Will Elliot: The Pilo Family Circus.

Horror/Supernatural, Bizarro Fiction, Fantasy. Published 2006

goodreads synopsis: Delivered by a trio of psychotic clowns, this ultimatum plunges Jamie into the horrific alternate universe that is the centuries-old Pilo Family Circus, a borderline world between Hell and Earth from which humankind’s greatest tragedies have been perpetrated. Yet in this place—peopled by the gruesome, grotesque, and monstrous—where violence and savagery are the norm, Jamie finds that his worst enemy is himself.

My thoughts: Absolutely twisted, strange and fantastic. A good introduction to bizarro fiction, my first time reading that genre. A messy, creepy and fast ride to Hell. I was entertained throughout. There is a Book 2 continuing the story and I’ll read it. Really good stuff. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘The Pilgrims’ was kind of disappointing; I picked this up because a portal fantasy sounded like a fun thing to read, but it just didn't work for me. Standard fantasy world with an evil overlord, a grubby resistance, scattered monsters and demi-humans, casual sexism, and a 'hero' with a 'destiny.' Most damningly, there was no sense of wonder -- despite the occasional interesting idea or evocative scene, I never felt impressed or awed by the world... and what's the point of a portal fantasy that can't even do that?

Read an excerpt from Word's End, the final volume in Will Elliott's Pendulum Trilogy.

When Eric Albright, a luckless London slacker, and his pal Stuart Casey went through a battered red door under a railway bridge, the last thing they expected to find was another world. There lay the strange, dark realm of Levaal, whose tyrant lord Vous has ascended to godhood. The great wall which has divided the land has been brought down, setting loose a horde of demonic Tormentors. In their sky prisons, the dragons are stirring, set to defy their slumbering creator and steal humanity’s world.