Robin's Review

Welcome to Purgatory: Zombies & Dragons #1 

In the shadowy realm of Purgatory, where life is hell and death is temporary, two unlikely heroes emerge to confront a malevolent ruler and rewrite the fate of the world.

Xane, a former boxer, carries with him a seething rage that fuels his resolve to right the wrongs of this eerie realm. Maribel, a resourceful sage from a bygone era, possesses unwavering confidence and an audacious plan to liberate all of Purgatory from its tormentors.

Together, they embark on a treacherous mission to dismantle the sinister Gaulcel, a tyrant who reigns over the prison city bearing his name. Gaulcel wields a power that twists minds and shatters wills, but Xane and Maribel refuse to bow to his malevolent rule. In their path lie deadly tournaments, famished uprisings, and an unrelenting zombie scourge. Will they endure these trials and overthrow the despotic ruler, or shall Gaulcel’s reign of darkness persist for all eternity?

“Welcome to Purgatory” is a chilling combination of dystopian, fantasy, and zombie apocalypse narratives, delivering horror at its most disturbing.

Robin’s Review

Imaginative

As Always,

Check Your Triggers 😊

This book is a captivating twist on dystopian horror. It tells the story of Zane and Maribel, who battle to overthrow their captor. The narrative is gripping and unveils the heinous scheme of kidnapping and the daily fights they endure. The book is well-crafted, with concise chapters and straightforward prose that keep the reader engaged without unnecessary verbosity. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

“Well . . . it’s complicated. You are in the city of Gaulcel. That’s also my name. The city is named after me. That’s because this city belongs to me. Now you belong to me, too.”

“We call this world Purgatory.” Gaulcel said. “Everyone here had their first death on some other world. I see you came here from . . .” The audio stuttered a moment. “Earth.” Xane looked.”

“Not everyone in Gaulcel is from your world.” Gaulcel said. “And those that are, well, most of them are from a different time. You will be hard pressed to find anyone who speaks your language.”

“Welcome back. You see, there are some things that are easier to demonstrate than explain. If you are wondering if you died again, the answer is yes. It won’t be the last time.” 

“Every time you die, you’ll wake up right back here twenty-four hours later. This is your quarters.”

There are tournaments every day. Participation is mandatory,” Gaulcel said. “I have a special power. I hold a chain over your mind. It lets me read your thoughts whenever I feel like it. I can take control of your body. I hold the same chain over everyone in Purgatory. As you’ve already seen, I also have the power to kill you whenever I feel like it. I can kill you in whatever way I feel like. My point is, you have to do what I say—or else I can and will torture you to death as many times as I want. You may be thinking that sounds an awful lot like slavery. Well . . . if the shoe fits.”

“The rules of the tournaments are simple. You will have five minutes to incapacitate your opponent. You may kill them if you wish, but it is not required. The fight ends when one of the combatants is unable to continue fighting.”

“If, after five minutes, no combatant has been incapacitated, the winner will be determined by the judges.”

“Gaulcel. Each is a high-ranking member from one of the nine clans. There’s no need to explain the clans now, just know that it is in your interest to impress them.” Xane looked again at the nine masked men. “Each tournament has sixteen combatants. The winner of each contest receives a small amount of moneta, the currency of Purgatory. A loss means you are eliminated from the tournament, but don’t worry—there’s another tournament tomorrow, and your participation is mandatory. If a combatant wins four straight contests, they win the tournament. The winner receives a more substantial cash prize, as well as a unique item.”