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Gil's Grimoire #1
Two Zeros and The Library of Doom!
Written as a short introduction to the wild world of the Zeros, "Two Zeros and The Library of Doom!" is a novella of two heroes who took a job that sounded so easy.Gil Abercrombie and his new partner Dylan accept a simple job rescuing an aged caretaker at an abandoned sanatorium called Callowleigh. Soon, their quick task becomes a nightmare as our heroes find themselves trapped and fighting for their lives. Alone in a haunted mansion, Gil and Dylan struggle against otherworld forces as they search for the old caretaker who may be caught in something far beyond his understanding.Forced to team up with a master thief to battle dangers from man and beast, our Zeros dig deeper into buried secrets, pursuing the terrible truths of the old hospital and the old books held within a very strange library.Ghosts, demons, and mythological beasts fill the pages of this novella, where not all is as it appears to be.Welcome to the world of Gil's Grimoire...
- GenresFantasy
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2013
10 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Eric Bonkowski
6 books5 followersEric Bonkowski lives in Delaware. He is inspired daily by Saturday afternoon cliffhanger serials, classic comics and comic strips, and horror films of the '30s and '40s--to say nothing of mystery, fantasy, and science fiction pulp writings of every age.
He spends his time reading, watching campy movies, and writing, supported all the while by his remarkable wife and family. During the rare quieter moments, he can be found listening to jazz and falling asleep well before bedtime.
He spends his time reading, watching campy movies, and writing, supported all the while by his remarkable wife and family. During the rare quieter moments, he can be found listening to jazz and falling asleep well before bedtime.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 18, 2018
2.9 ⭐
I like the premise & this book is full of actions. I really enjoyed the first 30-40% of it but then grew tired of the writing & Gil. There's too much similes and I do not appreciate it especially during actions. And Gil, where should I begin with him? He was portrayed as a devil-may-care man. However, the more I read, the more he becomes an annoying character. I don't get half of the jokes he made & most of it was made at inappropriate timing too. I mean, what?
July 12, 2018
More like a 2.5 but likeable enough to push it over to 3 stars.
January 29, 2013
Wow. This book was just a whirlwind of fun! While Fantasy/Detective/Monster-hunting is not my typical genre (as evidenced by the fact that I can't come up with a single word that describes this category), I will certainly be looking forward to the rest of this series by Eric Bonkowski. Although I don't read too many books like this, as a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer I can say that Eric Bonkowski reminds me of an up and coming Joss Whedon in terms of subject matter (monster hunting... I mean, that one's pretty obvious) and style (the wit, geeky humor, excellent characterization, and even hints of deeper meaning behind the action). Despite reminding me of the formidable Joss, Mr. Bonkowski has a unique voice, and this debut is distinctly impressive.
The book is well-paced. If anything, it goes almost too fast... it left me feeling breathless. I wondered, seeing as how I felt winded just *reading* about the harrowing trials the protagonists faced, how they could have possibly survived their ordeals. It required some suspension of disbelief, but I didn't mind; I enjoyed being swept along for the wild ride. Likewise, the setting is masterfully depicted. The description is superb, transporting the reader into the dark, crumbling mansion/sanitarium and into the midst of the action. Details add to the immediacy and realism without bogging down the reader. There is serious cinematic or graphic novel potential here.
When I had to put the book down (out of necessity for caring for my daughter... not because I ever wanted to!) I had time to take a break from the action and wonder about some of the philosophical and, dare I say, theological implications of this book. Trying to avoid spoilers, one of the themes of this book is the power of ideas and how they have real and sometimes disastrous results in history. Let's just say, it will lead the reader to ponder anew the meaning of, "The pen is mightier than the sword." While it's hard to think too deeply about it when you're swept up in the creepy horror of the decrepit, labyrinthine Callowleigh mansion or caught up with Gil or Dylan in the tentacles of a demonic Kraken, you're subtly being fed philosophical food for thought to chew on when you have to close the book. Or at least I was. But to say much more is to give too much away.
The book is well-paced. If anything, it goes almost too fast... it left me feeling breathless. I wondered, seeing as how I felt winded just *reading* about the harrowing trials the protagonists faced, how they could have possibly survived their ordeals. It required some suspension of disbelief, but I didn't mind; I enjoyed being swept along for the wild ride. Likewise, the setting is masterfully depicted. The description is superb, transporting the reader into the dark, crumbling mansion/sanitarium and into the midst of the action. Details add to the immediacy and realism without bogging down the reader. There is serious cinematic or graphic novel potential here.
When I had to put the book down (out of necessity for caring for my daughter... not because I ever wanted to!) I had time to take a break from the action and wonder about some of the philosophical and, dare I say, theological implications of this book. Trying to avoid spoilers, one of the themes of this book is the power of ideas and how they have real and sometimes disastrous results in history. Let's just say, it will lead the reader to ponder anew the meaning of, "The pen is mightier than the sword." While it's hard to think too deeply about it when you're swept up in the creepy horror of the decrepit, labyrinthine Callowleigh mansion or caught up with Gil or Dylan in the tentacles of a demonic Kraken, you're subtly being fed philosophical food for thought to chew on when you have to close the book. Or at least I was. But to say much more is to give too much away.
June 30, 2013
Fun, quick read. I got this free, it is the short prequel introducing the characters/world that the author has/is writing more in. And I will be seeking those books out as I quite enjoyed this story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews