Horror Review: Cthulhu Armageddon by C.T. Phipps

Cthulhu Armageddon is a book that blends the elements of several genres, and does so with some surprising success. There's definitely some Mad Max insanity behind it, but what struck me most strongly was the way C.T. Phipps pays a sort of homage to Stephen King's The Stand, while taking a page out of Brian Lumley's book and swapping the awkward biblical mythology for the far more satisfying (and terrifying) Cthulhu mythos.

This is the story of John Henry Booth, a stone-cold exterminator of threats to the remnants of humanity. A loyal solider and respected leader, he is forced to question his very existence when a mysterious encounter leaves him branded a traitor. Declared dead, he sets out with a disgraced torturer to find the truth, seek his revenge, and continue his mission - but only after his wife's monstrous attempt at betrayal goes awry,

There's so much to like about this story - action, horror, humor, and some heavy emotions. It's an incredibly fatalistic look at humanity's future, but it's Booth's interactions with the women around him give us a reason to keep going. From his affection for a cursed child and a solider thought lost, to his awkward trust for both a torturer and a cult leader, Phipps keeps the monstrous from completely overwhelming the humanity.

For those wondering about the Cthulhu aspect, it is a significant part of the story - not just window dressing. This is a book that gets very trippy at times, complete with dream world encounters, gods and old ones, magic, and inhuman power. More than once I had to stop, go back, and reread a section just to appreciate how much was going on. The opening discovery of "a genuine, honest-to-god cathedral with soaring towers and architecture" in the middle of nowhere, constructed of "stones seemingly formed from the very night itself," sets the tone for the story, and the climax deep within that same alien temple delivers on every level.

Comprised of equal parts horror, science fiction, and weird western, Cthulhu Armageddon is that rare book that delivers on them all, and which should appeal to a wide audience. It's dark, grim, and deeply unsettling, but unlike its subject matter, never entirely alien.


Kindle Edition, 267 pages
Published August 22nd 2016 by Crossroad Press

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.