Hellbender

Murder Ballads and Whiskey #2

by Jason Jack Miller

If I could've carried her by myself, I would have. But just the weight of the pine and spruce box was more than I could bear alone. The linens that covered her body and her clothes, the last she'd ever wear, made her heavier. The coins that covered her eyes added a few ounces more.
I could've carried her, by herself, forever.
January wasn't a kind time for a burial, but we don't get to choose. Old Christmas hid the sun behind a flat grey wall of clouds. January has a way of taking a person's optimism and crushing it beneath its bony heel.
I'd take June, when long days kept wayward pessimism at bay for just a few hours more, when blackberry blossoms spilt over old stone fences while young rabbits got fat and lazy. I'd take Solstice over Old Christmas any day.

There are some strange things happening at the edge of reality. Let Raw Dog Screaming Press author Jason Jack Miller take you to a place where love is forever even when death isn't, where magic doesn't have to be seen to be believed, where a song might be the only thing that saves your soul.

Jason Jack Miller's MURDER BALLADS AND WHISKEY series is a unique blend of dark fiction, urban fantasy and horror. It's Appalachian Gothic, Alt.Magical.Realism, Hillbilly Horror. It's AMERICAN GODS meets JUSTIFIED. TRUE BLOOD with witches. It's Johnny Cash with a fistful of copperheads singing the devil right back to hell.

Henry Collins's quiet life is changed forever the day he buries his little sister. This single event forces him to enter a strange world whose very existence he spent his whole life denying--a dark wilderness where the old magic thrives--a place far darker and deadlier than the Appalachia he grew up in. To avenge his sister Henry must slip past the boundaries of logic and reason to a place where the only reality is survival. He won't be able to come home until his life is no longer simple, his heart no longer kind.

This is a tale of star-crossed lovers and civil revenge by uncivil hands, written in blood that is barely thicker than water.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Fiction, Southern Gothic, Magical Realism

232 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2011

About the author

Jason Jack Miller knows it's silly to hold onto the Bohemian ideals of literature, music, and love above all else. But he doesn't care.

His own adventures paddling wild mountain rivers and playing Nirvana covers for less-than-enthusiastic crowds inspired his novels THE DEVIL AND PRESTON BLACK, HELLBENDER, and THE REVELATIONS OF PRESTON BLACK, published by Raw Dog Screaming Press as part of his MURDER BALLADS AND WHISKEY series. He is a creative writing adjunct at Seton Hill University, where he also mentors in the school's prestigious Writing Popular Fiction MFA program. Jason is a member of the Authors Guild and International Thriller Writers. He lives just outside of Pittsburgh with his wife, Heidi, and a cat. His blog is http://jasonjackmiller.blogspot.com. Tweet him @jasonjackmiller.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of a feudal murder told through mountain folklore magic.
 
I have come into this series with Hellbender first (albeit I have now bought The Devil and Preston Black) but I was not left for dead I was carried along and reassured I could see that adventure later on. There is a true warmth to the Collins community, Henry’s homecoming get together is wonderfully written and brings us an ensemble cast and has us sing a long with them at the end of night and like every good night out we are friends now and they will look after us if we fall behind.
 
The places and locations leap out at you; Jason Jack Miller paints his backdrop as much as he draws out his characters. Every set piece is filled with a fantastically detailed plan of the scenery; even in the dark of the mine we still get the claustrophobic topography of Alex and Henry’s surroundings.  So many of Hellbender’s locations are in my head as I write this, so clear were the images that I am sure I saw them once in a past I forgot.
 
A wonderful book, I look forward to reading more of the mountain.
 

[Anachronist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:

Two Appalachian Mountains families, the Lewises and the Collinses, have been at war for something like a century. Each of those families have had witches among their folk so the fight has been bloody, dirty and mean. Janie Collins, a young college girl, is the next victim of the feud – officially the girl drowned in a river but her family know better. It was a murder by a spell. Her brother, Henry, comes to the funeral and promises to avenge his sister. Still he must also protect lovely Alex, Janie ex roommate and a girl who is told by her mom to stick to Henry at all cost because those evil Lewises are planning to murder her next. You see, family honour is at stake. If you think protecting a girl against a clan including witches is easy think again. Henry will have to show his mettle many times and finally believe in magic, something he never wanted to include in his life.

