Greedy as a Ghoul


Fiction - Short Story/Novela
66 Pages
Reviewed on 04/09/2023
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

My name is Casey Sutton. I am a huge nerd and have been carrying books around with me since I was old enough to walk and carry things. I grew up immersed in fantasy worlds in books, video games, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with my friends. I was usually stuck being the Dungeon Master and creating imaginary worlds and characters for my friends.

I am an Army veteran, and have been to both Iraq and Afghanistan. I spent my time overseas reading fantasy books and dreaming about being a writer one day, but didn't get the push to follow my dreams until a near-death experience in South Africa in 2018. I quit waiting around to write and started my book that night—in the hospital bed.

A bit more about me, I love cats and have four. I am also a self-taught mycologist and forage for wild mushrooms, and have grown my own! I still love video games and Dungeons and Dragons too!

I am the author of Malfus: Necromancer Unchained. It has been edited by an editor who has worked with Neil Gaiman, Brandon Sanderson, and Dan Abnett!

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Greedy as a Ghoul is a work in the dark fantasy, adventure, and action subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience due to its graphic violence and gore. It forms the prequel story for the upcoming novel Malfus: Necromancer Unchained. In this work penned by Casey Sutton, we are introduced to our protagonist, Malfus, who cares for little but himself and lives by his wits alone. But when Malfus finds himself deserted in a strange land, even he feels the burden of survival, especially when he discovers a battlefield filled with corpses. Will his necromantic skills be enough to understand and conquer the challenges ahead in this strange and deadly place?

Casey Sutton has made a significant move in releasing this extended short story as a prequel. It works brilliantly as a study of character, world, and a mysterious grimdark plotline while also whetting our appetites for a much bigger exciting book to come later. Malfus is, of course, the star of the show, with a well-rounded personality and many dark traits that become oddly endearing the more you get to know him. Although we’re wrapped up in action, and there’s plenty of it from cover to cover, you get a sense of who Malfus is and his background through the close narrative and the intent and atmosphere of his dialogue. All of this makes for fantastic dark fantasy reading. Overall, I would highly recommend Greedy as a Ghoul as a fast-paced and highly accessible way to meet your new favorite author.

Essien Asian

A lone traveler makes his way through the muck and grime that characterizes the land that is Monrovia. A fugitive from the Ossorian Empire, this is the only option left to him if he is to hone his craft as the Vesenian Orthodoxy has outlawed necromancy and everything associated with it. Woe betide the unfortunate soul caught up in that business as they would very likely end up having to choose between the stake and the stockade. For Malfus, there is no price too high to pay so long as he will get back his Kiara. So if he must brave the mercenaries and brigands that have made Monrovia notorious, then so be it. He will soon discover why the church is wary of negative energy powered by the old Shal-Umbran tongue in Casey Sutton's Greedy As A Ghoul.

Greedy As A Ghoul is the short story prequel to the upcoming book titled Malfus: Necromancer Unchained. Casey Sutton gives us a taste of what to expect from this novel. The backstory to the circumstances behind the schism between Malfus and the Ossorian Empire is simplistic yet surprisingly thorough for a short story. Sutton's use of vivid descriptions and gripping storytelling creates the perfect atmosphere for the reader to become completely immersed in this fantasy tale. Malfus is quite the character with his somewhat grumpy attitude and wry sense of humor but his escapade on the battlefield sets the tone for what can only be a thrilling novel ahead. If Greedy As A Ghoul is just the appetizer, I can't wait for the full-course meal.

Alex Ndirangu

Far into Monrovia's marshy countryside, an exiled necromancer wanders, hungry and desperate to find shelter for the night. Though the swampland is a lawless frontier where sword and dagger serve as judge and jury, it is the only place where Malfus can continue his research on life and death - the same study that led to his rejection by society. However, to unlock the arcane secrets needed to bring his beloved back, Malfus is willing to pay the price. But tonight, the endeavor might turn ugly. It all starts when Malfus discovers dozens of corpses strewn across a battlefield. With an intense focus on the negative energy pervading the area and a few words from his spellbook, he builds a formidable army of the dead. But as darkness sets in and eerie stillness dominates the night, ancient, formidable horrors creep in to unleash untold wrath upon the living and the dead. Will Malfus survive the night? Read Greedy as a Ghoul by Casey Sutton to find out.

