In the House of Leviathan

From Tome Tender:
A fishing village nestled in Italian cliffs, peopled by simple folk with religion and superstition. A blind, deaf man is seen summoning the devil and chaos ensues. An old paper mill, an undelivered letter, gruesome deaths, haunting spirits and a damaged soldier’s vow to keep his younger sister safe, In the House of Leviathan is a trip back in time, filled with terror, uncertainty and pain.

Book of the Year, Suspense, Finalist—Foreword Magazine
Book of the Year, Horror, Finalist—Foreword Magazine

From readers:
“The descriptions in the book were fantastic, and made me feel like I was actually in 19th century Italy. The village of Amalfi came to life for me, along with its characters.”
“With precision the author creates characters that are complex, realistic and unforgettable.”
“Very well crafted. The characters are each unique and well fleshed out, each with their own story to tell. Their voices are rich and reach out to the reader in fine fashion.”

“A brilliant novel. He mixes horror, love story, and detailed descriptions of a beautiful historical setting with a perfect balance.” —Critical Blast

“A powerful blend of images and experiences that rely on well-developed protagonists and settings steeped in historical background and different acts of courage.” —Midwest Book Review

“Bruns' prose invokes not only fear and suspense, but also proves his steady and deliberate writing voice.” —Writer’s Digest

“This man has seen it all!” - Deborah Roberts, ABC 20/20

“Bruns has tension building down to an art form. I was squirming in my seat to find out what would happen in the end." - Reader’s Favorite Reviews

“Bruns... creates well-imagined, realistic settings for his lively characters.” - Kirkus Reviews

REVIEWS

“Bruns has created a brilliant novel here. He mixes horror, love story, and detailed descriptions of a beautiful historical setting with a perfect balance.” - Critical Blast

"This is old-school horror like H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe. It scared the bee-jeezus out of me." - Revolution SF

“This story is a good, scary, Gothic style, keep the lights on all night, haunting story. Bruns has started slow and built up the creepy sensation to a bursting point. The war hero trying desperately to save his younger sister from the evil. The young fisherman fighting to save the girl he loves. The priest who knows the secret but is unable to tell.” - Reader Review

“I found this book to be an extreme delight. Bruns builds with a subtle tension rather than in your face horror. But do not misunderstand that statement: the horror is there and very real.” - Horror Novel Reviews

“Great character development and a lot of original ideas. Recommended!” - Horror After Dark

“The descriptions in the book were fantastic, and made me feel like I was actually in 19th century Italy. The village of Amalfi came to life for me, along with its characters.” - Reader Review

“I loved Grapaldi, who Giuseppe thinks of as a troll living in the darkness beneath the mill. Blind and ancient in years he's wise and perceptive, bringing light to the mystery that haunts the Apuzzo family.” - Reader Review

"Subtle terror. A suspenseful, interesting book. Recommended." -Readfulthings

"It's a story that is solidly based on psychological horror: as such, it provides a powerful blend of images and experiences that rely on well-developed protagonists and settings steeped in historical background and different acts of courage. Literary fans of the horror genre will find it an absorbing story that sacrifices light predictability for depth and solid development, making In the House of Leviathan a standout." -Midwest Book Review