What I liked:

I have never been to the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia but, after reading this book, I feel like I know the area and the people who call that land home, pretty well. That’s what a well-written fiction can do to you – allowing you to travel in time and space. I really enjoyed this gritty tale with all the scenic background, the sator squares, the snakes and the witches.

The whole story reminded me a bit about Romeo and Juliet, you know. Two quarreling clans, plenty of bad blood and killing, two star-crossed lovers coming from the opposite sides who want to make everything right but cannot overcome years of feud, prejudice and hurt. Still Alex is not a young, inexperienced girl and she will surprise you several times with her skills. Also Henry is not a real Romeo type –he won’t kill anybody in a duel and if he shoots somebody everyone will be cheering along, including Alex herself. Killing himself is also not even an option - when your family needs you alive, you keep fighting to the very end.

Also I enjoyed how much Henry and Alex had to change in order to stand a chance against their enemies. I like dynamic characters a lot. Finally I loved the fact that Preston Black and his girlfriend made a cameo appearance.

What I didn’t like:

I read The Devil and Preston Black first and I couldn’t help noticing the similarities of those two novels in terms of plot construction. In both books the protagonist has to sink to the bottom before vanquishing his enemies, in both we deal with some evil females who are almost she-devils. After a while the pattern became too repetitive for my liking but still I wanted to read to the very end.

My last carping: the baddies. I wish they were more three-dimensional. Few people are evil to the core and here it seemed all the ‘pure’ Lewises were just bad, bad, bad.


Final verdict:

Since this book is part of the Murder Ballads and Whiskey series the good news is that the Appalachian adventure doesn't have to end. I would like to revisit the Appalachians once more.

[Jared Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Won this book in Goodreads First Reads giveaway, thanks to all involved!*


An excellent book from an author coming into his own. If you've never been to the mountains of West Virginia, this book paints an excellent portrait of the land and the people who've become entwined with it over decades and centuries. A generations-old family feud comes to a boil with suspense, intrigue, colorful characters and backwoods folk magic permeating every page. I was impressed with the author's ability to corral the plot up and down like a twisty old mountain road that's seen the same folks driving it since WWII. At the end of a chapter about 1/3 through, I was extremely involved with the action on the page and completely lost track of time. You think the action's coming to a head and then it goes back down. The gritty ending is superbly contained yet delivers a punch, and it's definitely no fairy-tale happily-ever-after kind of story.

Jason Miller seems to have developed the knack for telling a story in a compact form yet with the richness of any literary classic. Not relying overly on exact descriptions, he lets the images flow into your consciousness with the grace of a slow river or the force of white rapids; the tension is never too much, nor is there an unbelievable cop-out to be found. Hellbender is simply a magnificent short novel, like nothing I've read before.

Note: there is adult content and language heavily used throughout.

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Jason Jack Miller is a friend of mine; he and I graduated from Seton Hill University together; and I have done volunteer work for the publisher, Raw Dog Screaming Press.

Additional note: I've read this series out of order, so I'm coming to HELLBENDER after already reading THE DEVIL AND PRESTON BLACK and THE REVELATIONS OF PRESTON BLACK. It is possible to read any of the three out of order, as long as you understand that you are missing a little bit of background if you read HELLBENDER or REVELATIONS first.

The progression from magical realism to not-so-urban fantasy in this book series has been fascinating to follow, especially since it's hardly a linear progression (even if you do read the books in order). This is not the place to look for standard genre fare. These are the books you go to for the truly unfamiliar and unexpected magic that happens to live right next door.

I've always been a big fan of the concept of books that take place in the same universe, with the same characters, but that aren't direct sequels. As much as I love Preston, it was awesome to see where Katy comes from in the form of a novel centered around her family. Despite his presence, Miller did not let Preston come even close to stealing the show: he was totally a douche in pretty much every HELLBENDER scene he was in, which was kind of fantastic.