Greedy as a Ghoul is for those who wish to forget about the real world and immerse themselves in an adrenaline-pumping adventure. Casey Sutton presents the descriptions of the setting so that they evoke powerful images in your mind and induce strong emotions. You can visualize the crows and vultures leaving the clearing and flying away into the woods as the dead stir to their masters' commands. Things get even more unsettling when the skies grow darker, and rolling mist blurs Malfus' vision. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was watching him from the woods. The narrator's voice is primarily in the third person omniscient. He chronologically recounts past events through foreshadowing and even predicts the fate of the characters in the book. The random moments of soliloquy when Malfus was thinking things over made it easy for me to relate to his vulnerabilities. What I admired most about him was how his will to survive and succeed remained strong, even as ancient curses and an enemy driven by utter malice roamed the night. I hope that readers will like him as much as I did. If you are searching for a book to take you on an epic adventure through mesmerizing graphic presentations, this is just the perfect read.

Maria Victoria Beltran

Greedy as a Ghoul by Casey Sutton is an engaging prequel to the upcoming full-length novel Malfus: Necromancer Unchained. The story follows the protagonist, Malfus, a rogue necromancer who must abandon his old life and venture into a strange and dangerous land. The plot revolves around Malfus's struggle for survival as he finds himself alone, hungry, and armed only with his spell book. The story takes a thrilling turn when Malfus stumbles upon a battlefield littered with corpses. However, he quickly realizes that he is not the only one interested in the site. As night falls and the mist thickens, Malfus is forced to confront the dark and dangerous creatures that lurk in the shadows.

Casey Sutton‘s Greedy as a Ghoul is a gripping prequel that should grab the attention of fans of the genre. Sutton's writing style is engaging and descriptive, and he creates a vivid and immersive world. The author does an excellent job of building a rich and detailed world filled with magic, monsters, and danger. The action scenes are thrilling and well-paced, and the book has a dark and atmospheric tone that adds to the sense of danger and suspense. Malfus is a fascinating protagonist and is both flawed and relatable. His struggle for survival keeps readers captivated from the first page to the last. With a well-written plot, engaging characters, and an atmospheric tone, this is an enjoyable read. The prequel is a great introduction to Malfus, and readers will undoubtedly be eager to pick up the full-length novel when it releases.

Bryone Peters

Greedy as a Ghoul by Casey Sutton offers an entertainingly fresh twist to the usual zombie run-and-hide theme. It's about a man skilled in necromancy, a rare magic used to conquer the dead. The fun part is that the conjurer, Malfus, enslaves these zombies. A cold and starving Malfus commands the zombies to take any items that may be of value. However, his plans go awry when he has to contend with the nefariously hungry zombie-eating ghouls. Unfortunately, the ghouls start to hunt his fresh flesh. The odds of escaping the ghouls are becoming slim. As an outcast misfit with only his zombies to protect him in the dark and rain, he soon realizes he might not make it through the night.

Greedy as a Ghoul by Casey Sutton should be a hit. It will appeal to thrill seekers and action-loving fans. The plot revolves around zombies used as pawns for survival between good and evil. The good guy in this story is the anti-hero. The bad, in this case, is a primordial type of evil. The writing is excellent; the dialogue in the opening chapter was enough to get me hooked. The scene I loved best is where Malfus insists that the set of dead bodies is his. The dialogue with the would-be thieves just before the dead bodies come alive in front of them was epic, resulting in them fleeing like crazy. The orange and blue mind threads acting as mental tethers were a fantastic inclusion in an impressive plot.

