Tag: The Ballad of Bonaduke

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 4: The Five by R. T. Slaywood: In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

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On October 14, 2022

In Urban Fantasy

The Ballad of BonadukeThe Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 4: The Five

by R.T. Slaywood

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #4
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 13, 2022

Recovering, I stood up straight, and stared at his right eye. His eyes bounced back and forth between mine, the gun moving with his gaze. Another one of my dad’s tricks as only professionals shoot a moving gun.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into something.

What’s The Five About?

Bonaduke walks in on a liquor store robbery and takes it upon himself to intervene. We still don’t get a clear idea of his abilities or of whatever it is that makes this an Urban Fantasy. And wow. He’s not messing around. You get the impression that things are going to go bad for him soon–like he expected after his grift, which was a smaller exercise of his abilities. So whatever is coming will probably be even worse than that (and the last sentence seems to suggest we’ll see that soon).

So, what did I think about The Bad Stuff?

I really liked this one–good action, nice magic (or whatever it turns out to be), and I liked what we saw of Bonaduke and his motivations. If we get episodes like this on a fairly regular basis, I’m really going to enjoy this series.

Good hook for the next episode, too.

3.5 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 3: The Bad Stuff by R. T. Slaywood: We Get a Little Backstory

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On October 7, 2022

In Urban Fantasy

The Ballad of BonadukeThe Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 3: The Bad Stuff

by R.T. Slaywood

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #3
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: October 6, 2022

“Tell your friends you can have my body when I’m done.” The bird made a point not to look at me as it pecked at some garbage that had caught itself on the building’s corner, just like everyone else in this damn city did.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

What’s The Bad Stuff About?

Bonaduke slumps off to drink his ill-gotten windfall, but the memories overcome him. We don’t get details, but we learn his father died, he grew up in foster care, then his wife and children died.

So, what did I think about The Bad Stuff?

I don’t want to keep harping on the brevity of these things–that’s apparently part of the design. But man…as soon as I get into episode, it’s over.

It was nice–it filled in some needed motive and the last line or two definitely set the hook for Episode 4. I’m coming back for sure.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 2: The Register by R. T. Slaywood: Bad Stuff on the Horizon

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On September 30, 2022

In Urban Fantasy

The Ballad of BonadukeThe Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 2: The Grift

by R.T. Slaywood

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #2
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: September 29, 2022

…when weird stuff happened, it was a sign that the bad stuff was close by.

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink.

What’s The Grift About?

Bonaduke gets a sign that he shouldn’t proceed with the grift–and he actually doesn’t have to anymore. But he goes ahead, anyway, and gets a little carrying around money and the bottle he wants so much.

But there appears to be a price for his little trick–and he knows he’s going to pay it soon.

So, what did I think about The Register?

Okay, these story segments are wayyyy too short for me–as soon as I start to dig my teeth into something, it’s over. I’m curious to see what comes next–it promises to explain a little about what’s going on. I don’t expect that to be good for Michael.

3 Stars

The Ballad of Bonaduke—Episode 1: The Register by R. T. Slaywood: A Sufficiently Intriguing Introduction

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On September 23, 2022

In Urban Fantasy

The Ballad of BonadukeThe Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 1: The Register

by R.T. Slaywood

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #1
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: September 22, 2022

I’m not sure how I got here and, honestly, I stopped caring.

I mean, I know, but I don’t remember.

Ah, who am I kidding? I know exactly how I got here, I can never forget the screams from that night.

The Story So Far…

Okay, this is Episode 1, so there’s nothing to put here now. This is the introduction to the series. The author states

This episode is the baseline, the norm for Michael Bonaduke; a broken man, and protagonist of this story. Everything from here on is abnormal, and will help you understand how Bonaduke came to be.

Which sounds pretty ominous, no?

What’s The Register About?

An inebriated man shops at a liquor store for another bottle to help him get through the night. Exactly what’s driven him to this, we don’t know, but he’s looking for an escape—not a good time.

He’s a little short on cash, though, and begins a “grift” to get the money he needs from the cashier. This, I think, is where the paranormal aspect kicks in—but we’ll have to see next time.

So, what did I think about The Register?

It’s not bad—it definitely gives you plenty to be interested in and leaves you wanting to know more.

I’m pretty curious about Bonaduke, which is the point. But beyond that? It’s too soon to say.

3 Stars

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