
Title | : | Terminal |
Author | : | |
Rating | : | |
ISBN | : | - |
Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
Number of Pages | : | 329 |
Publication | : | First published April 22, 2019 |
All passengers, please prepare for departure...
An employee, a cop, and six passengers; a prisoner, a stowaway, and a madman.
"A great read." - Sci-Fi and Scary
These are the people waiting at the Lawton bus terminal.
"If you need a fast-paced thriller that chills and keeps you guessing, look no further..." - Horror Novel Reviews
Mostly late-night travelers who want nothing more than to get to their destinations, and employees who want nothing more than to get through the graveyard shift.
"[Collings] brings the reader close in and doesn't want them to leave... I'd give this an A." - Horror Drive-In
But when a strange, otherworldly fog rolls in, the night changes to nightmare. Because something hides in the fog. Something powerful. Something strange. Something... inhuman.
"Fun novel, fast paced... Great story, recommended." - Hellnotes
Soon, those in the terminal have been cut off from the rest of the world. No phones, no computers. Just ten strangers in the terminal... and The Other.
"Terminal is a hard-edged, brutal, sometimes exceptionally violent thrill-fest of a novel that I blazed through..." - Inkheist Book Reviews
The Other is the force in the mist. The Other is the thing that has captured them. And The Other wants to play a game.
"[A]n intense, creepy, and twisty read... the suspense will have you on the edge of your seat." - A Book Lover's Life
The rules are simple:
1) The people in the terminal must choose a single person from among them. That person will live. The rest will die.
2) Anyone who attempts to leave the terminal before the final vote will die.
3) The final vote... must be unanimous.
5 stars! "[A] nightmarish tale that was both captivating and frightening and also a novel that I would highly recommend!" - The Genre Minx
A nightmare. And getting worse, because the best way to make a vote unanimous... is to kill the other voters.
Welcome to the Terminal .
"Another win for [Collings]... Excellent!" - The Raven Podcast
Terminal Reviews
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TERMINAL, by Michaelbrent Collings is another of his spellbinding horror novels that brings a unique twist to the genre. Trapped in a terminal, waiting for a bus to arrive, ten people are about to become trapped in a "game" to the death. One that brings nothing more than amusement to those pulling the strings.
". . . turned back to the fog . . . and it was not dead . . . the word "alive" wasn't insane at all . . . "
In this tale, I could imagine hearing a voice intone: "This is what it was like, in the TWILIGHT ZONE." (cue eerie music).
The first thing that served to alert these strangers about to be traveling that all was not "normal", was a dense wall of fog rolling in, but stopping just shy of the actual building--equidistant all around.
". . . didn't know what would cause such a strange atmospheric event, but then, he didn't really want to know . . . "
The beginning half or so of the book really builds on the individual characters, and--to some extent--the "Watchers" and the others, in the fog. That is to say, we are aware that "something(s) are out there, in charge of the event unfolding. The knowledge does not extend further than this, its secrets and motivations remain a mystery to even the reader.
"There are other Watchers, of course, but this one is here now . . . "
This is precisely why the novel is so effective in pulling us into the terminal--with the others trapped--allowing us to feel the fear and desperation as it increases its hold on them.
". . . the unknown must always be feared. Survival demands it."
Collings has a great mix of personalities in his characters, allowing for the positive, the hopeful, the frightened, the determined, the clever, and those that heave already given up hope, to all show their reactions to this in individual ways.
". . . What do you do when the world stops obeying normal world rules?"
The one thing they all believe for certain is what the unknown in the fog conveys to them as "instructions". Only one of them may live--the rest must die. The one chosen to survive must be voted unanimously by all--Living--beings in there.
With human nature being what it is, it's obvious that this is not a choice they will readily embrace.
"There were infinite ways a person could be damaged."
While the universal fear of whatever was controlling the fog is omnipresent, our characters' emotions and decisions are ever changing as time winds down. Collings is quite adept at developing personalities of all kinds, and he certainly does not disappoint here. In some novels, it's a struggle to remember the names and lives of the individual people; however, I found that this was not an issue here, as each was so memorable, I still remember them all weeks later. For an author, is there any higher praise than that?
"Isolation can be every bit as deadly as any gun or knife."
Overall, TERMINAL easily delivered on its premise of horror, terror, a threatening atmosphere, and believable characters. From the very beginning I felt the pull of the storyline draw me in, and was easily immersed in the various situations that each individual player faced. There were some truths exposed that I'd expected, but even better were the twists that I never even suspected. When you read as much of a genre as I do, that is something that really elevates the story, and has me appreciating its execution even more.
