Destinys Damned (Destinys Damned Thriller Trilogy)

Editorial Reviews. Review. The Destiny-s Damned series by Shawna Ryan is an outstanding trilogy -- shocking and fast-paced, full of interesting characters.
Table of contents

Book of Life Deborah Harkness. Ready Player One Ernest Cline. The Girl Before J. The Silent Companions Laura Purcell. Bring Me Back B. The Love Letter Lucinda Riley. The Power Naomi Alderman. I Am Pilgrim Terry Hayes. The Gift Louise Jensen. Behind Closed Doors B. The Darkest Day Tom Wood. The Temptation of Forgiveness Donna Leon. War Hawk Grant Blackwood.

The Late Show Michael Connelly. Broken Ground Val McDermid. The Chalk Man C. The French Girl Lexie Elliott. She lies on the floor, and starts to, you know, do something a little unexpected, but hidden in the most unlikely of places is a knife and guess who's going to feel it glide across their throat. In Writers Block, Bartholomew Atkins is going through a bit of a phase, hopefully a trip to Brighton and the Frighteners horror convention can pull him round. Just finishing his wine in the bar before bed, an incredibly attractive woman makes a beeline for him and he's instantly smitten.

And when she asks if he'd like to go to bed with her, well how could he say no. This isn't a Misery style fan this is something much worse, dominatrix sex, tied up with no way out and the added ingredient of the Prince of Darkness. Did I like this? If testosterone jumping erotica combined with heart racing fear is your bag of horror then this is just what you're looking for and Voices of the Damned ranks highly in my box of favourites.

Destiny's Child - Is She The Reason

Also posted at http: Sep 11, Bob Milne rated it it was amazing Shelves: Blasphemous and perverse, equal parts horrific and erotic, Voices of the Damned is as compelling as it is disturbing. While other authors may be equally adept at getting their hooks into the reader, Barbie Wilde has that rare literary talent to be able to twist the chains, to drive those hooks even deeper. Sister Cilice serves as a fitting introduction, inspired as it is by her most famous role - the Female Cenobite in Hellbound: Here, Blasphemous and perverse, equal parts horrific and erotic, Voices of the Damned is as compelling as it is disturbing.

Here, Wilde explores the erotic, blasphemous descent of a masturbatory nun, and introduces us to the making of a Cenobite, painfully eager to take her place in Hell. Zulu Zombies is maybe the best zombie story I've ever come across, mixing a classic bit of historical horror with a very modern and sexual spin on the slow-moving monster.

It's dark and twisted, with a great sense of atmosphere. American Mutant is a gleefully chilling tale of power and corruption, secrets and lies, as a church charlatan comes face-to-face with true power. If you thought Damien and Regan were chilling, wait until you meet this kid. They say the devil is in the details, and it's those seemingly innocuous details that make this work. Nightmarish and laced with dread.

Valeska is one of two stories new to the collection, an original twist on the vampire mythos that strips it of its spiritual elements, making it instead a cannibalistic matter of survival, pitting Sanguine vs Seminal in an age-old rivalry. Gaia was one of the more surprising tales in the collection, with a pair of disaffected youths picking the wrong house and the wrong woman to rob. As much as they wanted to get inside that panic room, they probably wish the door had remained locked. Insanity has never been so much fun.

Polyp is pure Bizarro horror, a disgusting tale of infection, infiltration,and invasion from within - literally. I'm not sure I've ever read anything so horrible as the endoscopic camera being forced out of Vincent's anus quickly enough to burn the doctor's hands. Botophobia was the lone soft spot in the collection, a tale with some nice atmosphere and a few genuine chills, but one that's a little too predictable to be effective. Probably the most genuinely terrifying tale in the collection. Why suffer a life of misery and enslavement to a woman-hating God of the Christians when you could give yourself to a fallen angel?

The Cilicium Rebellion is the other new story here, a fitting conclusion to both the collection and the story of Sister Cilice. The nun has fallen, she's converted her new sisters, and now it's time for a war of the sexes deep within the bowels of Hell. Barbie Wilde's most famous role may have revealed something dark within her soul, but its in Voices of the Damned that the darkness takes root, spreads its arms, and embraces a new audience.

It's not just a collection that's shocking and obscene, however, but one that's imaginative, meaningful, and exceptionally well-written. Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the author in exchange for review consideration.

This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my honest review. Sep 23, Karl marked it as to-read Shelves: The Art of Voices of the Damned. View all 4 comments. Sep 08, Andrew rated it it was amazing. I reviewed her previous book The Venus Complex on this blog and I loved it. Now, Wilde is back with a collection of 11 short stories, Voices of the Damned. Three of the stories make up the Cilicium Trilogy, which are part of the Hellraiser cenobitical universe. What a way to grab the attention!

Bestselling Series

The book also has an afterward from the Soska Sisters, intent on world domination, who seem to be involved in all manner of horror. Each of the stories is accompanied by an illustration. Sister Celice— Sister Veronica, a nun heavily repressed by both her parents and her order, has dark fantasies. She discovers a gateway to another order — that of the Cenobites. This story is a thrilling start to the collection, dark, erotic, and completely engulfed in the Hellraiser tone and mythology.

You could call it the ultimate coming of age story. Zulu Zombies— What more could you ask for than zulu zombies in the middle of London?

A gory and brutal train ride. American Mutant— An extravagant southern televangelist, Billy Bob, suddenly and surprisingly has to face up to the fact that he has a 13 year old son, Mikey. A televangelist is not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, when there is money to be made.

I loved both the characters, Billy Bob and Mikey.

See a Problem?