However, much like Preston, Henry Collins is not a hero. He is a regular guy who found himself in unexpected circumstances and rose to the occasion. Sometimes he is a bit of an unreliable narrator, but that just enhances the idea that he's a real person and that there's a chance not everything will turn out alright in the end. Again, not standard genre fare, but something even better.

[Lee Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mountain Magic

“It’s Johnny Cash with a fistful of copperheads singing the devil right back to hell.”

HELLBENDER, sophomore novel by Jason Jack Miller, is as much a sensory experience as his first in the Murder Ballads and Whiskey Series, THE DEVIL AND PRESTON BLACK. Instead of Morgantown, HELLBENDER is set in the mountains of West Virginia, and with Miller’s descriptive skill, I got to experience the flora and fauna of the Appalachians: the sights, sounds, and smells of a place I’ve never been but now felt like I was there.

The Collinses have been feuding with the Lewises for years. And their animosity comes to a head when Henry Collins buries his little sister in the cold, hard ground. Janie is a victim of the Lewises’ malicious spellcraft. Teaming up with Alex, Henry learns that she’s adept at the old hills magic that women in both families practice—for good and for evil.

Besides the magic and intriguing family characterization, Miller loads on the action like a railroad car full of coal, stoking the engine toward a violent destination.

I dig Miller’s turns of phrase, his depiction of local color and customs, his description of the rural milieu, and his demonstration of forces supernatural. If you believe in magic—or want to—you owe it to yourself to read HELLBENDER. I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have NO idea how this book managed an average 4+ star rating. I found it free on Amazon for Kindle, and decided to read it right away because of the high ratings it had.

THIS BOOK IS PLOTLESS!! The book is basically a bunch of action scenes strung together with a few "drinking & singing around the campfire" scenes. There are probably only four scenes in the whole book that do anything to advance the plot. And there are so many holes in the plot, other than jumping straight into the middle of a decades-old family feud that the families have decided it's time to "finish", I'm not even sure what I just read.

I was really excited about reading a book out of such a unique genre of fiction - since it's about Appalachian "Old Magic". Thought I'd learn something. Nope. I had to do background research to even figure out most of what they were talking about. Charms and spells are used and mentioned throughout the book, but even though there is a main character that is only just learning about this stuff as the reader is, there's never a real explanation as to how any of it is supposed to work or what it's supposed to do. It irritated me so much that they gave each other spells and charms with no explanation as to what they actually did or what you had to do to make it work, that I actually did my own background research just to get the basics on Appalachian Old Magic.

The plot was absolutely ridiculous - it got off to a good start: Henry comes from a family in which all the women practice Old Magic, the book opens with a funeral for his little sister who was killed by Old Magic as part of a long-standing family feud. Henry runs away from it all after the funeral, not sure who he is or if he really buys into the feud or the magic, and is basically hiding from the world as a river guide just 50 miles over the mountain from home. Out of the blue, he is found by his sister's former roommate, Alex, who happens to be a distant relation in the opposing feuding family. Alex says her mom has told her the feud is about to get dangerous and that Alex has to go to Henry and stay with him til it blows over, he is the only one who can protect her. The first couple action scenes are great - there's a bar fight where the opposing family's men find Alex together with Henry at a river bar and there's a bar fight with Henry, some of his friends, the Lewis boys, and some of their employees. That's where the plot goes off track.

From there, it's just a string of action scenes (that really do NOT advance the plot) broken up by meeting Henry's entire family and learning that they like bluegrass, home cooking and alcohol a whole lot. Also there's an abundance of descriptive over-kill about trekking around in the woods being chased by the Lewis family.

SPOILER
Apparently, while the men are out traipsing about the woods, the women are at home teaching Alex the Old Magic, which she uses from there to protect Henry, deal with the Lewis men, etc. When she does meet back up with Henry in the woods, she leads and protects them both with some random magic stuff that is never really explained. And at one point the dialogue and actions of her character go so off track I thought it might be a plot twist that she was being used by the Lewis family being made to mislead Henry. But no. Sutff happens like Alex leading an injured Henry through the woods by tying white strips of cloth on bushes as she goes on ahead of him. The strips of cloth drip milk and Henry says he made sure to avoid the milk. There's no reason given about why they ooze milk or why it should be avoided. And ultimately, the strips also lead the Lewis family straight to them. In the end, Henry and Ben are left gunning down one last Lewis man. They stumble around, get sprayed with stray buckshot, and ultimately shove a thistle down the guy's throat. Don't know if he died or just went staggering off through the woods. But then all of a sudden Henry is talking about how bad he needs to get to the hospital that he's coughing up blood. I can't figure out how he got hurt that bad. I went back and re-read and still couldn't find it.

