Election Day
Election day is approaching, and the stakes are high. Craig knows the dangers better than anyone due to his work with the government. He knows about the tactics that will be employed to secure the chosen candidate’s victory, and he is afraid. But when his handlers get wind of his betrayal they unleash their wrath not only on Craig, but also his twin Cara. Cara has a gift that the government wants and will stop at nothing to harness even if it means death for the twins. Mere hours before the polls’ opening, the twins head into the lion’s den within the bowels of the Pentagon to locate and destroy the government’s secret weapon. On the way, they encounter horrors like they have never imagined including some that have only been spoken of in whispers or as conspiracies. If they succeed, there is no guarantee that anything will change, but they know that for the sake of everyone in the country, they must try.
Election Retrograde is the newest cosmic horror novella by author P.D. Alleva. Set in Washington DC on the eve of a pivotal election day, tensions are high. Alleva’s reimagining amps up the pressure by incorporation of the expected conspiracies and biases, but with many more surprises. As the twins each discover the manipulations at play and venture into the heart of the Pentagon the horrors that await them seem to never end. Around each corner and down each new corridor they encounter scenes more bizarre than the one before.
The timing of Election Retrograde coinciding during the most recent US Presidential Election cycle makes it easy for one to imagine the overall anticipation and feeling of impending dread. With a country divided, there also appears to be an unseen third element – government officials and top-secret types working to ensure that their chosen person is awarded the title of President. With tactics ranging from psy-op mind control to harnessing the very essence of evil itself this group will not stop until they obtain their goals. But at what cost? From the opening scenes, Alleva sets the tone, and the breakneck pace of the ensuing events only helps to propel the reader deeper and deeper into the subterfuge. While the developments can, at times, take a rather unbelievable turn this only serves as a reminder that with the “Cosmic Horror” genre anything truly can happen and with a master storyteller such as P.D. Alleva at the helm, they usually will.
If you are a fan of dark horror with mind blowing twists and turns Election Retrograde could be a fun diversion for an evening. After reading, you will most likely not view the current American Political climate in the same way
Jennly Reads 