Come Hell or High Water: Part One: Wellspring by Stephen Morris

In 1356, an entire town turned against one woman. Driven by religious fervor, they proclaimed her a witch and put her to death without a proper trial or formal sentence. But, as Fen’ka inhaled the smoke surrounding her on the stake to which she was affixed, she issued her own verdict – and with it came a punishment that would endure for centuries… until justice, however harsh, was once and for all served. ‘Come Hell or High Water: Part One: Wellspring’ by Stephen Morris carries readers back in time to witness this age-old injustice and follow the consequences, and culmination, of Fen’ka’s curse on the city of Prague. The chapters alternate between this fourteenth century storyline and another, set in 2002, centered on a young girl named Magdalena, whose fascination with the occult and determination to do more with her life have inexorably drawn her into Fen’ka’s post-mortem quest for justice. As Magdalena comes to terms with her otherworldly assignment in one chapter, the ways Fen’ka’s final words came back to haunt the villagers of Prague is explored in the next – and, so on and so forth it goes, masterfully, until the end of this, the first installment in the Come Hell or High Water trilogy.

‘Wellspring’ is an entirely enthralling, incredibly intense novel that seamlessly weaves together elements of history, folklore, popular culture, and religious, spiritual, and occult practices and beliefs – among other things. Author Stephen Morris’ passion for, and commitment to, his cast of characters is evident in his prose, which is fluid, dynamic, and absolutely haunting at times. As eloquently told as it is informative and thought-provoking, ‘Wellspring’ is a title worthy of standing on the shelf alongside acclaimed works such as those in The Vampire Chronicles and Mayfair Witches series penned by the mother of all things occult, Anne Rice. It’s definitely a page-turner and will hold your interest from start to end, though its end isn’t really and ending, but, rather, an invitation to the next book.

RED CITY REVIEWS also hosts an annual book award contest, that includes cash prizes in five different book categories, including Science Fiction/Fantasy. The Red City Review Book Awards offers a grand prize of $500, that also includes other great prizes that will help promote the winning book so that it receives the attention it deserves. Finalists will be announced October 10, 2014.

JUST IN! Part 1 receives Indie Reader Approved award!

The 2014 INDIE READER DISCOVERY AWARDS just announced that Come Hell or High Water, Part 1 has received their coveted “Indie Reader Approved” sticker! Their review says:

“Injustice comes in many forms, large or small. They creep inside our societies. And some injustices can shape the course of history.

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, PART ONE: WELLSPRING is about setting up a path to find justice. A woman, Fen’ka, a woman with ties to the occult, is burned for the crime of witchcraft, even though she’s helped the town with various request, from love potions to advice, medicine, requests for success, then a treasured cow (actually, it’s a heifer) dies, and all hell literally breaks lose. But Fen’ka manages to call upon Svetovit, a pagan god, and she curses the town’s future.

Fen’ka’s serial curses drive each chapter, and the reader is treated with discovering what might come of them. It’s almost Hitchcokian: Present the players. Tell us that these set of players will suffer. Then set the events loose. You relish in every mishap encountered.

From beyond the grave, Fen’ka enlists the help of a university personal assistant, Magdalena, to help her exact revenge on the town that murdered her, only now we’re in the year 2002.

…Out of the many characters we meet, Father Conrad is a standout. The priest who instigates Fen’ka’s burning and is to blame for another death in the book, rises from hand-rubbing villainy to something far more clever. You sympathize with his passions, and his ultimate fate is perhaps one of the book’s best moments. It’s clear that the author enjoys writing the 1325 sections of the book, because the prose really comes to life.

…Magdalena’s quest is heightened not so much because the reader is interested in seeing her obtain her heart’s desire (power), rather, the question is will Fen’ka get hers. And that’s good enough to propel the reader along.

A well-crafted yarn, which takes you deep into the year 1325, mysticism, religion, and pagan rites in a quaint Prague town, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, PART ONE: WELLSPRING is an epic journey worth taking.”