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“The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness and Other Cults, Cabals, and Conspiracies”
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“It’s just a big game these elites like to play.”
Aliens, alternate dimensions, and demonic entities… are they fact or fiction? Is the world really coming to an end? Perhaps there’s something supernatural surrounding all this speculation. What if you found out the truth was intentionally being withheld by “The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness and Other Cults, Cabals, and Conspiracies” (not to mention lizard people)? Would you be paranoid? More importantly, who would believe you, even if you knew it to be true?
Aliens, alternate dimensions, and demonic entities… are they fact or fiction? Is the world really coming to an end? Perhaps there’s something supernatural surrounding all this speculation. What if you found out the truth was intentionally being withheld by “The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness and Other Cults, Cabals, and Conspiracies” (not to mention lizard people)? Would you be paranoid? More importantly, who would believe you, even if you knew it to be true?
Readability
“The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness and Other Cults, Cabals, and Conspiracies” is a breeze to read. Each entry is around fifteen pages (give or take), and written in pretty straightforward prose. With that being said, there is a heavy use of exposition throughout the book, and some of the stories feel incomplete or as if they’re fragments taken from a longer format.
Creativity
The author was clearly inspired by several interesting concepts, but unfortunately that is made apparent through the lack of originality in his work. I couldn’t help but notice how the author consistently leaned upon mainstream references instead of putting in the effort to construct his own creative canon, which made this book feel like a collection of fan fiction to me (or at least work that’s derivative of preexisting source material). The superficial application of nearly every real world cultural reference made throughout the book was difficult to overlook.
This isn’t to say that there is nothing entertaining about “The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness and Other Cults, Cabals, and Conspiracies”, but I want you to picture a narrative framework on par with Chick tracts and given just a dash of Abbott & Costello level humor.
Delivery
The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness:
An attempted homicide causes a trio of sideshow performers/demon hunters (led by a presumably schizophrenic professor) to investigate a chapter of Tennessee Freemasons in order to uncover a diabolical plot behind the evil organization known as (you guessed it) The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness. It’s revealed that “Secret Darkness” is just another way of saying “sin”, and the story is very much on the nose with what kind of religious message it means to convey.
The story makes use of some trivial knowledge lifted directly from esoteric teachings, but the execution comes across as corny, and the ambiguous ending was disappointing. “The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness” felt like an omen for what was in store from the rest of this collection (especially since it’s the featured title), but I remained optimistic as I proceeded to review each tale, one by one.
The Graysville Train Robbery:
A posse plans to rob a train that’s carrying not only payroll for the Dayton Coal & Iron Company, but also a special shipment out of Texas. The “extra cargo” turns out to be something “extraterrestrial”. The pacing of this story feels like proper short form fiction. I like that the main characters have clear motivations and the plot is driven by a defined goal. However, the narrative structure is weak, because the reveal seems to come out of left field (there could have been more foreshadowing for the Sci-Fi element), but the tension created from the protagonist’s first person point of view was fun to read. The ending is a bit contrived, but still a better resolution than “T.B.O.S.D.”.
Nephilim Phenomenon:
Dr. Hector Montoya is summoned to an urgent meet up, by his old friend Donna. She seems panicked, and leaves a package in his care, before taking off without so much as a goodbye kiss. While not exactly the romantic rendezvous Montoya was hoping for, he’s pleased to be a pushover for a damsel in distress. “Nephilim Phenomenon” is a conspiracy motif constructed upon the concept of curiosity killed the cat, in a game of cat and mouse involving grand narratives as well as high profile characters (like Dr. Keller - an alleged representative from the World Health Organization). The story ends on a cliffhanger, but does so with a lingering implication, which reinforces the sense of paranoia instilled.
As an aside I couldn’t help but notice that Dr. Keller’s character is described multiple times as having an N-word smile or an N-word grin. N-word in this context was written as “Nazi”, but I don’t understand what the author meant by that. Do Nazis have a smile or grin that’s distinct from humans of other ideological beliefs? I just think it was an odd choice on the author’s part to use a noun as an adjective in this context. Imagine if the author wrote, “The character had a Jew nose.” How am I supposed to imagine that? What would a “Jew nose” look like?
