Logan vs. BETWEEN TWO FIRES

Logan read Christopher Buehlman’s Between Two Fires but does he need medical attention after taking an historical horror trip through the Plague in Europe?

TITLE: Between Two Fires

AUTHOR: Christopher Buehlman

GENRE: Historical Horror

PAGES: 448

FORMAT: E-book/Hardcover/Paperback/Audiobook

PRICE: $19.99 paperback, $12.99 e-book, $20.00 hardcover, $24.10 audiobook or free with Audible membership.

Hello everyone, this week your resident Appalachian will be going through time to the Middle Ages. The plague is running rampant, and a disgraced knight is given a quest of sorts. He must take the girl to Paris, and then to Avignon, France. 

This is the world that Thomas lives in, and what we explore in Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman. I usually don’t enjoy historical fiction, but this one with its horror leanings kept my attention until the very end. 

As a theatre practitioner, and my background as a writer, I cannot help but compare the story to Everyman. Except the girl Delphine fills that role, while Thomas fills the role of one of her companions as we are led toward the end. 

With prose so beautiful, and wit that will make you laugh out loud, this story is one that will have you asking so many questions about humanity as a whole. Or at least it’s what it did to me, but I also used to study Philosophy so maybe its that I can’t help but ask the questions.

At every turn Delphine only thinks of her mission, to the detriment of their party. The angel told her where to go, who to trust, and she knew Thomas would get her there. Thomas is a broken man who lost his senior in battle, and thus lost his land, and was excommunicated by the church. 

The poor man is lost, but at the same time will do anything for the others, especially Delphine. The demons of the world try to stop them at every turn, and in ways it reminds me of Hercules’ trials. Thomas is proving his worth, earning his redemption. 

I think that is the biggest part of this story. The knight does what he must to return to God, and in the end, he must fight to save everyone from the plague. His redemption comes while he questions God’s inaction against the plague, and the darkness that filled the world. Until Delphine and Thomas began their journey. 

The characters are so well written and all flawed. They don’t think they deserve the redemption, especially Father Matthieu believing his dissenting against God leaves him lost. Leaving the reader with questions about how far is too far gone? Is redemption beyond our control? And if our good deeds even matter? 

I’m not going to go into those questions too much, because I want you to experience the read. Because it is an incredible masterclass in building writing that pulls on the philosophical questions that fill our lives.

Read this book and find out for yourself, I think we will all have different answers. 

Between Two Fires is like Everyman meets Season of The Witch. It gives you the scares of horror, while also giving you the beautiful prose you’ll find in some fantasy. Grab this read today!

I cough and know it is time to leave. Boils have formed on my arms, and I know it is the end. A pale hand arises, five fingers gleam in the moonlight as it clasps around my throat and pulls me straight to hell.

Logan Patrick has earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association, and author of The Disappearing of Three Forks, and has been included in the Horrorzine. As well as a collection, Marked: Tales of S.T.A.N.G.E., Logan has a background in theater, from acting to directing. As well as a play that is still in development.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.