Indies Introduce

Fiction

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  The Militia House, John Milas
  Henry Holt and Co., 9781250857064, July 11, 2023 (Fiction)
  

  “A thrilling debut horror story and a commentary on the lasting impact of war on soldiers. Upon first glance, the story centers on a seemingly routine deployment for an American unit in Afghanistan, but everything changes the minute the soldiers step inside the militia house, an abandoned Soviet-era barracks.”

  —Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC
  
  

  “Let me put it out there: I don’t typically read war or horror books. But what Afghanistan veteran John Milas has accomplished by combining the two genres is chilling, enlightening, and so very sad. An amazing insight into the deployment experience as well as PTSD that has stuck with me.”

  —Beth Shapiro, Skylark Bookshop, Columbia, MO
  

  “Absolutely gripping and completely unexpected, The Militia House is a powerhouse of a novel that ensnares the reader in its unsettling atmosphere from the first page. The commentary around the military industrial complex and PTSD is subtle and savvy, casting a critical eye that never fully dives into polemic, this is a wild, immersive, wholly unique ride.”

  —Wesley Minter, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA

   

  “War novels are definitely not my thing, but The Militia House immediately sucked me in. This horror-tinged story gave me a visceral feel for what real deployment must feel like: the boredom, the nonsensical administrative quagmires, the toll it takes mentally and physically, and the resulting PTSD. The horror may seem imagined, but it is very real.”

  —Alana Haley, Schuler’s Books, Grand Rapids, MI