Ragnarok n’ Roll:
Four friends follow an unsuspecting individual (who they suspect to be an “immortal” being), from the comfort of their vehicle. The friend group travel into the darkest parts of Detroit to capture the experience on camera, but little did they know they’d become witnesses to an event that rivals any paranormal show on the History Channel.
The story seemed like a low effort excuse to reference the Ancient Aliens TV show, but I suppose the premise still fits the overall theme of this collection. I like that the author wanted to focus on characterization with the four friends, even though it was unnecessary for there to be four main characters for this story. Two could’ve been taken out, and the story would read the same. The driver and the cameraman were the only relevant characters for the plot. However, the banter between a few of them made me laugh. I got a middle-grade (after school special) kind of vibe from Mike’s character:
“Those dudes look hardcore. I’m street, but even a brother knows not to mess with a bunch of liquored-up-paddies.”
He ain’t talkin’ no jive turkey! Mike may be one cool cat, but Carl on the other hand has no chill – when he tells the only female in the group that if they become rich she’ll be able to afford some “Valtrex and Vagisil”. DAMN, CARL! What the hell did Jamie do to you?
Reign of the Annunaki:
Don’t be afraid! Super Cringe is on his way to save the day!
“Reign of the Annunaki” is a story about a Christian man, who proves that he’s more moved by a pretty face than he ever was by his faith. What I found telling is the not so subtle air of disappointment in the protagonist, when he discovers that the woman he risked his life for is not as young as he thought she was.
“I look up at her, dazed, seeing her for the first time as a person and not as an ideal or a fantasy. She isn’t as young as I thought, probably in her late thirties.”
Maybe he was suddenly under the impression that she’s beyond the age of grooming, because one of the first questions he asks her is if she’s a Christian (mind you, this takes place just moments after they both kicked the shit out of some authority figures).
Ouroboros:
This one is about a number crunching data analyst named Charlie, who is trying to find time between juggling his work and apologizing to his wife, to look through a bunch of links his college tech-buddy Andy sent him about lizard people. This work contains quite a bit of exposition for the purpose of dumping a bunch of names like David Icke, Madame Blavatsky, and Trey Smith oddly enough (No, not Will Smith’s other son). There isn’t much of a narrative to speak of. “Ouroboros” was like listening to a co-worker share a personal anecdote during lunch break. There’s conflict, but it’s such a nonissue that I was like, “Cool story bro.”
It’s basically just a guy telling you how an old friend of his called him out of the blue to share a Bitchute video about lizard people. The guy explains that he was paranoid that his wife was going to leave him over it, because he missed movie night with her and kids, then had to cancel their Dave and Buster’s weekend that he promised - due to unforeseen work. Spoiler alert: Andy calls Chuck conspicuously and essentially says ixnay izardlay eoplepay, and Charlie catches up with the family at his in-law’s house just in time for Thanksgiving (where he proceeds to get drunk and ask his brother-in-law if he’s ever heard of lizard people).
Local Wizard’s Castle Goes to Market:
McCuiston spins a yarn in the form of a fabricated newspaper article about an abandoned castle once owned by a notorious character named Edmund Griffiths. This entry is meant to look/read as though it was part of an actual local newspaper called The Montana Tribune. I don’t have much to say about the article itself, except that it appears to be another reason to name drop more mainstream celebrities and other real world cultural references (e.g. “Weird Tales Magazine”, Antoine LaVey, and “Night Gallery” from NBC), while simultaneously tying them to a fictional person – as the author info dumps a backstory for a piece of real estate.
Edmund Griffiths is a figure whose story rivals that of the Great Gatsby, and his history seems like quite a tall tale (hard to believe). For the most part this piece is just an exercise in exposition on the author’s part, and if there’s anything for me to criticize then it would be that, in journalism, you want to frontload the facts within the first paragraph (who/what/where/when). If the subject of the headline is about the castle, then your first paragraph should reflect that. I actually found two sentences in the middle of the article that could have easily been at the very beginning:
“In 1989, Edmund Griffiths officially retired from the public eye, purchasing the nearly 100-year-old estate at 23 Leeds Court in the isolated mountain town of Raven Falls, Montana. The Sprawling Victorian mansion was built in 1891 by shipping magnate Hiram Oreto, after the long-time sea captain returned from an ill-fated trip to the South Pacific.”
