Faherty is always a fun read.
Ghost Rider would shudder at the feet of he Hellrider.

I don't want to give anything away. If you haven't read this one yet, do so!

I was on board with most of the story and can get behind a tale of revenge. Where the story started to lose steam was in the second half. I was hoping for a stronger finish. I loved the character, but the story fell a bit flat

Content Warnings: I unfortunately did not jot down all the content warnings in Hellrider, however I do know there are a few mentions of rape & very close to being rape scenes.

Hellrider starts off pretty well; we get introduced to our protagonist (err…. antagonist?) Eddie. Eddie is an ex-Hellrider who gets murdered by his former bike gang. In the beginning, I felt for this character — he so clearly cared about his mother (who’s diagnosed with emphysema) & younger brother.

After the introduction we get introduced to the real meat of this tale & that’s Eddie returning from the dead with powers; y’all my dude’s out here controlling electricity & possessing bodies. Honestly, this whole concept is pretty rad.

After awhile, Eddie becomes drunk with revenge. Understandable, really. It’s a good time witnessing this development & see how much Eddie changes throughout his time in death. J.G. Faherty definitely developed a wonderful concept & characterization.

However, I do have some issues with Hellrider. As it progresses, Eddie continuously possesses bodies in order to get his revenge & this does start to feel repetitive & in all honesty, boring.

& although I know it’s intentional & it probably won’t bother many other people, I did start to get uncomfortable with Eddie going too far. Hellrider starts to get real rape-y when it comes to Eddie & his younger teen brother’s girlfriend, Kellie. There’s a scene where Eddie possesses Kellie & squeezes her breast & honestly, it just felt so weird and uncomfortable to read. There’s other rape-y aspects, including possessing a a gay man & having him force himself onto a female co-worker. What the what.

All in all, J.G. Faherty is a wonderful writer & he definitely told a tale that had a wonderful concept. However, towards the last half — most of my interest had evaporated & I was left with being uncomfortable.

Eddie Ryder might have been a snitch....but he didn't deserve to be burned to death by the Hell Riders. The members of the biker gang were once his friends, but now he wants to kill them all. But...being dead and all....he has to learn how to go from just floating around to handing out justice. Violent justice.

As I read this book, I could see this being a really fun, slightly cheesy, late night horror movie. I would watch it! I was even doing the casting in my head...... For Eddie, I would cast Austin Amelio (played Dwight on The Walking Dead). I even heard the dialoge in his voice as I read. :)

Although the plot was really nothing new, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are a few rough scenes involving adult situations (rape, sodomy, violent murder) and some rough language, so this book is not for the faint of heart (or kids). Those scenes are not all that graphic....but the subject matter is there. Be aware. If that type of violence in horror stories is not for you.....skip this one.

Quick read. Entertaining plot. Interesting take on the ghost-seeks-revenge storyline. This is the first book by this author that I have read, but he has written many, many horror novels and stories. I will definitely be reading more of them!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Oh, I definitely picked this book because it reminded me of Nicholas Cage and Ghost Rider. I’m a sucker for covers like this and I haven’t read a story like this in a while.

The first half of this novel is a good old tale of revenge. It’s fun, and it’s exactly what I’d hoped for when I read the Blurb. Eddie Ryder has been really wronged, and he is on a mission to cause a lot of havoc and take out the people who angered him in his life.

What irked me a bit was when things started to get a little repetitive and when Eddie started taking out innocents. This is clearly done purposefully by JG Faherty to show Eddie’s sanity unraveling. While I find that plotline compelling, I think there are points that go a little over the top, and it becomes less believable.

Overall though, I did have fun reading this one. I think the first half is really well written, and while I had my issues with the second half, I’m still happy to have read this and am recommending it.

3.5 rounded to 4☆

*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Random Things Tours. All opinions are my own.*

Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com

A non-stop wave of escalating terror and destruction, with often a thin veil between the 'good' guys and the 'bad'. Lots of action, lots of twists and turns. Refreshingly different.

Hellrider is a supernatural revenge story that's not afraid to push the envelope - but one that falls into the trap of feeling like it's doing so simply for shock value.
After Eddie Ryder is killed by the small town bikie gang he ratted out, he returns as a vengeful spirit determined to destroy those who stole his life.
With the ability to possess the living, he sets about a course of violence, sex and borderline rape to tear the club apart from the inside.
But as the bodies pile up, he begins to lose himself to the forces of evil - spiralling into a cycle of senseless violence and depraved acts.
It's a story that starts strong with a clear path of revenge but muddies as "the demon" takes hold.
Eddie is not a likeable character and offers very little redeemable moments as the novel progresses.
Yes, this is the point but it's a tough slog to make when for the most part you don't actually care if he succeeds or not.
Throw in some moments of borderline underage rape and it's mostly a hard pass.

