Classic horror at its finest

I typically avoid reviewing horror novels that focus on slasher themes with high body counts and graphic violence, or those that rely heavily on paranormal elements with gratuitous brutality. However, I have a keen appreciation for character-driven horror that blends psychological depth with iconic supernatural entities to evoke fear, suspense, and introspection on human nature. Gregory Alexander Sharp's writing style in Kill and Cure: Il Lupo 2 achieves this delicate balance flawlessly.

About the book

At its core, the story revolves around Charlie Mortimer, a striking young man transformed into a lycanthrope. Shedding his former anxieties and health issues in human form, he emerges robust and self-assured. While his friends provide a safe haven to prevent him from harming others during the full moon, his lingering fear of harming others persists. Together with a small circle of allies, they embark on a quest for a cure. Notable among them are Nicholas Frobisher, a grieving coffee magnate turning to alcohol to alleviate his anxieties, and the erudite Ernest Wainright, whose past dealings with vampires offer a glimmer of hope through the research of Dr. Waggner.

Book review: Kill or Cure: Il Lupo 2 - 5 stars

Sharp's narrative effortlessly weaves together imaginative storytelling with an exploration of the werewolf and vampire realms, imbued with an unsettling atmosphere that warns against venturing too far. The vividly described settings—from London nightclubs to the rustic Sithean Blair farmhouse—enhance the narrative's depth. In my view, this novel epitomizes classic horror at its finest, featuring robust world-building and compelling, multi-faceted characters whose fates I eagerly followed through a complex and unpredictable plot enriched with folklore and superstitions. 

While minor editorial oversights like occasional word choice errors (such as "slither" instead of "sliver") were noted, they did not detract from my overall enjoyment. Consequently, I am delighted to award Kill and Cure: Il Lupo 2 a well-deserved 5-star rating. I eagerly anticipate delving into the series' first installment, Il Lupo, and await the release of book 3 in the series. I highly recommend this book to aficionados of horror who appreciate intricately crafted narratives that resonate long after the final page is turned.

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I received a review copy of this book from the author and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

Other links to check out:

Werewolf the Podcast Introduces Il Lipo

Werewolf the Podcast Introduces Kill and Cure: Il Lipo 2.0 

 

 

About the Author: Gregory Alexander Sharp

Gregory Alexander Sharp is a professional services executive who has worked for some of the world's best known tech and consulting companies. He's always been something of a storyteller, and a huge fan of the supernatural tales that made his spine tingle as a boy.

Novels:

IL LUPO, his first published novel, draws on Greg's love for the classic Hollywood horror movies (think Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and of course, Lon Chaney Jnr), but also on his own personal experiences with loss, and grief, and anxiety. Woven together with a real sense of building tension and jeopardy, and with a smattering of Greg's sense of humour, Il Lupo is the first book he always wanted to write.

KILL AND CURE builds on the themes from Il Lupo and drives them ever further, with Nick Frobisher struggling to manage the stresses of work, grief, and his best friend's lycanthropy. We are introduced to gangsters and vampires, and we reconnect with familiar characters. Kill And Cure has been written in such a way that it can be read as a sequel to Il Lupo, or can easily stand alone as a distinct story.

Short-story:

THE BRIDGE, which touches on how adult problems can easily cause damage to teenagers in the home. Again, Greg brings personal experiences to the fore here. In less than four thousand words, we are introduced to a broken heart, a disrupted education, bullying, public humiliation, the perils of social media, and mental health problems... oh, and watch out for the ghost!

Greg is currently working on a new novel which promises to be a tale of friendship, betrayal, love, loss, and revenge! Watch this space.

The Invisible Hand of Cancer: Navigating its Impact Beyond Diagnosis

The Invisible Hand of Cancer by author, Carola Schmidt, could be labeled a handbook on cancer’s far-reaching influences in personal, medical, pharmaceutical, financial, cultural, and familial ways. This deep dive into the topic doesn’t rehash symptoms, prognosis, and treatment, though these topics are couched within firsthand stories shared in the book. Instead, it puts the influence of cancer under the microscope. The result is information designed to equip people to navigate beyond a cancer diagnosis where these influences prevail.

About the book: The Invisible Hand of Cancer

The author’s passion for distilling scientific information into simpler terms for non-scientific readers works. Yes, medical terms are used but are then explained in everyday English. For instance, when talking about how the invisible hand of cancer has influenced research, she explains the role of epigenetics in the life of and fight against cancer. She doesn’t leave readers scratching their heads wondering what epigenetics means but clarifies that it is the study of how cells control gene activity without changing the DNA sequence. She strips down scientific techno babble even more to a form most readers will understand. Epigenetics are factors beyond the genetic code.

The Invisible Hand of Cancer book review

The impact cancer leaves in its wake includes a wide range of topics. This book offers insights into different sides of off-label treatments and looks at cancer’s effect on the development of drugs used to treat various types of this prolific disease. One of the sections I found most useful was on palliative care and how one person cannot do everything but everyone can do something. It also stresses the importance of palliative care being provided during anticipatory grief, grief around the time of death, and grief after death. It also pinpoints some of the most common and troubling symptoms at the end of life but also shares positive ways to build a legacy that results in tangible keepsakes that have proven beneficial for caregivers and families during the grieving process.

I could go on about the helpful nature of this book; how it addresses the culture of avoiding the subject of death and how it brings anxiety. The good and bad sides of the pharmaceutical industry, affordability issues, the differences in costs from one country to another, but also discusses the hope of hematopoietic stem cells and regenerative medicine.

I recommend this book to patients with cancer or cancer history, families of those diagnosed with cancer, advocates, oncology professionals, and people on the fringe of the lives of people dealing with the emotional stress of this dreaded disease. The science aspect of this book does lean heavily on evolution, for those who dismiss evolution as fact, this book still offers much useful information. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

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As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from Black Coffee Book Tours and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About the Author: Carola Schmidt

Pediatric Oncology Pharmacist & Writer.

Author of “Chubby’s Tale: The true story of a teddy bear who beat cancer,” which is listed on BookAuthorithy’s “81 Best Leukemia Books of All Time.”

Best-selling author of children’s books about cancer, including “Bald is Beautiful: A letter for a fabulous girl,” and “Cancer Daily Life.”

Springer Nature author of the books “Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Pharmacists: The Gold Standard to Practice,” “Pediatric Oncologic Pharmacy―A Complete Guide to Practice,” “Chemotherapy in Neonates and Infants―Pharmacological Oncology for Children Under 1 Year Old,” and “Drug Therapy and Interactions in Pediatric Oncology―A Pocket Guide.” Editor of the book “Chemotherapy and Pharmacology for Leukemia in Pregnancy: Guidelines and Strategies for Best Practices,” published by Springer.

Post-Graduation in Pediatric Oncologic Pharmacy; MBA in Planning and Business Management.

After a career in hospitals and classrooms, she has been linking her two passions: writing and oncology. She can be found on Twitter @_CarolaSchmidt
 

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