Then there's this envelope. Janie left it in the place she shared with Alex. After she died, Alex got all her stuff together, brought Henry this envelope. The cousin girls go through the envelope, there's a brief description of some of the odds and ends it contains, and how Janie knew they'd need it. The envelope just keeps popping up, Alex brings it out to the woods for the final showdown, they make sure to protect the envelope and its contents when they ford the river... then nothing ever comes of the envelope. I thought it was going to be some big key or puzzle they'd have to solve to end the feud. Nope. Nothing.
Oh, and a ring. There's a random ring that apparently belonged to a great grandmother in Henry's family. The Lewis family is dying to get there hands on it. The whole time they have to protect the ring, don't lose it, don't let them take it. With their dying breaths the Lewis women are talking about getting that ring... we never really find out why. No significance other than that it belonged to Henry's family.

I thought eventually Henry and Alex would have to work some Old Magic to end the feud learn about it through the book, Henry would come to respect it as a part of him, it would save them in the end. Nope. No real explanations for any of it. And in the end, they solved it all with nothing but lead.

[Mieneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hellbender came as a complete surprise. I'd expected an urban fantasy with some supernatural elements and all that entails; instead I got a beautiful gothic story which mixed lyrical descriptions with some downright bloody dialogue and action. It was a pleasant surprise from an author I hadn't heard of before. While it was a great story, I did have some issues with the book.

The setting is key in Hellbender, I don't think the story would have worked even half so well if set in any other place. It is set in the Appalachian Mountains – a region I don't know much about except that it's a mountain range in the Eastern part of the US – but in Hellbender the Appalachians are so much more than just a mountain setting. They create their own seemingly rather isolated communities, which often have a history going back for over a hundred years, and which grown a people unique to their ranges. However large the places named in the book maybe, they always felt like they were small, and everyone knows everyone, their grandfather and their aged horse. It's that kind of small, rural village feeling, though there seems to be more logging and mining going on than farming. Miller creates an incredibly atmospheric setting – that at times seems almost otherworldly – that leaves the reader enchanted and creeped out at the same time.

Dropped into this environment is a cast of great characters, though I did have one or two complaints in this department. Actually all complaints boil down to same source: motivation. There were several characters whose motivations weren't really clear to me. Mostly this applied to the bad guys in the story, the Lewises, and their cronies, but there were a few good guys as well. To start with the bad guys, I didn't get why they were still keeping on with the feud. I understood the basis of the dispute, but why did it go on after all this time? And why were some 'outsiders', such as Lucinda Tesso, so invested in the fight? Similarly, on the Collins' side, there are Greg and Preston. While I could kind of understand Preston's motivation, his fiancée is a Collins, I didn't see why Greg would get himself mixed up in it. However, I didn't get hung up on these questions, mostly because Miller swiftly moves on with the action and I kept telling myself that blood feuds aren't logical and reasonable anyway.

What I did like was that the protagonists were both awesome and flawed. And Miller has no problem letting his female protagonists take care of themselves and has them taking physical damage just as much as his male protagonists. Henry, the main character and the narrator of the story, is very much a sceptic when it comes to the Appalachian magic and I appreciated his struggles to accept the reality of his situation. I also like his reluctance to get drawn into the feud after his sister is killed to the point of taking off and not getting in touch with his family for over six months. However, when he does decide to do something about the Lewises, he fully commits and there is no going back. As for his love interest, Alex, I loved her spirit. When she initially re-enters his life, I was all set to go, oh no, not another damsel-in-distress, but she turned out to be far more interesting, even if there were some oblique Romeo-and-Juliet vibes going round. I liked that she decides to act for herself and not rest in the bosom of the Collins family and wait till the menfolk finish the feud. She's not the only one, Rachael and Katy are similarly strong females and I really enjoyed Miller's characterisation of these women.

