The Altar Audiobook By James Arthur Anderson cover art

The Altar

A Novel of Horror

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The Altar

By: James Arthur Anderson
Narrated by: Charles Bice
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When a new strip mall and housing development are built near a small New England town, tearing through untouched forest, a 300-year-old grave is uncovered, thereby setting loose an ancient evil from its eternal prison. Science fiction writer Erik Hunter soon finds himself the target of a near-immortal horror that feeds on human suffering.

In order to save his family and his town, he must make the harrowing trip into the underworld of another reality, one filled with pain and terror - and there make the ultimate sacrifice to facilitate the return of his imperiled wife and young children to the "real" world. But even giving up his life and soul may not be enough to keep an evil spirit from escaping its natural home, and returning to earth to destroy and infect the world.

©2012 James Arthur Anderson (P)2013 Wildside Press, LLC. Horror Scary
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This is the first time I've written a review on Audible but I was so disappointed with this book. I didn't even know a story this bad could get published let alone translated to an audiobook. Horror is my favorite genre, and "The Alter" was an example of the worst way to write a scary story.

It was so derivative, so unimaginative and so goofy I only soldiered through it because of a stubborn need for closure.

A couple key points:

1. Extremely cliched in it's plot (ie evil unearthed accidentally, ancient Indian medicine man, pregnant wife and young son who knows more than the adults)

2. If you are a Christian, you'll be insulted by the stupidly literal interpretation of spiritual power that is wielded like magic spells. If you are not religious you'll loathe his constant references to the need for belief in God.

3. The first half is full of chapters that feature a new pov of one character whose only role is to be introduced and then killed. There's a good chunk of the second half where it's essentially a Godzilla destroying the town situation for at least 20 minutes.

If you like gore, and you've never read a horror story or seen a horror movie, and you're 12, you might like this. Otherwise, search elsewhere for your terror fix.

Please, do not waste your time!

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What disappointed you about The Altar?

Narration ruined this book. I can't believe I don't like someone's narration voice but I hated it and couldn't even finish this book.

What didn’t you like about Charles Bice’s performance?

I do not like his voice, character differences are horrible. All around hated the narration.

Narration ruined this book

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