This book is very entertaining. I laughed throughout much of the book. It managed to bring tears to my eyes towards the end. I really identified with the main character's brother. He's the brainiac. I really liked when he starts to get revenge, but before he turns bad. I look forward to reading more from this author. I think people will enjoy this book, even if it's not their normal choice of genre,

The cover really felt like a story about a motorcycle gang, and you would be right. It was about a man Eddie Ryder who was burned alive by the gang, Hell Riders, but lo and behold, he returned as a vengeful ghost who was hot tempered all the time. His motorcycle Diablo too joined him in his crusades. And man, he scared me. He could scare the gang and possess them. There was something purely evil in him.

My first book by J. G. Faherty, initially, it was super fun to see the ghostly avatar of Eddie taking his revenge. I was a wee bit scared imagining a vengeful spirit who had his super powers. Gulp!! I was amazed at the array of changes the author thrust on him. He soon transformed into pure evil where he started hurting innocent. It was this change which made him a strong character.

The author's style of writing was hard-hitting, some of the evil occurences written were a bit close to things that trigger me. I had to skim read those. A lot of cursing and sexual content had me turning the pages faster.

Overall the book reminded me of Ghost Rider and Nicholas Cage, and it was entertaining in its concept.

Admittedly, I'm a sucker for a kick ass cover and this is definitely one of them. When I saw Mr. Faherty offering a paperback ARC of this on Twitter and I jumped on the chance!

Eddie Ryder has had a rough family life. His dad is gone, his mom is dying and his smart little brother is trying to stay in school so that he can better himself. Formerly a member of the Hell Riders Motorcycle Club, but now trying to go straight and support his family, no one recognizes the changes in him-changes for the better. All that ends one night after his auto repair shop burns down with him in it. Inexplicably, he, (and his motorcycle, Diablo!), come back to life. Will he get revenge on those responsible? Will his family be able to keep their heads above water now that he's gone? You'll have to read this to find out!

At first, I could not have been more on board with this story. I love me a good revenge tale and this is definitely one. My problems with this novel came about a little over halfway through, when things began to get repetitive. <spoiler> It's my understanding that Eddie became more and more insane as time went on and as he kept doing what he was doing. {I'm trying not to spoil too much.} But at a certain point it went way over the top and was no longer believable. {As much as a story about a reincarnated man and his motorcycle can be believable, that is.} </spoiler>

I loved Eddie's family and wanted to spend more time with his brother and mom, and I did get my wish towards the end of the book, but it wasn't as much time as I wanted.

I was not expecting a literary masterpiece here, but I did expect a tighter story with less repetition than this. All of that said, this was fun, and for the most part, I enjoyed my time with Eddie and Diablo, flying thunderously around the town of Hell Creek!

*Thank you to the author for the beautiful paperback you signed for me, in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*

Hellrider by J G Faherty is an interesting novel that delivers on a lot of fronts but lacks a slight bit of empathy to keep you fuller interested in the characters.

Starting out as a man who is turning his life around, he get sent down into the bowels of violence where the lead man Eddie goes on a rampage of revenge from the afterlife. This is where the story really takes off. The plot speeds along at a very quicken pace and though sometimes rhyme and reason takes a backseat, the reader is in for an exciting journey and this is where the novel does extremely well. The reader stays involved and is absorbed by the action that takes place. Faherty handles these sections very well.

The characters are a bit two dimensional and we don’t really get Eddie, the man who is changing his life around and the man who is hell bent on revenge. This is where the novel slightly lets you down as you lack empathy for Eddie and by the end of the novel, it is really hard to find anything likable in him at all. If the novel spent time on good Eddie, one who accepts responsibility for bad decisions and then we feel the demon side take over, it might have given the reader a bit more scope. Unfortunately this doesn’t really happen.

The evil or bad characters lack any sort of depth and Eddie’s surviving family unfortunately lack substance to get you really involved in their flight. Saying this, this doesn’t detract from the overall plot but does give it a lack of depth to make this novel really special.

Overall, the book is a good read and it is enjoyable and kept me entertained. My interest was piqued by the plot and where it was going but I did lack any passion for the characters themselves. There is a lot to like and enjoy but could have gone a tad further with character development.