". . . Sooner or later everyone needs to hide something."
This is another outstanding novel from author Michaelbrent Collings--one that I can easily see myself re-reading in the future.
"It. Never. Ends."
Highly recommended. -
The Other: All in favor? ME: Aye!!
A group of people are in the middle of nowhere, USA, inside a bus terminal. A creepy fog comes rolling in and then, not surprisingly, a bus. This is no ordinary bus, though, and this is no ordinary fog either. Before they know it, they're trapped together, they're running out of time and only one of them will survive. What is going on here? You'll have to read this to find out!
I've read a few books by this author before, so I went into this one knowing that it would probably feature short chapters and memorable characters. As the story progresses, we get to know each of the people stuck at the terminal and we learn how they got there. I also knew that I couldn't trust any of it! Little by little we discover the secrets of each individual and this is what makes this different from your average thriller of this type: the characters.
I read one review where someone noted that this character background stuff was boring and got in the way of the action, but for me? If I want to see action, I'll go see a Terminator film. Part of what makes a good book for me is characters I care about. Even though many in this group were not good people, their background provided reasons why they got where they were. They weren't perfect but they were human.
I did find a little bit of repetition, but when you have one situation presented in different points of view, that can happen. I didn't find it overly bothersome, but because of it I did deduct one star.
Once I sat down last night to read the last third of the book-I knew I was going to stay sat until I finished it. I was turning pages like a hurricane wind came through and when everything wrapped up? I felt sad that it was over.
TERMINAL is a fun, fast-paced, mystery-thriller and I had a great time reading it!
Recommended!
*Thanks to the author for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!* -
My review of
TERMINAL can be found at
High Fever Books.
A mysterious fog enshrouds a bus terminal, trapping nearly a dozen people inside as travel plans are abruptly canceled and transformed into a game of life or death. The electronics go haywire, a mysterious message appearing on everyone’s cell phone outlining the rules of the game. The people in the terminal must choose one individual from their company to survive, and the rest will die. Anyone who leaves the terminal before the final vote dies. And the final vote must be unanimous.
Michaelbrent Collings delivers up a unique twist on foggy horror, creating a character-driven work in the vein of The Mist, served up Ten Little Indians style and with a healthy, and much welcomed, dose of The Twilight Zone for good measure.
What I dug most about Terminal was the puzzling nature of it all. There’s a nifty bit of psychological suspense baked into the premise right from the get-go, but Collings takes this a step further as he slowly begins to unravel each characters’ backgrounds. There’s a washed-up cop, a ticket teller who escaped the ghetto, a Mary Kay saleswoman, a newlywed couple, and more. Each of them have secrets, as well as hidden depths and reserves that call into question who and how the final survivor will be chosen…or who will simply claim victory by any means necessary. Equally mysterious is the nature of the threat awaiting them outside the terminal, the odd fog and the…things…lurking within it.
Collings keeps you guessing for nearly the entire page count, adding and subtracting complications as he goes, giving you plenty of new wrinkles to iron out as he maneuvers his way through his large cast. And although this is a pretty large cast, it’s never unwieldily, which is no small feat. Every character gets their chance to shine, and we get to know each of them and their backgrounds sufficiently well, which only makes it harder to suss out who the game’s final winner will be.
Terminal is a nifty little puzzler of a book, and Collings moves the players and plot around less like a chess master and more like a grand champion solver of Rubik’s cubes. The characters, their interactions, motivations, and situations all revolve around one another, clicking and interlocking, until the final piece of the puzzle tumbles into place. The final reveal of Terminal is masterclass-level stuff, and legitimately surprised me. Even after I thought I knew for sure how this was going to end, Collings had one more trick up his sleeve. But that’s the real secret here — Terminal isn’t so much a puzzle after all. It’s a magic trick, and a damn good one, at that.
[Note: I received a copy of this title from the author.] -
I’ve read a few books by author Michaelbrent Collings and they have all been solid horror stories as well as excellent character studies and as reader who loves a good character driven story, I really appreciate the deep dive into their psyches. I like knowing what makes people tick because I am nosy and also because so many authors don’t do it. They allow the action to take over the entire show and that’s when they usually lose me. If you’re the same type of reader, you should check out this guy’s work.