Pikasho Deka

Once he had the ambition to become one of the few licensed mages in the Ossory empire, but necromancer, exile, and outlaw Malfus must now traverse the treacherous swampy terrain of Monrovia, armed with just the spellbook in his pocket. Although free from the oppressive reach of the Ossory Inquisition, Malfus is broke, starving, and alone in an unfamiliar land with unknown dangers every step of the way. Soon, he finds himself coming across a recent battlefield, with scores of dead soldiers being feasted upon by crows and buzzards. Using his abilities, Malfus reanimates some of the corpses and turns them into his own small army of zombies. But will they be enough to protect him from the creatures he will stumble upon next? Find out in Casey Sutton's Greedy As A Ghoul.

Fantasy lovers who enjoy short stories will find this one to be an absolute treat. Greedy As A Ghoul is a prequel short story to Casey Sutton's upcoming full-length fantasy novel, Malfus: Necromancer Unchained. Sutton creates an intense and terrifying atmosphere within a short amount of pages. The narrative is filled with tension and dread, with monstrous creatures roaming a bleak landscape where you're never sure what you will be up against next. Malfus is a riveting protagonist. It's hinted that he has a tragic backstory which makes him a mystery to unfold. I am eager to learn more about his story in the upcoming novel. Overall, this is a fantastic introduction to this world. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will gladly recommend this book to all fantasy aficionados out there.

Rolanda Lyles

Malfus has left his school, home, and everything he knows to try to find a way to bring his friend back. In school, they learned magic spells, but nothing is strong enough for what he is trying to do, so he has chosen to be a rogue. He is a lone necromancer with nothing to his name except his spellbook. Since leaving his old life behind, he finds himself starving and alone. While wandering, he comes across a battlefield with dead bodies strewn across the ground. Malfus summons the bodies to become undead workers to help him search and plunder for valuables, but he isn't the only one looking to get a good meal.

Casey Sutton's Greedy as a Ghoul is an action-packed short fantasy story with magic and creepy creatures that will make your skin crawl! If you like monsters and love stories that give you the thrill of the chase then this is the perfect story for you. Sutton's writing and imagery with the characters are so vivid that readers can see clearly the creepy ghouls and the undead zombies. With hungry ghouls that want to eat every bit of your flesh and bones against an equally greedy necromancer who wants to keep all the battle's plunder, who do you think will win in the end? Will Malfus learn the magic spell to save his friend or become a tasty treat for the hungry ghouls? Find out in Casey Sutton's amazing story Greedy as a Ghoul.

Cloie Belle Daffon

Malfus would give anything for a warm bath and a hot meal but his journey to the dreary swampland had already cost him everything. As a rogue necromancer with barely anything left, it was difficult for him to continue on his journey and do his research when he was barely scraping by. His difficult adventure took an unexpected turn when he spotted vultures in the distance. Buzzards meant bodies and as a necromancer, bodies gave him an idea. Little did he know that he would be facing more than just crows and buzzards when he found dozens of bodies strewn across a clearing. Where will his arduous journey lead him? Read Greedy as a Ghoul, a prequel to Malfus - Necromancer Unchained (Necromancer's Awakening) by Casey Sutton.

This short story took me on an unexpected hair-raising journey. Greedy as a Ghoul by Casey Sutton has a fast-paced narrative that hooked me from the very first chapter. Malfus had given up on his home and future for a chance to save what was important to him and, along the way, he faced danger he could never have imagined. I admired his perseverance in the face of hunger and hopelessness. Even when it seemed as if everything was against him, he marched on with unwavering belief. The author has skillfully created a captivating storyline and managed to paint an intriguing tale in less than 50 pages. The vivid descriptions made me feel as if I was with Malfus as he discovered a body-strewn field and fought vicious ghouls. Add to that the colorful and fascinating illustrations by Dejan Delic. The book had me enthralled and it left me wanting more.