I snagged Hellrider through Netgalley when it became available through Flametree Press. The cover art was intriguing and the brief synopsis sounded like a good time.
Hellrider is Eddie Ryder, former biker-gang member who flipped on the boss to escape jail time. He now is trying to get his life in order, supporting his chronically ill mother and his younger brother, while running his dad’s repair shop. His dad took off some time ago and now Eddie is trying to make a go of it.
Then his former gang kills Eddie. But he doesn’t die. His soul or ghost of him remains and now he’s off for revenge.
Faherty did a great job of setting up for what could have been an outstanding redemption tale. Throw in revenge, ghostly compassion and some guidance for the younger brother and this story could’ve hummed like a well-built engine.
Where I found this tale went off the tracks for me was the frequent repetitive juvenile forays Eddie would take when possessing people. While the revenge scenes did play out well, far too often it felt like an episode of Sons of Anarchy only written by Adam Sandler.
Each time I thought Eddie would do the right thing, make a sound decision, he’d do something that felt unrealistic from what his intended actions for redemption were. And frequently the actions would cause pain or bring suffering on his brother or mom, the two people that we were supposed to believe Eddie cared about most in the world, both while living and dead.
The chronic illness aspect of the story with the mom also became a frustrating element. It was paramount and front at centre at the beginning, but as the action ramps up it gets pushed aside and doesn’t resurface until near the end of the book.
The story itself is a fun read and like I mentioned before, it really did remind me of SOA a bunch of times. Whether that’s a pro or con would be up to the individual.
The book itself was a page turner and it had so much potential. Due to the repetitiveness, issues with Eddie’s character and the aspects I just found a bit dumbed down, it made for a struggle to thoroughly enjoy the book.
I wished this book would’ve elevated itself into the next level, but overall if you are just looking for a fun biker gang book with hints of Ghost Rider, you won’t go wrong here.

** This review will be featured on Kendall Reviews **

Oh, boy. This is one of those times when I’m not really thrilled to do the review, but there are things that need to be said.

I started this book really excited to read it. The cover (yes, I’m that person that judges a book by the cover) and the plot looked like so much fun. And the book started out that way. We had a character we really liked out there getting some otherworldly vengeance.

But it gets sour.

Part of that is done purposely by the author. That character we love changes as vengeance moves from righteousness to pure evil. I get that. But…in an effort to show just how evil that vengeance grows, the author has our main character do a series of horrid things to people. Yes, we start with the people who wronged him, but along the way, we get horrid things done to innocent people. And it stops being fun.

Worse was that the book gets rapey. Yes, sexual assault happens. Yes, it’s evil. And it’s okay to make that point – but maybe not over and over again? Slicing and dicing a murder in a book can be fun. Forcing yourself on a teenager? Not so much. Even when the assault happens to bad characters, it’s not fun.

There are still enjoyable parts to the book. The author can write and boy, he makes you feel and hear and smell every bit of it (and you kind of regret the smell part at times). I just wish it had stayed fun.

I still give this three stars. It is a good story. Certain things just got to be too much for me.

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

Not my cup of tea. I was not engaged by the plot and DNFed it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Eddie Ryder is a reluctant protagonist who owns his departed father, Big Eddie’s, car garage, but it’s a burden he did not wish for. He used to be a member of a biker gang called the Hell Riders. On top of being repulsive in many ways, they’re also devoted to racism. Eddie still respects most of their code not out of choice but out of necessity and survival.

He has been in several situations that left him with very difficult choices to make, which has turned him into a cynical pessimist. He also takes care of an ailing mother with emphysema as well as a younger brother, Connor, and had to quit school to support his family, another decision that he made out of necessity and something that ages him beyond his nineteen years. From a narrative standpoint, I found that Faherty pulled off a seamless transition between making Eddie a sympathetic character that transforms into a despicable one. The sympathy then shifts to his younger brother Carson, who takes the lead, and I think this was executed very well.

With a firm nod to the Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider comics (and the 2007 film adaptation starring Nicolas Cage), Eddie suffers a horrific death. Rather than using his newfound and unexpected powers for good, or having to fight the Devil, it doesn’t take long before he transforms into a force of unsettling evil. His inner turmoil at his newfound feelings and actions, trying to resist what he is becoming while firmly pursuing revenge, made for compelling reading.

One of author Faherty’s strong suits has long been the strong use of memorable characters that the reader can care for, and his latest novel is no exception. Eddie’s brother, Carson, and girlfriend, Kellie, have to work together against a malicious force and face the threat of an entity that is always five steps ahead of them. This makes for a suspenseful read.

There are copious amounts of cursing, drinking, and sexual content, so I do not consider it suitable for younger readers. Nonetheless, Hellrider is a thoroughly entertaining, pulse-pounding offering from J.G. Faherty and Flame Tree Press that will have a wide appeal to horror and fantasy readers.

Dark and disturbing, this splendid example of a lead character’s transformation will keep you turning pages all night. Faherty is a gifted storyteller whose work seems to hit a new high with each publication. This horror novel is often cringe worthy (in a good way), and always compelling.