Several people awaiting a bus find themselves trapped within the bus terminal when a creepy fog rolls in. The fog brings with it death and dire warnings “if you leave, you die” and they soon realize via a text message that they’re all trapped inside of some sort of sadistic game, trick, or alien invasion and that only one of them will survive. If they don’t choose a survivor within the specified time frame they’re all going to die!
So guess what happens when you put a gang member, a junkie, a lazy good-for-nothing jerky security officer, a drug dealer, a Mary Kay pusher and a few decent people (with secrets – yes, that is my catnip and there are plenty of them here) under intense pressure like this? TERRIBLE THINGS, bloody things, messy and gory things, heehee! The intense situation brings out the best and the worst in these people and it expertly shows all of the intricate facets that make them both awful and human. And, also, what the heck is out there lurking in the fog?!
Terminal is a weird, sinister story that kept me guessing and, even though I’ve read probably too many horror stories for most sane people, I did not figure out that ending and I appreciated that. There were plenty of clues but I apparently missed them all until the reveal and then I was all “ahh, you dummy it was all there right in front of you!” I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys getting to know a cast of characters and watching them get picked off in terrible ways, one by one! -
A fun character-driven novel with elements of mystery, thriller, and horror peppered with plenty of shocking surprises along the way. Well worth the read!
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I am enamoured with MichaelBrent’s writing style. I have yet to read something from him I did not like. You will whip through his novels. He is that good. He reminds me of Iain Rob Wright in his character developments, and has a tendency to put interesting people in very impossible situations. You’ll read his novels like a racing train that don’t let up until the end. Terminal was not my favorite of the books I’ve read by Michaelbrent but still a great read. He is such a gifted writer that there are always immensely quotable sections. In Terminal, you have:
“And there is also this: actions have consequences. Being born is not, he believes, the responsibility – or the blame – of the child. But the child makes decisions that do determine what he or she gives, or takes, from the world.
“Maybe the question isn’t who should live, but who among you most deserves to die.”
And:
“And all people, good or bad, walk a path surrounded by shortcuts. Most of them take one – for a good cause, of course. But once taken, the shortcuts become the path.”
Enjoy! -
A very solid five star rating!
Loved this book. It's like reading an episode of The Twilight Zone.
Highly recommended. -
A locked room thriller- except it's a bus terminal in the middle of nowhere- filled with a small group of passengers desperate to leave. But there's this fog and woe unto anyone who steps out the door. This book has lots of similarities to King's "The Fog", but the characters aren't particularly likable and they are mostly misfits, criminals and every single one has secrets. The pace is good; the story is very tight and I certainly did not see the end coming.
3.5 stars -
I am one of the lucky ones! I received an advanced copy of Terminal. I am really glad I did! This book was excellent. It is a terrifying nightmare of a group of strangers who must make a terrible decision: Who should live and who must die? This tale is about human nature and vulnerability. It is frightening and thought provoking. If you enjoy horror, you MUST read this book!
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Take a bunch of strangers. Trap them in a confined place with no way out. Then have something horrific wanting inside. This scenario never gets old for me. I love discovering who bends, who breaks and who steps up.
The real fun begins when the captives realize an otherworldly force is keeping them trapped. And there are rules. One will survive. And they must choose who it will be. Getting it now? The rest will die. I had to know how it would happen. Would they kill each other? Would something else get them? And would they really be doing the choosing?
Once the dying began, the pace of the book really picked up. I met the characters. Got the scoop on most of them. And made my choice for the chosen survivor. Was I right? Nope. Was that the end? Nope. Of course there was a twist, and what a doozie it was. I really should have seen it coming. But that’s what make scenarios like this so much fun. You often don’t.
Terminal was a chilling, twisted read with lots of suspense and plenty of surprises. I’ve read some other books by the author and happy to say I enjoyed this one too.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given. -
Phenomenal!! Character driven sci-fi horror at its best! Exceptionally gore filled in some parts and a ceaseless heart-pounding free fall - not knowing who would be next and who would survive - Michaelbrent Collings is a master!
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"In a nightmare, only the strange can comfort, only the unusual is at home."
TERMINAL has a familiar set up, of sorts. A group of strangers all come together in a single location, where things quickly go to hell. But where most authors would fall into cliches, Collings elevates the premise and delivers a surprisingly innovative story.
First things first, a real horror novel--you know the ones that actually work--have characters that either you care about or despise. Great horror novels have both. And while at first with TERMINAL you feel like you've seen these characters before, there's a depth the author is able to weave into each backstory, trickling out the information a bit at a time while still wielding the deck of cards in his hands. It's not an easy feat, but the way information is revealed AND concealed in this novel is masterful. Like an intricately designed clockwork piece, each cog and gear and character must tick at precisely the right time to cause the avalanche to follow.