The over the top Billy Bob you can instantly visualize and enjoy, and Mikey too, with his intelligence and creepy kid vibe. Really strong entry to the collection. This story realizes the fear we all have of being so vulnerable while we sleep. Valeska— A tale about an irresistible femme fatale succubus and the two sides of her vampiric kind: I really enjoyed this story and the history of the factions.

It was a very fresh approach and one of my favorites in the collection. A full length novel based on this would be amazing. The Cilicium Pandoric— We follow Sister Celice, now a Cenobite, as she crosses over to our world from hell with the desire to start her own Order. Gaia— A lady living in fear, due to stories of Greek mythology from her heritage, and abuse from her uncle, seeks solitude and safety in a custom built basement.

Two intruders find that they have messed with the wrong lady. Gaia was a fun and pretty cosmic tale. Polyp— This one is truly bizarre, as a polyp leaves the bowels of its host to grow and go on a murder spree. There is plenty of gore and unpleasantness in this one. This story will resonate well with body horror fans and will definitely make the squeamish squeam.

Botophobia— Following the death of her parents, Lorraine returns to her childhood home. She finds some unexpected things. A very surprising ending. Be careful what you wish for. That would be amazing. This is an outstanding anthology, and I enjoyed every story. There are no weak links here. I raced through the entire book in no time. The themes of sex and death are inextricably linked, dripping a dark eroticism through many of the stories.

Another common theme is that of strong female characters. They are powerful, they are in control, and they are the hunters. When crossed, their vengeance is absolute. Wilde has a strong voice. In a genre that is often dominated by male authors, she has taken on a leading role. These dark tales will entertain, and come back to visit you in the dark of night. Feb 07, John J Questore rated it it was amazing.

Exciting Thrillers by Shawna Ryan

If you've followed me for any length of time, you know I am a horror addict. That being said, you should also know who Barbie Wilde is. I've spoken of this beautiful and talented lady many times - even reviewing her first novel "The Venus Complex". When she mentioned that she was having a book of short stories published, I knew I had to forgo spending money on other books and immediately placed my order for "Voices of the Damned".


  • Portrait of Jesus? The Illustrated Story of the Shroud of Turin.
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Social Phobia in Adolescents: Stand Up, Speak Out Therapist Guide (!
  • The Palace Of Dreams (Vintage Classics).
  • Voices of the Damned by Barbie Wilde.
  • History of the Russian Revolution.

Before I delve into providing you with feedback on each story, I h If you've followed me for any length of time, you know I am a horror addict. Before I delve into providing you with feedback on each story, I have to make mention of the book itself. If you are a bibliophile like myself, the first thing you notice is the quality. It is an oversized book, printed on thick paper, with a very nice hard cover to enclose the wonders within; and what better way to showcase the book than by an exclusive Clive Barker drawing for the cover. While I'm on the subject, Barbie garnered some of the most talented artists to provide drawing for each story - enhancing the overall feel.

Add to all of that a forward by Chris Alexander editor-in-chief of Fangoria and an afterword by The Soska Sisters way too many credits to list - Google them - well, you have something truly special in your hands. So, without further ado, I present the following stories of "Voices of the Damned": Sister Cilice - Artwork by Clive Barker: This anthology can only be set off with a story like this one.

As you know and if you don't, shame on you , Barbie is best known for playing the Female Cenobite in Hellbound: In this, the first of three stories that make up the Cilicium Trilogy, Barbie finally gives us the backstory to the Female Cenobite. She was a nun by the name of Sister Veronica, who decided she wanted, no, needed, more from her meager existence - and she found it in the form of pleasurable pain after reading from the Grimorium Enochia.

Zulu Zombies - Illustrated by Nick Percival: If they tell you not to play around with an urn that's been sitting on the mantle for your entire life, they mean it. But, should you go ahead and let curiosity get the better of you, don't say Barbie didn't warn you. Too bad John didn't listen, he might have been able to avoid unleashing an horde of zulu zombies. American Mutant - Illustrated by Vincent Sammy: What an interesting tale about good and evil - and the consequences of each. The Reverend Billy Bob Bannon - you typical "tent revival" preacher who speaks with a silver tongue, and at the same time is picking your pocket, finds out he has a son with a special talent.

Mickey was born with two deformed hands - one black as night, the other white as bone. The Reverend find that the touch from one punishes, while the touch from the other heals. In true form, he tries to exploit this with dire consequences. We've all had one at least once in our lives.

But, what if it isn't all in our head? Jim keeps having a nightmare about a tiny demon smacking a tennis ball and trying to take his breath away - a little like the demon in the movie Cat's Eye. Next time you have a nightmare - or worse yet, sleep paralysis - you might want to check into a hospital for a sleep study. The camera may just show something entirely different.

Valeska - Illustrated by Daniele Serra: This is a story about two groups of vampires - one drinks blood, the other, well let's just say they feed off the male species for a specific fluid. One of the more erotic stories of the lot. Part two to the Cilicium Trilogy.

Triumvirate of the Damned: Destiny's Damned Trilogy Bk. 3 : Book 3 of the Destiny's Damned Trilogy

In his search for the truth, Patrick the priest is shaken by what the document reveals, and even attends a pagan worship ceremony where he learns how similar pagan worship is to Christianity. Appearing to some as a heavenly bull on which He also rode, Mithra slayed himself as sacrifice. Appearing to others as man, Mithra was crucified. But be warned, it is also a dark and violent tale, with graphic scenes of murder, mutilation, and sexual bondage. Further, it incorporates historical fiction regarding the Roman Empire and Christianity in a believable manner, so it is important to remember that this is fiction.

Still, it keeps readers turning the pages and reveals the mystery only at the very end. Characterization, as in most thrillers, is minimal, but the horror, repulsion, and suspense are expressed as the author intended.