Majestic Dawn:
Major Peter Staff shows up at the crash site of an unidentified flying object, and discovers the corpses of its operators. The bodies are not human and the Major, who is also a surgeon, performs an autopsy on one of the bodies. During the operation he receives an ominous message telepathically, and it sends him and the rest of his comrades into a state of paranoia.
I thought this was a fun premise (even if the execution was a bit dull). I thought the story was going to become a mystery, because the author takes the time to dump quite a bit of info about several different characters, but that turned out to be completely unnecessary. I’m not a fan of authors leading the reader for no good reason (without payoff). For me, that stuck out as something an inexperienced writer would do. The plot needed more work too, because the ending is pretty egregious. I’m not sure if it was meant to be funny, but it was silly enough to make me chuckle. After the catastrophe, Staff’s commanding officer says:
“So we’ve been chasing our tails, lost a lot of good men, and the opportunity to study advanced technology all because of a… what? A Martian’s insane deathbed rambling?”
Staff and his only other surviving comrade confirm, which then prompts General Morgan to give them both promotions and create a new department under their leadership. Uh, excuse me sir? Are you sure about that?
The Exile:
Harold Godwinson and his men have conspired with Archbishop Stigand to murder their dying King’s chosen heir to the throne, Edward Ætheling (a.k.a. Edward the Exile). Not a big deal, but it would have made for an easier reading experience if the heir to the throne and the current King were not both named Edward, but I suppose it was meant to play upon the whole Edward the second, Edward the Third, etc., etc.
So this story mixes mythology with fictional historical narratives. I liked that Harold questions his own motives up until the showdown inside the Cathedral, which came as a surprise. I was not expecting any supernatural elements. Again, I must stress the importance of understanding how to write setup and payoff. Why did the Exile feel as though he had to reveal himself as a dastardly villain when confronted by the Archbishop’s wildly unwarranted accusations? If the conspirators were planning on killing him in cold blood then there was no incentive for Edward to do that. Fighting them off, yes… but reassuring their suspicions through self-admission, beforehand? No.
The Doomsday Club:
As is, “The Doomsday Club” is an incomplete story, because the reason for the alleged cult members being at the bookstore is never explained, nor their intentions revealed. I also cannot forget to mention the glaring issue I have with Mr. Goldman’s college buddy and “old friend” of over thirty years suddenly popping off friendly fire for no apparent reason in the end. You can’t just do that - without any foreshadowing or disclosure (What had him spooked? Why was he okay with killing his friend?). There was only some vague comment made about spending three days in that “other place” (whatever was on the other side of the proverbial portal Brock mentions before going psycho at the bar). If Brock was planning on killing “The Doomsday Club”, then why would he bring evidence to help Goldman take down the “mysterious men” at the bookstore (and effectively leave behind a paper trail)?
If a writer handed me this piece of fiction in the form of a manuscript (asking for feedback), then I would say that it would probably work as a prologue for a longer format, but as a standalone “short story” it does not.
The Feis:
I thought this story was fun. It starts off strong with two FBI agents investigating the murders of a figure known as The Sundial Killer. As the plot develops, the agents discover that the murders are linked to a strange “Pagan” ritual - a ritual rooted in small town conspiracy (the call is coming from inside the house!). Despite the logistics, I thought the cheesy double twist ending (even though it was so ridiculous and so far out) was so funny! It reminded me of that silly meme where there’s an astronaut in space looking down on earth and coming to a profound realization, to which a second astronaut brandishing a firearm and standing behind the first replies, “Always has been.”
*This story was sponsored by Mountain Dew soda (probably not, but twice there is brand-name product placement). Also, the author almost made through this entry without making a cultural reference - shout out to The Andy Griffith Show. I used to catch reruns of that program when I was a child.
The Chosen:
A washed up Hollywood superstar looks upon all his accolades with disdain, as he rues the day he chose to take an “Unspeakable Oath” and wonders if he could have done things any differently. The atmosphere is the strongest element of this piece. The author gives you plenty of time to become immersed in the setting of the snowy mountain castle and rub elbows with some of the other Chosen guests.