Overall the plot worked well, though in conjunction with my questions about the motivations for some of the characters, there were also some things in the plot that had my raising my eyebrows in wonder. For example, how on earth can there be so many bodies and no one gets arrested? I know the Lewis family have bought off the local sheriff, but I'd expect with those numbers, outside law enforcement would come into it at some point? What about the families of the Lewis workers that get killed? Also, the way the object that started all the problems gets passed down didn't make sense to me. How come Alex gets to have it? Why doesn't it pass to Ben, the eldest son's eldest son, or to Katy, the daughter's eldest daughter? But as with the motivational questions, these thoughts quickly got lost as I was swept on by the action. Hellbender is a very fast-moving book. There are moments where Miller allows his characters and his readers to breathe, but these never last long and are always followed by more and even more serious action.

Despite my reservations, I really enjoyed my time spent in the Appalachian Mountains, courtesy of Hellbender. Miller succeeds in drawing the reader into his setting through loving description and the atmosphere wafts off the page. Hellbender is a great example of a modern gothic horror story and makes for a wonderful read.

This book was provided for review by the publisher.

[Kirsten Lenius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hellbender is the second book in the Murder Ballads and Whiskey series. It begins with the burial of Henry Collins' sister and moves on into a story of star crossed lovers and a man who is forced to face the reality that the weight of his heritage is firmly resting upon his shoulders. It is up to Henry to solve the puzzle of his sister's death and to ensure that those who caused it pay for their acts.

Set in Appalachia, the story shows us aspects of the culture that belongs to the mountain folk of Celtic descent that are quite foreign to those of us who were not raised in the area. The culture is rich in lore and myth that is shared here and perhaps expanded upon. I am not familiar enough to say for sure which it is, but either way, it is enriches and supports the story itself. Also woven into the story are the musical traditions which carry their own lure.

When I began reading Hellbender, I was immediately drawn into the story and the lives of those in it. The characters are well-developed and the story and background are deep and intricate, the information necessary to see them as they are, trickling naturally from the words of the story.

Miller's writing is evocative and as close to lyric poetry as prose can get. It carries its own measure of enchantment in each phrase, creating vivid pictures of the surroundings and the actions of those who are part of the tale.

A Quote from the book:

The green of these mountains in my lungs smelled like an old friend, one who wouldn't tell lies to you. One who understood. One who knew pain didn't go away just because you wanted it to. And when I exhaled, only the sweet scent of smoke and s dry mouth remained. But the scent was enough to rekindle the memory.

Green in the hills above.
Green in the water below
Green in my lungs.
A little green in Alex's eyes when she smiles.

Reflected in each was something different. In the water I saw faces and bones, my past written in fossiliferous hieroglyphs scattered among the rocks and hellbenders--the giant salamanders that have watched these mountains change for over three-hundred million years. They saw dinosaurs and mammoths come and go. I didn't see myself outliving them either. In the green hills all around me I saw my present. I'd never leave. So I looked at Alex. In her I saw a green glimmer of hope.
Her green gave me a chance to move away from the black of revenge.

[Michael Brookes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll start this review by simply saying that this is a superb horror read, like most good horror tales this book is more than the genre label implies. The story concerns Henry Collins and starts with the burial of his sister, quite naturally he takes the death hard and moves away from his his family to find his own solace. Events bring him back and he learns more about his family's past and the truth about some of the family legends.

It's a story of love and discovery set in the Apalacian mountains and forests and of an old feud between two families. It's rare that I like everything about a book, but here are the tings that really stood out for me.

The first was the setting, more so it was how the author descibes the setting. In fact the authors command of language throughout is incredible, he has real talent and has a great turn of phrase. It's written in a style that immerses you in the world, not only of the physical location, but also for the people and culture that exists there.

Good writing might make a poor story acceptable, but for me story is king and here as well the author delivers. The mysteries of old beliefs seep into the story gently at first, becoming more entwined with the more prosaic reality as the story develops. The story is told through a strong lead character supported by a mix of family, freinds and enemies.

