Customer Reviews

Blood Moon (Tales of da Yoopernatural)

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PD Allen's Blood Moon is volume I of PD Allen's "Tales of the Yoopernatural" a series of books and stories taking place in the Michigan's Upper Peninsula though it's not exactly Michigan's, it's Allen's.

In these tales the author has created a world of myth and legend, a world which looks a lot like the one we inhabit but is just a bit skewed with the occasional portal to other dimensions, appearance of mythical creatures, spirits, ghosts and more. Allen skillfully weaves in geology and history while maintaining the story's tension and pace.

Blood Moon is the tale recounted by Connie Hillman. Connie trained as an anthropologist, earns her living as a writer of historical fiction. She begins by telling us a story of her Grandfather's encounter strange encounter with a benign hairy giant who he comes to believe was guarding the land from a mythical monster. We know, that like Chekov's gun on the mantle piece, we are sure to encounter the giant and the monster again.

Connie is an astute narrator and her story involves her travails as a grad student where she first encounters Phil Waverly, an anthropology professor with some unconventional ideas. Phil becomes Connie's advisor and her lover. Connie becomes enmeshed in university politics and Phil's feud with Warren Stanton, the department head. Like James Hynes, Allen is knowledgeable about life in academia and uses this well to set up the action for his story.

Years after her relationship with Phil has ended, Connie is drawn in when he summons her to archeological dig in the Huron Mountains where some strange events are occurring. It's here that the writing really shines as Allen connects the Grandfather's story to the phenomena at the site.

This is smartly told story that will appeal to lovers of supernatural suspense as well as anyone interested in American and Native American legends and generally anyone interested in good stories.

As an added bonus, a haunting short story, The Buck of Mulligan Plains is included.

I look forward to reading further tales of this magical place.

I enjoyed both the tales here. They are fast reads, and kept me engaged - very well written. When I first saw the word "Yoopernatural" I thought, nah, can't be...

What really won me over though was the locale - very well described. I was born in L'Anse and lived across the harbor in Baraga for the first two years of my life. When we go back, we always stop at the Hilltop for their cinnamon rolls so it was really a hoot for me to find this in a book!

My Dad was a Michigan State trooper up there when we lived there. He says he didn't know of any ghosts in the mountains, but he DID know a State Trooper of Indian descent!

Anyway, even if you don't know the area, the stories are good.

I will keep reading the tales of da Yoopernatural!

I bought this after finding a thread with many people from the Michigan Upper Penisula "speaking" in their unusual dialect. I thought their posts and stories to be entertaining and decided to purchase the book based on that. Boy, am I glad I did. The 2 stories were very different, but equally enjoyable. The first was very creepy and kept me engaged throughout. The second was a beautiful, spiritual story that had a wonderful ending tinged with sadness.
I have already bought the second volume and am anxious to read it. It is hovering somewhere near the top of my TBR list.
Well done!

I didn't know what to expect when I bought the book, but it was great. The first book was very scary and the second was very calming and mystic.

PD Allen has a special gift. He can create an alternate reality mixed with earthy and totally real characters. The style reminds me of Clifford D Simak who put science fiction among backwoods peoples who keep themselves to themselves.

I love this stuff, but find it difficult to explain what makes it special. Perhaps the best thing to say is that you can smell the leaf mould and when you touch the mud your hands come away dirty. Local legends blended with locals so it seems they are old friends you already know.

I would recommend this book unreservedly, especially if you like the legends of the indigenous people of America.

I enjoyed the book. Normally I do not care for ghost stories but the plot of this book kept me entertained. We go bear hunting in L'anse every year. Really love the Upper Peninsula, except for mosquitoes. Some of the yoopers use that slang but not all of them. Our own slang was that we would frequent the "Skanky" Bar.

Blood Moon is a short enjoyable read which combines American folklore with modern horror sensibilities. It only took me a couple of sittings to read both stories, but for the price it is not a bad deal. I particularly enjoyed the second tale, "The Buck of Mulligan Plains" which was less a horror story and more a tale of nature reclaiming her own; reminds me a little of Blackwood's stories but more compact. Anyway, highly recommended! I'm awaiting the second volume which is supposed to be out Feb 2010.

This book captures your interest in the beginning with Connie Hillman's grandfather telling about an unusual character appearing to help him.
It builds from that to the strange happenings in the mountains. Very entertaining!