Leave it to McCuiston to write a story about mainstream celebrity initiation ceremonies, and selling their soul to the devil, without once mentioning the Bohemian Grove… it was twice actually (but who’s keeping count?). In all seriousness, I liked this story, but the author really needs to work on his endings. I don’t understand putting in all that work to build up a tangible setting rooted in realism, yet dances with the sublime, only to end up going completely off the rails and literally head first into the deep end. Feels like such a cop-out for what could have been, but the author was too lazy to come up with, so instead we got “tendrils” and “tentacles” to tie up the loose ends. Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh here, and maybe there’s a metaphor in there somewhere, but I really liked this story and that ending left me feeling gypped.
Transparency:
Connor McKay meets up with an old military buddy, Aaron Dockery, at a bar where Aaron presents Connor with some information that substantiates a myth about missing Confederate Gold hidden in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Connor is wary about the proposed treasure hunt, and his concerns are validated when two strange encounters serve to warn him about what else may be hidden in them there hills.
There’s quite a bit of vivid imagery throughout this story, and the character work was ok in the sense that they all seemed unique. The author blended exposition into his narrative prose in a way that maintained the flow of the story well.
Now the plot itself becomes quite convoluted as the story progresses, and I will admit that I ended up losing sight of the overall narrative. It was just too much all at once; the military buddies uniting for one more adventure, then there’s the unlikely undercover FBI agent who gets the pleasure of going along for the ride (because vagina?), there’s Bernice the “fortunetelling” plot device that ties into the contrived mystery involving The Black Council and The White Lodge (not to mention the legend of “Uktena” that’s randomly shoehorned into story during fourth quarter)… and then how am I supposed to believe that Connor is more concerned about rewarding some strange old woman he met once by happenstance, than helping out the respective families of his fallen compatriots? I felt a lot frustration at the end of this story, and for the most part I thought it was okay up until the moment Frank’s character double crossed the group (because white man on muh land?). That’s when the shit hit the fan, I threw my hands up, and I stopped trying to make sense of it all.
“The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness and Other Cults, Cabals, and Conspiracies” is a breeze to read. Each entry is around fifteen pages (give or take), and written in pretty straightforward prose. With that being said, there is a heavy use of exposition throughout the book, and some of the stories feel incomplete or as if they’re fragments taken from a longer format.
Creativity
The author was clearly inspired by several interesting concepts, but unfortunately that is made apparent through the lack of originality in his work. I couldn’t help but notice how the author consistently leaned upon mainstream references instead of putting in the effort to construct his own creative canon, which made this book feel like a collection of fan fiction to me (or at least work that’s derivative of preexisting source material). The superficial application of nearly every real world cultural reference made throughout the book was difficult to overlook.
This isn’t to say that there is nothing entertaining about “The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness and Other Cults, Cabals, and Conspiracies”, but I want you to picture a narrative framework on par with Chick tracts and given just a dash of Abbott & Costello level humor.
Delivery
The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness:
An attempted homicide causes a trio of sideshow performers/demon hunters (led by a presumably schizophrenic professor) to investigate a chapter of Tennessee Freemasons in order to uncover a diabolical plot behind the evil organization known as (you guessed it) The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness. It’s revealed that “Secret Darkness” is just another way of saying “sin”, and the story is very much on the nose with what kind of religious message it means to convey.
The story makes use of some trivial knowledge lifted directly from esoteric teachings, but the execution comes across as corny, and the ambiguous ending was disappointing. “The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness” felt like an omen for what was in store from the rest of this collection (especially since it’s the featured title), but I remained optimistic as I proceeded to review each tale, one by one.
The Graysville Train Robbery:
A posse plans to rob a train that’s carrying not only payroll for the Dayton Coal & Iron Company, but also a special shipment out of Texas. The “extra cargo” turns out to be something “extraterrestrial”. The pacing of this story feels like proper short form fiction. I like that the main characters have clear motivations and the plot is driven by a defined goal. However, the narrative structure is weak, because the reveal seems to come out of left field (there could have been more foreshadowing for the Sci-Fi element), but the tension created from the protagonist’s first person point of view was fun to read. The ending is a bit contrived, but still a better resolution than “T.B.O.S.D.”.