The pacing is also spot on, it evolves at a decent pace, interspersed with drama and revelation that kept me enthralled throughout. In summary this is an excellent read and highl;y recommended.

[David Brawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hellbender is the followup novel to The Devil and Preston Black, but Preston doesn’t actually show up till rather late into the book, and isn’t the focus of this story. I must admit, I was a bit disappointed about that at first, and somewhat taken aback by the ramping up of violence and action this one started with. But it is set in the same universe, and does follow up on the events of the first book, so I set aside my reservations, and I’m glad I did.

The setup here is the climax of an ongoing feud between two old West Virginian families. Families that both happen to have a strong folk magic tradition, even if Henry (our protagonist) isn’t so sure he believes in that magic, though he’s absolutely certain of the deadly seriousness of the feud. The reality of which becomes even more clear when he saves Alex (his dead sister’s college roommate) from them.

There’s a strong Romeo & Juliet/Hatfield & McCoy theme running through the story, but laced with the same gothic folk magic that initially drew me to The Devil and Preston Black. Music plays a slightly less prominent role, but is still an important story element. And like I said at the beginning, Preston does show up, and is even important, but in no way does he steal the show when he does. This is Henry and Alex’s story, and their character arcs are the focus.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to wild and wonderful West Virginia but keep an eye out for snakes. Jason Jack Miller's Appalachian gothic tale explores twisty back roads where old-time clan feuds are not so distant and magic is still part of the every day. Henry Collins may not believe in his family history but he can't escape it. 

Hellbender spins out like a fireside yarn told under the stars. Miller is an adept tour guide showing us the heartbreaking beauty of the mountains, introducing us to the way of life and beliefs there. Loaded with local color and adventurous side trips, Hellbender makes you feel as if you've really gone somewhere and returned a little wiser with some great stories to tell.

There's a lot packed into this book but probably the best compliment I can give is that it made me want to go to West Virginia and see where it all happened. Since this book is part of the Murder Ballads and Whiskey series the Appalachian adventure doesn't have to end. You can check out The Devil and Preston Black for more West Virginia wildness.

[The Digital Ink Spot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason Jack Miller wrote the novel Hellbender during his graduate studies at Seton Hill University. From that experience, Miller produced an amazing piece of prose. My reading of Hellbender was a full tilt sensory adventure. Miller can bring you into exactly what the character are observing. It is a joy to read. I loved it.
What I did not enjoy was the characters themselves. I felt I got to know each one well enough but Miller did not cause me to care for them. I think the atmosphere of the Appalachians was interesting. The element of magic was subtle and mysterious. It was brought about with a song or a small item held in your hand. It worked because it was mysterious.
The center of the story evolves into a cat and mouse chase in the mountains, while the supporting stories revolves around lost love and family. It's not a bad story nor is it poorly written. As I said earlier, it's written beautifully. It just was not my cup of tea. I can appreciate it and I believe others would love it and I encourage you to read it and experience the Appalachian magic for yourself

[B. Barron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subtle and Dangerous aptly describes the folk magic of the story. It feels different from the folk magic I am familiar with, but that regional differences for you. Still I like how you cannot be quite sure if its magic or something else (luck, drugs, the usual suspects).

It is a Hero's Journey adventure, complete with a trip to the Otherworld and a return to life (Very Joseph Campbell). I really, really liked that the protagonist had none of the oh-too-typical aversion to killing and revenge we get shoved down our throats! None of this “We cant kill them, we would be no better than they are if we do.” Crap.

I am looking forward to reading more by Mr. Miller, and if I could be so bold as to suggest perhaps his next book feature a female lead (say Katy – maybe she has a fiddle duel with the Devil come back for Preston? I am a sucker for fiddle duels with the devil – big CDB fan that I am).

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Jack Miller does it again! If you liked The Devil and Preston Black, then Hellbender is going to knock your socks off and have you gasping for air. As expected, Miller’s characters were well developed – sincere and realistic. His scenic descriptions – excellent – in true Miller fashion. Miller’s vivid imagery of Appalachia is something special. It’s clear that he truly loves and appreciates the mountains, meadows, forests, rivers, fauna, music and culture of the area. I left southwestern PA many years ago and Miller’s affection stirred up old memories that left me longing my home town. Miller is a true master of his craft. When his name is as well-known as King, Koontz, Patterson, and Iles, Hellbender will be dusted off and recognized as the gem that started it all.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Five stars! Miller’s book isn’t perfect (I can’t think of many that are) but it comes damn near close. Miller captures protagonist Henry Collins’ voice perfectly, and from the prologue, I’m ready to follow Henry anywhere he takes me.

