Saturday, August 27, 2016

Rhinehoth By: Brian E. Niskala



Rhinehoth
By Brian E. Niskala
This was my first time to ever review an audio book. I mean don’t get me wrong, but I rarely get read to. Reason being, is because I read at a pretty fast pace. But let me tell you something, when the book is read to you, it makes it a lot easier to take notes. However, it also makes it a lot easier to get scared. It is relaxing, and a lot like a movie, I mean if you have an active imagination like I do.
I stopped taking notes at one part. I closed my eyes, I was there. And then I was grabbing my cat and dropped my phone, clicked something, scared the cat and the dogs, and just messed up my train of thought and had the dogs barking at what- they didn’t even know. I looked around, because Brian, the author is a jerk and told me to turn the lights off. He said I honestly needed a storm too. There wasn’t one here, but I swear the temperature dropped in the room, and it was like someone was there with me.
And the thing is, I wasn’t even sure I was actually going to ever get to review this book. Brian is a man of little words. He sends emails like this: “Hi.” From the email address “Rhinehoth.” I think he thought I would know or recognize the name. So with his very informative email, I decided to do some research. I seen he was an author. I mean, don’t get me wrong, eventually he did inform me he wanted to know how my review process works, or something, but again, it was one sentence. I’m not kidding. I’m guessing he only has a lot to say when he scares the heck out of people and gives them nightmares. Then, he makes sure you remember his name.
This book was published on October 12, 2009. I think he purposely gave birth to this book around Halloween. The timing was impeccable. It’s only 196 pages or 760 KB. Then reading Brian’s bio where he attended both public and private school, whereas sometimes it was Catholic I know why the ‘scary’ decided to make an appearance. (Joking!!)
We all know Germany has a bad rap, do we not? Thank you Hitler. Well you see, centuries ago in Germany’s black forest back in the mountains there is a castle. It holds many ancient secrets, and within its dark creepy walls, are ancient guardians who attempt to guard and keep those secrets. Within this castle is being held an enemy that can ruin their very existence. Within this very book, holds the story of a warrior willing to step up and free the captive Vampire Prince.
The way this story comes to pass will amaze you, or “trip you out”, if you will, speaking in modern slang. But the way it is foretold, will amaze you even more.
“Rhinehoth” is prison in Germany where the worst criminals were sent. Simon Roberts is a petty thief, who escaped the Scotland Yard, where he was being chased for many crimes.
Afterwards, Simon gets recruited to drive the getaway car in Germany, and provide look out. This he is sure he can handle without getting caught, and making and mistakes. The heist ended up getting screwed up, and Simon ended up being the only sole survivor, and getting caught. So guess who gets sentenced to “Rhinehoth”? You got it! 
Now “Rhinehoth” is great German castle, unfortunately, today the criminals are tortured, sleep deprived and starved. As we all know, things like this can cause delusions. And when the delusions get the best of you, this is when you let them take control, and the guards become werewolves, and you become a warrior, and you can help someone, or so you think.
You will see through Simon’s own eyes what he see’s and feel what he feels, like you are Simon. And you will actually think that maybe, just maybe….he isn’t delusional after all. He just might be telling the truth. I mean, you never know.

I mean, maybe it’s just a dream. Maybe it’s real. Is it, or isn’t it? Maybe you should read and find out. In the dark, during a thunderstorm, like the author suggests.
Brian is an amazing story teller, honestly. This book is five stars. I will listen to it many times over. I loved being read to, and I loved being scared to death. I loved every minute of this. “Rhinehoth” is an amazing read, I wanted to own the hard back, until I seen the price. Then I almost died. Brian, I am so glad you sought me out, please write another book, I want to read more! And get someone to make this into a movie! Five stars! Go buy a copy! You will be extremely satisfied, I promise!

My questions for Brian:
1.       I get this one a lot, simply at the time Twilight the books, then later on the movie became very popular. But the twinkling vampires were too much for me to handle. I wanted something frightening, horrific but with a story. I had gotten real sick, took way too much cold medicine and had this dream of a dark, crazy castle that was a huge prison. When I woke, I typed out the outline and feverishly wrote it out in about a week’s time. Then spend a few month making revisions.
2.       I’m big on research, historical facts, statistics and the like. I spend time to make sure I got the history of the various time periods correct, so they would flow correctly. I also made sure I kept true to the vampire and werewolf lore. No twinkling here…
3.       Other than the book’s cover and some concept art there isn’t much. I had a really good vision, something like Cinderella’s castle meets the Haunted Mansion, but a lot less Disney and a whole lot more Gothic.
4.       I have an artist friend that does most of my work. He lives in India and he almost gets in my head. I type out a sentence or two as a description and Bam! He nails it!
5.    
I have some concept art of Maxine, one of the main characters. Descriptions… yes from my initial outline, but nothing publicly posted. But the Audiobook does a great job in really making the characters come to life!
  