Nephilim Phenomenon:
Dr. Hector Montoya is summoned to an urgent meet up, by his old friend Donna. She seems panicked, and leaves a package in his care, before taking off without so much as a goodbye kiss. While not exactly the romantic rendezvous Montoya was hoping for, he’s pleased to be a pushover for a damsel in distress. “Nephilim Phenomenon” is a conspiracy motif constructed upon the concept of curiosity killed the cat, in a game of cat and mouse involving grand narratives as well as high profile characters (like Dr. Keller - an alleged representative from the World Health Organization). The story ends on a cliffhanger, but does so with a lingering implication, which reinforces the sense of paranoia instilled.
As an aside I couldn’t help but notice that Dr. Keller’s character is described multiple times as having an N-word smile or an N-word grin. N-word in this context was written as “Nazi”, but I don’t understand what the author meant by that. Do Nazis have a smile or grin that’s distinct from humans of other ideological beliefs? I just think it was an odd choice on the author’s part to use a noun as an adjective in this context. Imagine if the author wrote, “The character had a Jew nose.” How am I supposed to imagine that? What would a “Jew nose” look like?
Ragnarok n’ Roll:
Four friends follow an unsuspecting individual (who they suspect to be an “immortal” being), from the comfort of their vehicle. The friend group travel into the darkest parts of Detroit to capture the experience on camera, but little did they know they’d become witnesses to an event that rivals any paranormal show on the History Channel.
The story seemed like a low effort excuse to reference the Ancient Aliens TV show, but I suppose the premise still fits the overall theme of this collection. I like that the author wanted to focus on characterization with the four friends, even though it was unnecessary for there to be four main characters for this story. Two could’ve been taken out, and the story would read the same. The driver and the cameraman were the only relevant characters for the plot. However, the banter between a few of them made me laugh. I got a middle-grade (after school special) kind of vibe from Mike’s character:
“Those dudes look hardcore. I’m street, but even a brother knows not to mess with a bunch of liquored-up-paddies.”
He ain’t talkin’ no jive turkey! Mike may be one cool cat, but Carl on the other hand has no chill – when he tells the only female in the group that if they become rich she’ll be able to afford some “Valtrex and Vagisil”. DAMN, CARL! What the hell did Jamie do to you?
Reign of the Annunaki:
Don’t be afraid! Super Cringe is on his way to save the day!
“Reign of the Annunaki” is a story about a Christian man, who proves that he’s more moved by a pretty face than he ever was by his faith. What I found telling is the not so subtle air of disappointment in the protagonist, when he discovers that the woman he risked his life for is not as young as he thought she was.
“I look up at her, dazed, seeing her for the first time as a person and not as an ideal or a fantasy. She isn’t as young as I thought, probably in her late thirties.”
Maybe he was suddenly under the impression that she’s beyond the age of grooming, because one of the first questions he asks her is if she’s a Christian (mind you, this takes place just moments after they both kicked the shit out of some authority figures).
Ouroboros:
This one is about a number crunching data analyst named Charlie, who is trying to find time between juggling his work and apologizing to his wife, to look through a bunch of links his college tech-buddy Andy sent him about lizard people. This work contains quite a bit of exposition for the purpose of dumping a bunch of names like David Icke, Madame Blavatsky, and Trey Smith oddly enough (No, not Will Smith’s other son). There isn’t much of a narrative to speak of. “Ouroboros” was like listening to a co-worker share a personal anecdote during lunch break. There’s conflict, but it’s such a nonissue that I was like, “Cool story bro.”
It’s basically just a guy telling you how an old friend of his called him out of the blue to share a Bitchute video about lizard people. The guy explains that he was paranoid that his wife was going to leave him over it, because he missed movie night with her and kids, then had to cancel their Dave and Buster’s weekend that he promised - due to unforeseen work. Spoiler alert: Andy calls Chuck conspicuously and essentially says ixnay izardlay eoplepay, and Charlie catches up with the family at his in-law’s house just in time for Thanksgiving (where he proceeds to get drunk and ask his brother-in-law if he’s ever heard of lizard people).
Local Wizard’s Castle Goes to Market:
McCuiston spins a yarn in the form of a fabricated newspaper article about an abandoned castle once owned by a notorious character named Edmund Griffiths. This entry is meant to look/read as though it was part of an actual local newspaper called The Montana Tribune. I don’t have much to say about the article itself, except that it appears to be another reason to name drop more mainstream celebrities and other real world cultural references (e.g. “Weird Tales Magazine”, Antoine LaVey, and “Night Gallery” from NBC), while simultaneously tying them to a fictional person – as the author info dumps a backstory for a piece of real estate.
