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The Axe and Grindstone

“Ladies and Gentlemen, last orders please.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, last orders please.

Seriously, this could be your last ever order…

Have you ever fancied running a pub?

What about two pubs?

And what if they were in different dimensions?

Enter Mark Adams who is in serious need of a pint.

Now the fabled landlord of Peacebattle, he’s the only person who can stop the world from screaming for the rest of time.

But why chose a loser to save the world? What is the truth at the heart of the Binding Brothers’ dark religion and the monsters who thrive in its heart? And will Mark survive long enough to remember the most important advice of his entire career:

Don’t scream.

Whatever you do.

Don’t scream.

“It far exceeded any expectations I had in general and it’s easily one of my favorite recent reads. Hats off to the author, Paul Phipps-Williams, for such a strong debut novel and for writing a story that is both imaginative and relatable.

Another major strength of The Axe & Grindstone is Phipps-Williams’ ability to juggle contrasting tones. I’d call the novel a fairly even split between humor and horrific dark fantasy, and I felt that either of those halves were more than competent on their own.

The novel never loses sight of being entertaining. It’s fast and punchy from beginning to end, and at just under 300 pages it still somehow manages to fit enough exposition alongside the action to make the world feel whole and satisfying to explore. Phipps-Williams isn’t afraid to tackle very dark subject matter but also never takes himself too seriously, and the result is a truly fun novel. The Axe & Grindstone may not be typical fare for horror readers, but I recommend it without reservation.”
To read the full review, visit HorrorBuzz.com (17th December 2019)

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Just spent the afternoon curled up on the sofa binge reading “The Axe & Grindstone” by Paul Phipps-Williams.

Blurb: “Have you ever fancied running a pub? What about two pubs? And what if they were in different dimensions?Enter Mark Adams who is in serious need of a pint. Now the fabled landlord of Peacebattle, he’s the only person who can stop the world from screaming for the rest of time.

But why chose a loser to save the world? What is the truth at the heart of the Binding Brothers’ dark religion and the monsters who thrive in its heart? And will Mark survive long enough to remember the most important advice of his entire career: Don’t scream. Whatever you do. Don’t scream.”

Immersive fantasy with horror themes, reminding me of Terry Brooks in style. I found the characters well developed and engaging from the outset and it kept me binge reading. There were some genuinely creepy moments. Slipping through dimensions, I’d love to read more from this universe.

Thank you for Bad Ink Press for this eArc copy, out on the 31st of October.

5/5 Imaginative and creepy but with characters you care about.
thewythinghourblog.com (29th October 2019)

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A friend recommended this book to me and as someone who reads every night (hello, painsomnia, my old friend…) I eagerly dug in. When I started it, I remember thinking to myself “oh, this is a bit different to what I imagined,” but I carried on, as I liked the writing style. Then out of nowhere… BAM! It EXPLODES into action! The best kind of action – creepy, interdimensional pub action!

My favourite books all take place in worlds so immersive you feel like you’re part of it, and this book comfortably fits into that category. I can see every single scene playing out in my head in the greatest of detail without even trying. To me, that’s the hallmark of a gifted writer.

I loved every second, and will 100% be rereading (a rarity, for me!). I can’t wait for Paul to write more!
Review on Amazon (30th October 2019)

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More reviews available at Amazon and Book Depository

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