And when this avalanche gets started, there's no stopping it.
With outside conflict caused by the supernatural elements of this story and the just as frightening conflict occurring due to the characters' decisions, TERMINAL is like jumping onto a freight train that's already moving at several hundred miles per hour. To say the author sticks the landing is an understatement, and once again proves that Michaelbrent Collings is at the top of his game. These are the type of stories that will always keep me coming back to this genre. A definite recommend. -
Terminal has all the right elements to draw you into an impossible situation where there is no good outcome. Chapter after chapter I was intrigued by the mystery behind the driving force that was pushing the individuals trapped in the bus station to the brink of madness. I found myself questioning whether or not their situation was being caused by alien means. There was even one point in the story where I felt like doing a slow clap and saying “well played, well played.” The twists in this story ensured that my attention never strayed far from the page. I also enjoyed the true facts that were sprinkled throughout this story and when the ending came, well it was just perfectly marvelous and really, really, really disturbing to consider. Terminal was truly a nightmarish tale that was both captivating and frightening and also a novel that I would highly recommend!
This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Author, Michaelbrent Collings. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating. -
This was a quick moving horror story. The character development was fairly well detailed. The interaction and how the characters' lives wound together was interesting. It even had a bit of a surprise at the end. This was my first Michaelbrent Collings book. I enjoyed it a lot and will be reading more of his books.
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What would you do if you were at a bus terminal waiting for your bus when a sudden and mysterious fog surrounds the place and shadowy silhouettes with glowing green eyes can be seen throughout it? That's what happens to the people inside the Terminal. They are all waiting to go to their destinations when the fog comes, then the electronics and lights go haywire and a message appears on their phones......
The Other: only 1 will leave
all in favour
What follows was an intense, creepy and twisty read.
I read and loved this authors previous book, Predators, so was excited to dive into this one as it sounded awesome! Well it was and then some.
The plot of this was creepy and kept me turning the pages as quickly as I could. It's starts off slowly because we are being introduced to a variety of characters and need to get to know them a bit, but then the fog comes and things get interesting and incredibly intense inside the Terminal. As the plot progresses the author adds element after element to spice up the story, and when you think you have things figured out, he throws in something else to throw you off the pace. Then bam, you get to the end and it's not at all what you thought it was and you just stare for a second and think whoa.
All the characters were well written and developed, and there are quite a few of them! But they were needed in order to create the tension and anticipation. There is the ticket lady and her daughter, a cop, a gangster, a married couple, a woman looking for fame, a boy on the spectrum and I think that's it. I did make a note of all their names so I could keep track of who was who. We have Mary, Taylor, Paul, Shelly, Adam, Jesus, Clarice, Ken, Bella and Jeremy. We get to see a bit of their backgrounds and it was easy to connect to them all. Again, the author makes you think you know a person but then throws a spanner into the mix and you think, whoa!!
And Whoa pretty much sums up the book. While reading that word kept popping into my head at certain times and I had to put the book down in order to absorb what was happening. It was a roller coaster of a read and I highly recommend you check it out. Be prepared to want to read the whole thing at once though, because the suspense will have you on the edge of your seat. -
What appears to be an ordinary fog rolling in seems more menacing as ten people are trapped inside a bus terminal, unable to contact the outside world or even step outside the door. They’re at the mercy of an entity calling themselves The Other, and this unknown force instructs them on what to do next: pick the one person that will survive the night. With a limited time, the group must decide on what to do next – find a way to escape the nightmare, or do as they’re told.
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank Michaelbrent Collings for giving me the opportunity.
I had no expectations about Terminal, and to my delight it turned out to be highly engrossing with slow-moving yet intriguing elements that suited me just fine. It’s such a nice feeling to go into something blind and be impressed, and with this being my first Collings novel, I now want to read more of his work. The plot introduced several characters, all from various backgrounds, and all with their own set of morals and secrets that made them individually compelling, especially with the sheer amount of detail involved – seriously, there was so much effort put into fleshing them out. Sure, some were a bit cliched, but I’m one of those readers that often gets confused with names and who’s who, and I had no issue here as each of the ten stood out in their own way. The setting only helped shape them as people, a bus terminal being somewhere that strangers navigate while oblivious to those around them, and Collings constructed a scenario where those minding their business had to actually stop and regard each other, even question their worth as the mysterious presence demanded they single someone out. I wouldn’t describe it as action packed, even though it definitely had its moments, but it was more focused on the psyches of the cast; an in depth look into what made them tick, as well as how much they could take before their sanity crumbled. I related to some, didn’t like others, but I was totally absorbed in their interactions, most notably their convincing dialogue.