‘Hellrider’ is a weird and largely unsuccessful mix of supernatural revenge thriller and crude comedy that’s as ludicrous as it is offensive. Imagine a cross between ‘High Plains Drifter’ with bikers rather than cowboys, and a direct to video R-rated ‘Police Academy’ rip off and you’ll get an idea of what it’s like.
It doesn’t help that the premise is kind of familiar. Motorbike loving mechanic Eddie Ryder gets killed by members of the vicious gang he used to ride with. He comes back to haunt them and the town he grew up in, taking bloody revenge and riding a ghostly version of his beloved bike through the night. If it sounds a bit like Marvel’s ‘Ghostrider’ comic that’s because it is a bit like Marvel’s ‘Ghostrider’ comic. To be fair, JG Faherty calls this out early on, so it’s not like he’s trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. But still…
My biggest issue with the book wasn’t a lack of originality though, it was that it’s really kind of nasty. That’s an odd thing to criticise a horror novel for, but the violence in ‘Hellrider’ was neither horrific nor cathartic. It was just kind of icky. Ryder can’t directly assault his killers (he’s a ghost after all), so instead he possesses them and gets them to attack each other. Often (far more often than I was comfortable with), the violence is of a sexual nature. Ryder possesses women and gets them to seduce gang members against their will, he possesses men and gets them to rape or attack women. Penises get hacked off, people get brutally beaten, women are made to strip and lay in the street. Worst of all, with Eddie as the protagonist, it feels like we’re complicit in these attacks. Some of them even feel like they’re being played for laughs. It’s all deeply unpalatable and left me wishing the book was over sooner than it was.
The one saving grace is Eddie’s brother Carson, who becomes more and more of an important character as the story unfolds. He’s likeable and reasonably convincing and his coming to terms with Eddie’s death and investigation into the supernatural events that follow it is by far the best part of the book. I think if the balance between Eddie and Carson was different, I might have liked the book a lot more than I did.
Unfortunately, it’s really Eddie’s story. It’s angry, juvenile and unpleasant and ends up feeling like a Troma movie without the wit or intelligence.

I really anticipated this novel when I saw it available at NetGalley. In some ways I ended up liking it a lot, in other ways not so much. I found myself empathising with the eponymous character, Eddie Ryder, from the beginning, until nearly the end. He's had a rough life, bad genetics, but he does love his ailing mother (emphysema) and his younger (very intelligent) brother. He tries his best to support them and himself in a tiny little "backwater" community next to the Everglades. He's made mistakes, he's paid for them; but seems like either due to genetics or his own attitudes or his reputation, he's still paying...And then comes that fatal moment...

Except: for Eddie, it's fatal but it's also a second chance. So he decides to repay everybody that's done him wrong. That was fine for a while; I enjoy vigilante justice as much as the next person, but before too long, Eddie's spirit or ghost or whatever his afterdeath energy is called loses its hold on sanity; and from there it was just over the top. Too many people get hurt who really were "innocent bystanders." Like a war zone.

Finally Mr. Flaherty ties off the tapestry with a really neatly done ending and epilogue. Scary, but neat. And apropos to the story.

Title: Hellrider

Author: JG Faherty

Genre: horror

August 8th 2019

After being burned alive by a gang, the Hell Riders, he used to belong to, Eddie Ryder returns as a heavy-metal spouting ghost with a temper that's worse now than when he was alive. At first he is nothing more than a floating presence, depressed he has to spend eternity watching his teenage brother, Carson, and ailing mother struggle without him. Then he develops powers. And he can control electricity. He can conjure the ghostly doppelganger of his motorcycle, Diablo, and fly across the sky, but he can't escape the boundaries of his hometown, Hell Creek. Eddie decides to exact his revenge on the bikers who killed him. Before he can do more than scare some of the bikers, however, he discovers something even better: he can posses people. He uses this ability to get the gang members to attack each other, and to deliver a message to the current leader, Hank Bowman: Eddie's Coming. Spouting fire and lightning from his fingers and screaming heavy metal lyrics as he rides the sky above the town of Hell Creek, he brings destruction down on all those who wronged him, his power growing with every death. Only Eddie's younger brother, Carson, and the police chief's daughter, Ellie, understand what's really happening, and now they have to stop him before he destroys the whole town. FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.


My thought

Rating: 2

Would I recommend it? no

Will I read anything else by this author ? maybe

Will this did kind of remind me of the movie Ghost Rider in a way that was the only thing I actually liked about it, there was times i just couldn't get in to the book which is sad because I love horror but this one was a let down, it just didn't work for me, it just didn't feel like it was a horror book .With that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read it and review it.