored those of the dozen or so people, our friends, who stood around the small bar table I was sitting at. It was so quiet I half expected to hear crickets chirping. Micah’s hands were rigid around the platter he held with a cake that had looked rather appetizing a few moments ago. Ethan was standing there with a noisemaker in his mouth and a handful of confetti in his hand.
“Well,” I said, sweeping my eyes around and forcing a smile to my lips. “Happy Birthday to me.”
CHAPTER TWO
I woke to the usual feeling of relief I’d been waking up to for the past few months, since it meant another day had passed and Garrus remained in the In Between and hadn’t slipped through the open necromancer circle. If that ghost took one step on this side, I’d have no more mornings to wake up to. I also woke up because my phone was ringing. Well, it was vibrating against the end table loudly enough to rouse me. I cracked an eye open and watched my phone move toward the edge of the table. I considered letting it fall to the floor, but then I’d have to reach further to retrieve it. I grabbed it, flipped onto my back, and answered.
“Hey,” Micah said. “How are you doing?”
“Did last night really happen?” I threw my forearm over my eyes to block out the sunlight that was invading my window.
“It did…”
“Then I’m fine. And by fine I mean not fine.”
“I’m sorry, Selene. I wish I was there right now.”
“Me too.” And I meant it. Micah and I had been in therapy for the past three months or so. It was mid-March, the eighteenth to be exact. Therapy was a rollercoaster of good days, okay days, and very bad days, but we were making progress. However, our therapist suggested refraining from too much physical intimacy as it could wind up muddling the waters further. Deal with our demons first, then deal with the physical side of things. At the end of the day we could do whatever we wanted, but we both saw merit in the therapist’s point of view.
“I did everything I could to track down who wrote that article but I couldn’t.”
“I think it’s pretty obvious who,” I said. “It could be none other than Jacob McNabb, my biggest hater.”
“He is the most likely candidate,” Micah agreed. “But I found no trail that led back to him. Are you going to confront him?”
“The last time I confronted him with no evidence to back it up I had to run out of there in embarrassment,” I said. “So I don’t think I’ll be doing that again.”
“He needs to be stopped.” Micah’s voice was hard, and I was sure he was imagining stopping Jacob with his fists.
“Well, if I can prove he wrote it and is slandering my name, that would be step one.”
“Maybe Carlos can help?” Micah suggested. “Trace where the article originated?”
“Good idea,” I said. “I’ll go see him about it.”
Micah sighed. “I’m sorry for making you read it last night. When the e-mail showed up, I thought it was something good about you based on the title. I should have read it first.”
“I don’t even know why I kept reading it once I realized how horrible it was. It was like I just couldn’t stop. But I guess it made for a memorable end to my birthday celebration. Our friends will be talking about it for…well, ever. Selene’s humiliating entrance into her twenty-sixth year.”