The threat that lay beyond the terminal was an impenetrable fog that cut the group off from the rest of the world, and in it were obscure figures conducting their observations, their identities left unknown. The descriptions were ominous, the fog itself unnatural as it engulfed the building with the poor victims inside. It thus encouraged the reader to speculate – was ‘The Other’ extraterrestrial in nature or something else entirely? I know it kept me guessing throughout, the whole concept of a game that provokes the worst in people really appealing to me as I love to see that madness creeping in. Even the most kindest of person can be pushed too far when it comes to life and death, and I’d say that Collings tapped into that primal survival instinct with how he masterfully moved the pieces on the board. There’s only so much that can be done when the surroundings remain the same for such a length of time, but the confined space of the bus terminal felt appropriately claustrophobic rather than stagnant. The ending especially surprised me, I didn’t see any of the twists and turns coming, and I believe it was done well, even if one of them in particular seemed slightly far-fetched.
In conclusion: Terminal was weird, but I wasn’t disappointed. The centre stage was a bus terminal, where ten people were isolated and forced to pick the “winner”, aka the only one that would survive. It went in-depth on backstory and personality of each involved, and while it had some violent and gruesome scenes, it mostly put a spotlight on how the situation was dealt with. I enjoyed the mystery, the atmosphere, and the not knowing what was going to happen. It stood out among my other recent reads due to how different it was, ‘The Other’ and their twisted game getting my attention.
Notable Quote:
The fog outside cloaked the world in gray nothing, as though they had returned to a pre-Genesis moment.
© Red Lace 2020
Blog ~
Twitter -
You just never know when a bus trip might be your last…
Terminal opens with a prologue which introduces the ‘Watcher’, an otherworldly cosmic weird being which is about to take a very close interest in the drama unfolding in a bus terminal which is mysteriously surrounded by in impenetrable fog. Although the ‘Watcher’ pops up from time to time he (or it? or them?) is more interested in the group of people, how they react with each other, after we realise are stranded in the bus terminal.
We’re quickly introduced to the group of people, none of which know each other, most are waiting for a further connection to another destination. It’s a non-descript pitstop, quickly forgotten once you’ve left it behind. Included in the mix are an old cop now working in bus security, a Mark Kay salesperson, a newlywed couple, a conman, a computer geek who seems to be on the Autism spectrum, a young woman looking for fame and a dangerous looking Mexican, who may well be a gangster. All have something to hide, not necessarily sinister, and slowly the author digs into their backstories as their crisis escalates.
Terminal jumps from character to character and the reader realises they did not know the protagonists as well as they thought they did. This in itself was not a major revelation and the group were probably an average cross-section of the population. After realising the group are in a type of deadly competition I guess the reader was supposed to pick a favourite to root behind, however, I never found myself truly sympathising for any of them and felt I would have enjoyed the book more if I was cheering someone in particular on. Perhaps there were slightly too many characters to choose from? As their numbers depleted there was an inevitability to the book and although it was atmospheric in parts I found it rather one-paced.
Before long everybody in the group gets an identical text message from someone called ‘The Other’ which states: “Only 1 will leave, all in favour” and they eventually twig that the dense fog (and something in it) has trapped them and that as a group only one of them will survive and that the others must unanimously agree on that person with a vote.
Yeah right, as if that would happen! Of course, everybody wants to vote for themselves and the fun begins. It sounds like a ridiculous conundrum, but there are some surprises in the way it plays out. Would you sacrifice yourself for a complete stranger? Quickly someone goes in the fog and tries to escape after panicking, bites the bullet, and the rest of the group realise it is for real. Technology stops working and now a cancelled bus has been transformed into a game of life and death, the latter for most.
Once the tension mounts, and the clock starts ticking, the characters all start bouncing off each other and the inner fighting escalates. Along the way you cannot help but think of Stephen King’s The Mist, The Twilight Zone, or any number of escape room scenarios or even Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians. Unfortunately, most of the points of references I made were also much stronger works of fiction than this. Although Terminal keeps you guessing for some of the time, has some decent twists, it never truly hit top gear for me and although I was invested enough to discover who the eventual last person standing, I was not too surprised by the outcome. There are some vague revelations regarding the Watcher(s) and their motives but there was something about the whole thing I found underwhelming.
