Review of "Diablo Canyon" by C. Flemish

Score: 94+/100 (9.4+ out of 10)

Diablo Canyon is a haunting and dark yet remarkably compelling novel by C. Flemish!
Blending elements of Horror, Western, and Supernatural Fantasy, this novel will have you covering your eyes, clenching your fists, gritting your teeth, and stomping your feet in response to its emotionally-triggering and sometimes shocking content.

This novel is actually broken up into two distinct time-frames following two very different and contrasting characters.

The first scenario—the flashback, if you want to call it that—takes readers to the Wild West in 1874 Apple Valley. Readers follow a legendary and ruthless bandito (bandit) named Tiburcio “Tibu” Vasquez who begins his hero journey with the noble intention of avenging Esmeralda, his younger sister, and mother, who have been brutally s*xually assaulted, tortured, and murdered by a gang of evildoers.

Tibu becomes a vigilante, taking justice into his own hands, brutalizing the perpetrators before killing them. However, Tibu's noble cause transforms and metamorphosizes into something much darker and sinister. He becomes the leaders of a violent gang of vigilantes and bandits who are arguably just as vicious as the villains they fight. They are viewed as rebels, revolutionaries, freedom fighters, and heroes to some while being criminals, outlaws, troublemakers, and terrorists to others.

Perhaps the defining event in Tibu's life, beside the deaths of Esmeralda and his mother, is when he is forced to make a decision on how to deal with the treachery of his old friend—a man who saved his life from a bear: Jose.

We get the perspectives of both Jose and Tibu. From this, we gather how truly cruel and monstrous Tibu can be. Jose knows that a very cruel fate could await him if he is caught. He knows that Tibu would want to set example of him for the rest of the bandits. Even his own best friend isn't exempt from his wrath.

We flashforward to modern day Los Angeles, California. We follow Jack Morrison, a modern mirror to Jose—once noble, now deteriorating. Jack’s descent into alcoholism, neglect of his family, and loss of purpose makes him a cautionary tale. He is haunted not by literal demons, but by the hollow pursuit of fame and the ghosts of past wars and betrayals.

Jack (and the reader) gradually uncover and experience the effects of a centuries-old ritualistic conspiracy involving the abominable monstrosity said to be lurking in Diablo Canyo known as Terraqual.

Terraqual, Satan's once-beloved pet, who became too wild even for him, has warped time, cursed bloodlines, and tethered souls to the land in a cycle of torment and possession. As Jack delves deeper, he realizes that the golden cross, the haunted canyon, and his own unraveling life are all pieces of a dark spiritual machinery—one designed not merely to punish, but to preserve the creature’s dominion through sacrifice and silence.

Jack must find the acolytes in the canyon who continually funnel lives and souls to the beast, men like the Sheriff, Wilms, and Father McVah, and undo the evil entities behind them like Be'elzebub and Asmod.

Even more compellingly, he must find a way to rescue his daughter, Lisa, and numerous people (including children) who have gone missing for the last two centuries—people who exist in a living hell, unable to leave or to die.

In probably the book's most heartwrenching and powerful scenes, Jack is forced to choose between ending the lives of numerous souls trapped in the form of children or to continue to let them suffer as "food" for Terraqual.

Putting the children to rest may be one of the most uncomfortable and heartbreaking moments we've ever read in a book. And what's odd is that these aren't necessarily characters we've gotten to know. However, we still care about them. Why? Well, because they're innocent children who've suffered a lot and never got to enjoy life. Furthermore, they also remind us of children we know. In Jack's case, he no doubt sees Lisa in all of them.

Among these children is a surprisingly compelling supporting character named Crystal, an elderly soul trapped in the body of a six-year-old (when she stopped aging like the other children). Her eyes are sewn shut. She fits the archetype of a seeress character.

Despite her short time in the book, Crystal makes a lasting impact including providing thought-provoking dialogue, stirring the mystery of the canyon and its lore, and giving us one of the books most haunting and tearful motifs: a small wooden dove.

In contrast to the many other objects and motifs in the book (like the golden cross), the small wooden dove just hits the hardest. To think that Crystal held onto this thing for years and years despite unspeakable torment really hits hard.

Another nominee for best supporting character is Sandy, who develops a special relationship with Jack and also may share a relationship to Crystal...

We could've done with a more satisfying ending with a bit more justice.
Even more brutality, cruelty, and death occur. Arguably, some of that occurs way to late in the story. It's one thing to kill one of a main character's family members, it's another thing to absolutely take everything from him. Nothing is going to fill that hole. Not revenge, not payback. Nothing.

We're not prudes about this stuff, but we did feel like the payoff didn't fit. We didn't quite feel like the pendulum of justice was balanced.

What these villains did is beyond inhuman, beyond sadistic.
These villains deserve to rot in hell for eternity and to have much worse things happen to them.

This led to us feeling a little disappointed and empty at the end, which is strange because we really enjoyed about 75%+ of this book.

Check it out on Amazon!