6.       I’m working on a SciFi space novel that is near completion and of all things a finance book. I’m pretty savvy investor and found I had a talent for making money grow.
7.       I have a degree in Physical Education with a minor in Political Science and had been working on my Political Science Master’s degree. Had being the optimal word, life got me side tracked and ended up spending what I allotted for academic time, into research and writing.
8.       Hobbies, hmm, I am married with 4 children. They tend to fill most of my thoughts and free time. I do like cycling and once a long, long time ago, several pounds away had been a nationally ranked cyclist with huge Olympic aspirations. I was set on the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona Spain and learned Spanish in preparation!
9.       The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Wow, what a great book. I read it once a year, watch the various film adaptations frequently and just caught up in the story. I had it on my 7th grade reading list and made it my last. I thought the title was stupid and the author spelled his first name wrong! Let’s just say, I kept the best for last and it solidified my love for literature from that moment on. I have read over 1,000 books to date, the actual number is 1,212. To say I am a voracious reader is almost and understatement.
11.   I hope everyone enjoys Rhinehoth and keeps on reading and listening to books!

Rhinehoth - AudioBookRhinehoth - AudioBook by Brian E. Niskala
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first time to ever review an audio book. I mean don’t get me wrong, but I rarely get read to. Reason being, is because I read at a pretty fast pace. But let me tell you something, when the book is read to you, it makes it a lot easier to take notes. However, it also makes it a lot easier to get scared. It is relaxing, and a lot like a movie, I mean if you have an active imagination like I do.

I stopped taking notes at one part. I closed my eyes, I was there. And then I was grabbing my cat and dropped my phone, clicked something, scared the cat and the dogs, and just messed up my train of thought and had the dogs barking at what- they didn’t even know. I looked around, because Brian, the author is a jerk and told me to turn the lights off. He said I honestly needed a storm too. There wasn’t one here, but I swear the temperature dropped in the room, and it was like someone was there with me.

And the thing is, I wasn’t even sure I was actually going to ever get to review this book. Brian is a man of little words. He sends emails like this: “Hi.” From the email address “Rhinehoth.” I think he thought I would know or recognize the name. So with his very informative email, I decided to do some research. I seen he was an author. I mean, don’t get me wrong, eventually he did inform me he wanted to know how my review process works, or something, but again, it was one sentence. I’m not kidding. I’m guessing he only has a lot to say when he scares the heck out of people and gives them nightmares. Then, he makes sure you remember his name.

This book was published on October 12, 2009. I think he purposely gave birth to this book around Halloween. The timing was impeccable. It’s only 196 pages or 760 KB. Then reading Brian’s bio where he attended both public and private school, whereas sometimes it was Catholic I know why the ‘scary’ decided to make an appearance. (Joking!!! )

We all know Germany has a bad rap, do we not? Thank you Hitler. Well you see, centuries ago in Germany’s black forest back in the mountains there is a castle. It holds many ancient secrets, and within its dark creepy walls, are ancient guardians who attempt to guard and keep those secrets. Within this castle is being held an enemy that can ruin their very existence. Within this very book, holds the story of a warrior willing to step up and free the captive Vampire Prince.

The way this story comes to pass will amaze you, or “trip you out”, if you will, speaking in modern slang. But the way it is foretold, will amaze you even more.

“Rhinehoth” is prison in Germany where the worst criminals were sent. Simon Roberts is a petty thief, who escaped the Scotland Yard, where he was being chased for many crimes.

Afterwards, Simon gets recruited to drive the getaway car in Germany, and provide look out. This he is sure he can handle without getting caught, and making and mistakes. The heist ended up getting screwed up, and Simon ended up being the only sole survivor, and getting caught. So guess who gets sentenced to “Rhinehoth”? You got it!

Now “Rhinehoth” is great German castle, unfortunately, today the criminals are tortured, sleep deprived and starved. As we all know, things like this can cause delusions. And when the delusions get the best of you, this is when you let them take control, and the guards become werewolves, and you become a warrior, and you can help someone, or so you think.

You will see through Simon’s own eyes what he see’s and feel what he feels, like you are Simon. And you will actually think that maybe, just maybe….he isn’t delusional after all. He just might be telling the truth. I mean, you never know.

I mean, maybe it’s just a dream. Maybe it’s real. Is it, or isn’t it? Maybe you should read and find out. In the dark, during a thunderstorm, like the author suggests.

Brian is an amazing story teller, honestly. This book is five stars. I will listen to it many times over. I loved being read to, and I loved being scared to death. I loved every minute of this. “Rhinehoth” is an amazing read, I wanted to own the hard back, until I seen the price. Then I almost died. Brian, I am so glad you sought me out, please write another book, I want to read more! And get someone to make this into a movie! Five stars! Go buy a copy! You will be extremely satisfied, I promise!


View all my reviews