I never question what the book tells me about Appalachian magic. I’m totally sold. Giving Henry skepticism about his family history sells it. The action is well paced, the family ties are strong. Another strength is the descriptions of the landscape. West Virginia is a character in this book. I could smell the forests, feel the leaves on my skin and dirt under my feet. I would happily join a Murder Ballads and Whiskey Series tour of West VA.

Fantastic book. Keep ‘em coming, Jason. I’m off to pick up The Devil and Preston Black.

[Rory Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought very highly of "The Devil and Preston Black" -- so I was happy to pick up "Hellbender" as well. It is a gripping story. Again Miller makes extremely good use of his location -- the West Virginia Tourism Board should pay him for his description of the state's natural beauty. The local music and magic (and the two are interwoven) are also fascinating. The action scenes had me physically tensed up as I read. Miller also has a poetic quality to his writing that brings James Dickey to mind. In fact, "Deliverance" is the closest parallel I can think of for this book...but Miller has staked out his own turf.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been to the Appalachian Mountains. After reading this book, I feel like I know the area, as well as the people who call the land home.

Miller has a captivating writing style. His characters instantly come alive. Their journey is told in feelings and images that spark every sense. All of it captured me; the music, the traditions, the generations of family and how they related to one another, the feud, and the superstitions and witchcraft. This is one of those rare books that isn't just an entertaining read; it's an experience you'll be happy to immerse yourself in.

[Judah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opening gave me chill bumps. Really can't wait to finish reading this book. I can tell I'm really going to like it. Full review will be up soon.
Finally finished. Have been knee deep in work mud. Excellent read full of culture and complex and interesting characters.
Once I got going it was hard to put it down. This guy is a talented author with a very unique way of stringing his words together. Every sentence is like poetry. I read a book like this very slowly as every sentence is a gourmet meal that takes a little time to digest.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like magical Hatfields and McCoys...these folks fight with guns and spells. There's a lot of information about the devil, hexing,old folk magic in this book, all of it fascinating. The story is darkly funny, with twists, revenge, and even love. I read it in one sitting because I had to know how it ended. One word: awesome.

[Rusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

No other Appalachian book I know of covers this territory(if I don't know about it, please tell me).It inspired me to buy about twenty other books on Appalachian and kitchen magic, among other things.

[Lavonne Doljac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Sucked me right in and couldn't put it down. Was just about half through the other night when I started reading and ended up reading it all the way to end. I couldn't even keep my eyes open, I was so tired but I couldn't put it down.

[Nicole Wolverton]

I'm fascinated by the subject of kitchen magic!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

mountains & old magic & an ancient feud & traditions from former lands...what more do you need?

[Emily Daily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The action in this book pulled me in but the internal struggles of the characters made me stay. No one was safe. No one had guilt-free hands. And everyone had something they were fighting to save.

4.75/5 stars

Hellbender is the first book that I have read by Jason Jack Miller. I was told going into it that it was the Hatfields and McCoys meets witches. I was not disappointed. Regardless of the fact that I don't often read this genre, I found myself comfortable with the writing style after the first chapter. The feud between the Lewis and Collins family was intense, and it stressed me out as a reader (in the best way). There is a darker side to the story that dwells on morals, revenge, and the question of how far someone is willing to go for their family.

The descriptions in Hellbender were amazing. As someone who lives near Ohiopyle and in a valley along the Appalachian Mountains, I felt right at home during the descriptions of the mountains. I could relate to the love that Henry had for the scenery.

The action kept me on my toes. I tore through the last half of the book in one sitting. From the beginning, things are going wrong for Henry but they continue to escalate--to the point where I dreaded putting the book down to make dinner.