Edmund Griffiths is a figure whose story rivals that of the Great Gatsby, and his history seems like quite a tall tale (hard to believe). For the most part this piece is just an exercise in exposition on the author’s part, and if there’s anything for me to criticize then it would be that, in journalism, you want to frontload the facts within the first paragraph (who/what/where/when). If the subject of the headline is about the castle, then your first paragraph should reflect that. I actually found two sentences in the middle of the article that could have easily been at the very beginning:
“In 1989, Edmund Griffiths officially retired from the public eye, purchasing the nearly 100-year-old estate at 23 Leeds Court in the isolated mountain town of Raven Falls, Montana. The Sprawling Victorian mansion was built in 1891 by shipping magnate Hiram Oreto, after the long-time sea captain returned from an ill-fated trip to the South Pacific.”
Majestic Dawn:
Major Peter Staff shows up at the crash site of an unidentified flying object, and discovers the corpses of its operators. The bodies are not human and the Major, who is also a surgeon, performs an autopsy on one of the bodies. During the operation he receives an ominous message telepathically, and it sends him and the rest of his comrades into a state of paranoia.
I thought this was a fun premise (even if the execution was a bit dull). I thought the story was going to become a mystery, because the author takes the time to dump quite a bit of info about several different characters, but that turned out to be completely unnecessary. I’m not a fan of authors leading the reader for no good reason (without payoff). For me, that stuck out as something an inexperienced writer would do. The plot needed more work too, because the ending is pretty egregious. I’m not sure if it was meant to be funny, but it was silly enough to make me chuckle. After the catastrophe, Staff’s commanding officer says:
“So we’ve been chasing our tails, lost a lot of good men, and the opportunity to study advanced technology all because of a… what? A Martian’s insane deathbed rambling?”
Staff and his only other surviving comrade confirm, which then prompts General Morgan to give them both promotions and create a new department under their leadership. Uh, excuse me sir? Are you sure about that?
The Exile:
Harold Godwinson and his men have conspired with Archbishop Stigand to murder their dying King’s chosen heir to the throne, Edward Ætheling (a.k.a. Edward the Exile). Not a big deal, but it would have made for an easier reading experience if the heir to the throne and the current King were not both named Edward, but I suppose it was meant to play upon the whole Edward the second, Edward the Third, etc., etc.
So this story mixes mythology with fictional historical narratives. I liked that Harold questions his own motives up until the showdown inside the Cathedral, which came as a surprise. I was not expecting any supernatural elements. Again, I must stress the importance of understanding how to write setup and payoff. Why did the Exile feel as though he had to reveal himself as a dastardly villain when confronted by the Archbishop’s wildly unwarranted accusations? If the conspirators were planning on killing him in cold blood then there was no incentive for Edward to do that. Fighting them off, yes… but reassuring their suspicions through self-admission, beforehand? No.
The Doomsday Club:
As is, “The Doomsday Club” is an incomplete story, because the reason for the alleged cult members being at the bookstore is never explained, nor their intentions revealed. I also cannot forget to mention the glaring issue I have with Mr. Goldman’s college buddy and “old friend” of over thirty years suddenly popping off friendly fire for no apparent reason in the end. You can’t just do that - without any foreshadowing or disclosure (What had him spooked? Why was he okay with killing his friend?). There was only some vague comment made about spending three days in that “other place” (whatever was on the other side of the proverbial portal Brock mentions before going psycho at the bar). If Brock was planning on killing “The Doomsday Club”, then why would he bring evidence to help Goldman take down the “mysterious men” at the bookstore (and effectively leave behind a paper trail)?
If a writer handed me this piece of fiction in the form of a manuscript (asking for feedback), then I would say that it would probably work as a prologue for a longer format, but as a standalone “short story” it does not.