Savannah Aldridge

Enter a world of intrigue, dark magic, and fantasy horror with Greedy as a Ghoul by Casey Sutton. Malfus has fled the security of the academy to wander throughout Ossoria, pursuing the forbidden art of raising the dead with magic. He lives day to day on what he can scavenge through zombies and locals while teaching himself necromancy with the ancient banned texts he has stolen in the hope of restoring his most treasured loved one back to life. In this short story, a companion to the novel Malfus: Necromancer Unchained, Malfus runs into trouble when creatures more feared than he or his zombies emerge from the mist, that of flesh-eating ghouls. Will Malfus’ magic be enough to stave off the ravenous monsters, and what will it cost him to survive? Be aware that this piece contains gore, graphic violence, and dark magic in the form of necromancy.

Casey Sutton’s Greedy as a Ghoul took me into a fantasy realm that left me wanting more! This short story sets up the world of Ossoria, where dark magic is suppressed, monsters lurk in the night, and a vast, magical distortion of the land called The Scar crosses the country. A detailed map and well-executed world-building throughout the text hooked me into Malfus’ life. As a character, Malfus has the right balance of human connection and enigmatic personality to make me root for him, even amid his questionable life choices. I loved the experience of witnessing what could make a necromancer with an army of zombies afraid of the dark. Fantasy aficionados and those new to the genre will enjoy Malfus’ adventures. A warning; be sure to read this piece with the lights on.

Luwi Nyakansaila

Casey Sutton's Greedy as a Ghoul is an epic fantasy novella set in the land of Ossoria, and it follows the story of Malfus, a necromancer. In his quest to harness negative energy to get back his beloved Kiara. Malfus angers the church. He is banished from his homeland, and his dreams of becoming a licensed mage are shattered. Armed with his spell book, he seeks a new land to continue his research. Hungry and exhausted, he treks on until he comes across a field of dead bodies, hidden treasures, and weapons. He gathers his strength and managers to raise brainless zombies from the dead to help him carry the treasure and weapons. Unfortunately, Malfus does not know that a group of dangerous creatures is following him and his new companions.

Greedy as a Ghoul is the prequel to the full-length novel Malfus: Necromancer Unchained by Casey Sutton. This book did what a prequel is supposed to do. It made me curious about the next book. Malfus's character is complicated, and his personality is intriguing. I still cannot tell if he will be a hero or a villain. Either way, I will be rooting for him. The author's descriptions were picture-perfect, and I enjoyed all the suspense, drama, and action. I also loved the way the author wrote and arranged this book. Each chapter begins with an intriguing quote and skull images, making it visually appealing to read. He also created maps of Ossoria. I recommend this novella to all epic fantasy book lovers. The story of Malfus has just begun, and more is yet to come.

Courtnee Turner Hoyle

Greedy as a Ghoul by Casey Sutton serves as a prequel to the forthcoming novel Malfus: Necromancer Unchained. Malfus has abandoned the comfort of the academy and his dream of becoming a mage to improve his skills as a necromancer. Necromancy has been outlawed in his region, so he travels to the far-flung reaches of Monrovia to research the dark arts and learn everything possible about the secret of overcoming death. Malfus is in urgent need of money for food, lodgings, and supplies. A recent battle scene provides him with an opportunity to use his developing talents and scavenge for money and provisions. When a ghoul shows up, his abilities are put to the test as he fights for his life.

Casey Sutton immerses readers in a world of dark arts and ghastly creatures in this short story. The brief introduction to Malfus allows readers to get a feel for his character and understand the reason behind his desperate need to perfect his necromancy skills. Even the author’s lesser descriptions seem relevant as they represent hidden clues about the plot for Malfus: Necromancer Unchained. This book moves along at a fast pace, leaving the reader eager for the full-length sequel. Sutton provides a map to introduce Ossoria and the Scar and includes two scenes from the next book to tease readers. Greedy as a Ghoul is a great start to a promising story and will attract readers who enjoy dark worlds.