I know that Hellbender is part of the Murder Ballads and Whiskey series. I'm pretty sure that Preston Black is a major character in two of the other books. At some point, I would love to read them as well. Preston played a smaller role in Hellbender, so getting to see other things from his perspective would be cool.

The only reason the book isn't a solid five stars is because I would have liked to see a little more agency from Alex at the beginning of the novel. This turns around by the midway point, though, and I can appreciate her character development.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes witches, lots of action, or someone who loves the area where the events take place that is willing to dabble in a little 'what if' about a place that is close to home.

[Paul Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced read, deep and wide

The book starts off with a bang and pulls you down the Rapids. The end of the book is a waterfall you just can't stop reading!

[Mike Mehalek · Rating 5 out of 5]

SATORAREPOTENETOPERAROTAS

Whew, now while the devil is preoccupied with figuring out what the heck that first line's all about, let me introduce you to Jason Jack Miller's killer novel Hellbender, and why if you only have time to read one book this year, it should be from the Murder Ballads and Whiskey series, specifically Hellbender which hints at what Miller and his writing is all about.

The reason for such a bold opening statement rises from the fact that are so many things worth saying about Hellbender that finding where to begin. . . well the beginning, let's start there.

A funeral.

Specifically the funeral for a loved one. Miller introduces us to the protagonist Henry acting as a pall bearer for his dead sister, luring us in with a subtle familiarity that we all know in some way at a sobering time where past transgressions are forgiven and where characters find it hard to lie, even to themselves. This particular funeral also feels half a bubble off plumb--it's not quite what a person would expect when attending a funeral, a simple pine box, bare feet, burial grounds on a family's plot of land. For Henry and his family, this is status quo. This is what you do when someone dies. This "just enough away from reality" feeling is important because it cues us in very early that reality as these characters experience it is a little more unusual than it is for the rest of us. Our eyes in this story are the eyes of the characters who do not live in the mountains. They live in our reality and because they do, we are able to imagine that the unreality of the Collin's clan actually can exist in our reality--if only we'd open our eyes to see it. So this is going to be a story where there is a world all around me that exists and I don't know about? You betcha. Personally, I love those kinds of stories.

If you've ever visited this part of the country, you'll realize that natives there really do live in this unreality. I'm not about to say that they know enchantments and hexes or that they can milk the handle of an axe--but to them these things are commonplace. What's amazing is that Miller is able to draw upon this lore and these local legends making them his own and elevating them to a level of pure terror while remaining respectful to these traditions and superstitions. For this reader, Miller's love for his home is reminiscent of Frost's, and Hellbender's driving force reminds me of "Out, Out." Both speak of home and what home feels like and what fantastical horrors transpire within every family; and the meaning of the novel and the poem can be summed up by the closing lines of the poem "And they, since they/Were not the ones dead, turned to their affairs."

The key to Hellbender's success lies in Miller's carefully chosen word choice and poetic style. He flawlessly segues between lyrical and staccato, using both power chords and nuance, matching style with the requirements of each scene. Even when the plot is its grittiest, the words glimmer. This type of literary prowess continues to grow within the horror field. Novels like Hellbender and serials like Murder Ballads and Whiskey will bring a new heyday to the genre.

I look forward to Miller's next.

[T.K. Toppin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's pretty obvious that Jason Jack Miller knows his 'stuff.' From writing, music, people, the Appalachians, whiskey, and magic. This was a richly detailed tale, following Henry Collins through as he walked the mysterious and dangerous world of Old Magic, trying to set things right after the suspicious death of his sister. The opening scene alone was vivid and profound, and showed a funeral scene unlike any I've ever seen! Set against the West Virginia landscape, Miller wove a story, conjured it up like Old Magic itself, that made me feel as if I was right there watching it happen. My favourite line in the book has got to be: "For snakes." Brilliant stuff!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry and his family had just buried his sister. Her drowning under mysterious circumstances is at the center of this story of revenge, a feud, and old magic in the mountains of West Virginia. The writing is compelling and oftentimes practically lyrical. The action can take your breath away! I can't wait to read more from this author!

[Jaimi S · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one did nothing for me. I gave up before I reached the last page. I had the book lying on my nightstand for more than a week and could never go past 50%