Terminal has had a lot of amazing praise in the horror community from highly respectable reviewers, but I just did not connect with it in the same way. It was creative, solidly written with a good range of characters, but it lacked the edge required to raise itself above the crowd in a horror market top-heavy with strong fiction. -
What is the Other? Human, animal, vegetable? Part of me hoped for a creature feature, while the part highly suspected aliens, or maybe a dimensional shift where extraterrestrial creatures descend en masse on the bus station. With thoughts of the Mist running through my head, what I experienced instead was a horrifying cacophony of the brutality that humans are capable of, which is in my opinion always one of the most disturbing horror themes out there. Combined with the mystery of the Other and an action-packed plot, Terminal left its imprint on me.
Read more at
Cats Luv Coffee Book Reviews -
Author M. Collings weaves a tense story set in an isolated, foggy terminal in Idaho. If you combine an Agatha Christie novel, 'Ten Little Indians,' with Stephen King's 'The Mist' you get, 'The Terminal.' Colling's story can be creepy at points but somewhat tedious in certain spots. There were several great twists and turns along the way with some interesting characters like the MS 13 gang member, Shelley the make-up consultant, and Mary. Without giving anything away, there were some implausible scenarios, especially reflecting back after finishing the story. However, all can be forgiven because it was a well told and eerie novel.
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Though none of the characters were especially likable, it was still an interesting look into their thoughts in a crazy and stressful situation. The pressure of being in an unknown and life threatening situation causes each of them to express their worst qualities. I didn’t really want anyone to “win”, but was interested to see who came out on top. There are some surprises, especially at the end. Overall, an interesting look into the psyche.
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Terminal is a fast-paced thriller that chills! You can read my full review here...
https://horrornovelreviews.com/2019/0... -
Definitely one that keep me turning pages (or clicking the “right” arrow). Always wondering where things were going till it’s satisfying finale. First read by this author, but won’t be the last.
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I did write a pretty guid review then my phone decided to crash 😭. Anyway good book as always 😊.
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“We as humans are also capable of caring, sympathy, love. That is almost always a longer path, and the harder one to take at times. But it is certainly the worthier of the two.”
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How will you choose, when it's a matter of life and death, we will never know unless we are put into very strange circumstances. This is a white knuckle thrill ride of the first order. 5.5 stars out of 5. Very well written, and beautifully paced, I just read the last 98 pages in about 4 hrs, taking breaks of course, although I didn't want to. My fingers are scorched from turning these pages so fast. I have a very positive review for this book. Do yourself a favor, pick it up, you'll be glad you did. That's my review and I'm sticking to it, if you don't like it, then tell the other, who does not care. Ps fantastic fucking ending. P,s, your gonna need a bigger boat.
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Dear horror writers: please do not stretch your hackneyed idea for a short story into a full-length novel, the damage which results may be . . . "Terminal." Mr. Collings' premise, in which an unseen force traps a group of seemingly random strangers in isolation and then watches them turn upon each other, doesn't remind me of a "Twilight Zone" episode -- it reminds me of at least three, not to mention Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None." But it might deliver some chills, at least in the hand of an author who bothers with second drafts or editors (based on his prose and his bibliography, this one has no interest in either). But Mr. Collings' idea of generating suspense is to spend an entire chapter describing every single movement of every single character as a mysterious bus bears down on the eponymous Terminal for about ten pages. That isn't a jump scare, it's a slump scare. Can't hate it, though, just like I can't hate a first draft -- it has to be judged in part on its potential. And there's potential here. Not much, and what little there is unrealized, but hey . . . it is there.
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Review Copy
TERMINAL is a stunning read that completely blew me away. The characters are so strongly drawn, they jumped off the pages. The mystery is as tightly woven as any Agatha Christie novel and in some sense reminded me of the Dame Agatha's work. But there is the hint of The XFiles and The Twilight Zone as well. Collings is a horror writer, and blood and terror abound.
I guess it's safe to say that this novel crosses genres. It's an engrossing book that's sure to capture your imagination. I loved it and recommend it highly. Go buy it today. -
A group of terribly unlikeable characters gets pointlessly and sadistically butchered. If you are into that kind of thing, this book could be part of a therapeutical program on coping with misanthropy. Otherwise, skip it.