The Feis:
I thought this story was fun. It starts off strong with two FBI agents investigating the murders of a figure known as The Sundial Killer. As the plot develops, the agents discover that the murders are linked to a strange “Pagan” ritual - a ritual rooted in small town conspiracy (the call is coming from inside the house!). Despite the logistics, I thought the cheesy double twist ending (even though it was so ridiculous and so far out) was so funny! It reminded me of that silly meme where there’s an astronaut in space looking down on earth and coming to a profound realization, to which a second astronaut brandishing a firearm and standing behind the first replies, “Always has been.”
*This story was sponsored by Mountain Dew soda (probably not, but twice there is brand-name product placement). Also, the author almost made through this entry without making a cultural reference - shout out to The Andy Griffith Show. I used to catch reruns of that program when I was a child.
The Chosen:
A washed up Hollywood superstar looks upon all his accolades with disdain, as he rues the day he chose to take an “Unspeakable Oath” and wonders if he could have done things any differently. The atmosphere is the strongest element of this piece. The author gives you plenty of time to become immersed in the setting of the snowy mountain castle and rub elbows with some of the other Chosen guests.
Leave it to McCuiston to write a story about mainstream celebrity initiation ceremonies, and selling their soul to the devil, without once mentioning the Bohemian Grove… it was twice actually (but who’s keeping count?). In all seriousness, I liked this story, but the author really needs to work on his endings. I don’t understand putting in all that work to build up a tangible setting rooted in realism, yet dances with the sublime, only to end up going completely off the rails and literally head first into the deep end. Feels like such a cop-out for what could have been, but the author was too lazy to come up with, so instead we got “tendrils” and “tentacles” to tie up the loose ends. Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh here, and maybe there’s a metaphor in there somewhere, but I really liked this story and that ending left me feeling gypped.
Transparency:
Connor McKay meets up with an old military buddy, Aaron Dockery, at a bar where Aaron presents Connor with some information that substantiates a myth about missing Confederate Gold hidden in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Connor is wary about the proposed treasure hunt, and his concerns are validated when two strange encounters serve to warn him about what else may be hidden in them there hills.
There’s quite a bit of vivid imagery throughout this story, and the character work was ok in the sense that they all seemed unique. The author blended exposition into his narrative prose in a way that maintained the flow of the story well.
Now the plot itself becomes quite convoluted as the story progresses, and I will admit that I ended up losing sight of the overall narrative. It was just too much all at once; the military buddies uniting for one more adventure, then there’s the unlikely undercover FBI agent who gets the pleasure of going along for the ride (because vagina?), there’s Bernice the “fortunetelling” plot device that ties into the contrived mystery involving The Black Council and The White Lodge (not to mention the legend of “Uktena” that’s randomly shoehorned into story during fourth quarter)… and then how am I supposed to believe that Connor is more concerned about rewarding some strange old woman he met once by happenstance, than helping out the respective families of his fallen compatriots? I felt a lot frustration at the end of this story, and for the most part I thought it was okay up until the moment Frank’s character double crossed the group (because white man on muh land?). That’s when the shit hit the fan, I threw my hands up, and I stopped trying to make sense of it all.
#LFLR Indie Rating: 4/10
If you’re fascinated with the Occult like I am, then I have to say that reading “The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness” feels like being a kid during the nineties and telling Santa at the mall that you want a new Mario game for your Nintendo (thinking you might get Super Mario Bros. 2 or 3), but on Christmas morning you unwrap something called “Mario is Missing”. Judging by this one book alone, I think McCuiston has the right ideas, but he needs to work on his endings and focus on developing his own voice. Relying on real-world cultural references to suggestively imply headcanon is not considered a sign of strength in creative writing. However, Jason J. McCuiston has had several of his works appear in numerous anthologies, periodicals, websites, and podcasts.
If you’re fascinated with the Occult like I am, then I have to say that reading “The Brotherhood of Secret Darkness” feels like being a kid during the nineties and telling Santa at the mall that you want a new Mario game for your Nintendo (thinking you might get Super Mario Bros. 2 or 3), but on Christmas morning you unwrap something called “Mario is Missing”. Judging by this one book alone, I think McCuiston has the right ideas, but he needs to work on his endings and focus on developing his own voice. Relying on real-world cultural references to suggestively imply headcanon is not considered a sign of strength in creative writing. However, Jason J. McCuiston has had several of his works appear in numerous anthologies, periodicals, websites, and podcasts.
THIS BREAKDOWN IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE #LFLR NETWORK.
