n0rmann's review
5.0
A dark coming of age story that left me wishing it was longer - nothing wrong with the story, I just loved it so much I wanted to keep reading.
alissaklobe's review
2.0
One of the most stunning covers I've ever seen. I wanted this to be so scary. I expected it to chill me.
Instead, I feel like this was a brilliant storyline, an amazing concept, but it lost its way. Its like the author was too afraid of going darker. Some intriguing concepts are explored but it's so surface level.
I don't know. Just wasn't my favorite.
Instead, I feel like this was a brilliant storyline, an amazing concept, but it lost its way. Its like the author was too afraid of going darker. Some intriguing concepts are explored but it's so surface level.
I don't know. Just wasn't my favorite.
biblio_kel's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This was a short and intriguing read that I'm of two minds about.
On one hand, I enjoyed the plot and dark, ritualistic nature of the story, but, on the other hand, the protagonist's age made aspects of the story feel uncomfortable and inappropriate. As a grown woman, I don't want to be reading about 16 year olds having sex, especially in the circumstances that occur towards the end of the book.
If the protagonist had been in their early twenties, I would have felt more at ease with the themes and likely would have engaged with the story to a greater degree.
This is the kind of dark, twisted tale my teenage self would have really enjoyed.
On one hand, I enjoyed the plot and dark, ritualistic nature of the story, but, on the other hand, the protagonist's age made aspects of the story feel uncomfortable and inappropriate. As a grown woman, I don't want to be reading about 16 year olds having sex, especially in the circumstances that occur towards the end of the book.
If the protagonist had been in their early twenties, I would have felt more at ease with the themes and likely would have engaged with the story to a greater degree.
This is the kind of dark, twisted tale my teenage self would have really enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
Under-age sexwolfmom75's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
horrorghoul's review
2.0
TW: alcoholism, toxic relationships, abandoning child, fat shaming, gory scenes, parents death, cancer, animal death
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:After the death of his father and his mother taking off, it becomes clear to Ben that the only thing he can count on, is no one to count on.Until he finds the book. One that calls forth a shadowy horned figure.She comes with unexpected gifts and the comfort of a dependable presence.She asks for very little in return, really. The more Ben offers her, the easier it gets.Sometimes, family requires more than a little sacrifice...
Release Date: August 31st, 2021
Genre: Horror
Pages: 132
Rating: ⭐⭐2.5
What I Liked:
• The cover is creepy af
• The storyline sounded interesting
What I Didn't Like:
• I fucking knew the cat was going to die
• Pretty boring and you know everything that's going to happen
Overall Thoughts: My thoughts as soon as the book started wanting blood was please don't feed the kitten to her.. Please don't! I know it's a fictional cat but I HATE reading about animals dying and I always skip those parts. I found the book kind of straightforward. I can tell an older woman wrote this because there's a part where in the bunger there's a mention of tit & ass magazines.... Um why would a teen boy who owns a cell phone be looking at magazines? Also if you love hearing about a 16 - year old boys dick getting hard 100 times this is for you. The cat died..... Sigh. At least it wasn't in too much detail. I'm confused on how understanding Steve is even after Ben locks him in the bunker and comes back and cuts his ear off and then back again to kill him. It's like he didn't even care to get out. Plus how did he lose so much weight in a few days if he had snacks? Yeah snacks aren't much but they are high in fat and Steve's not burning calories doing much. There just seems to be so many plot issues here. Like the sister comes to visit Ben and says she hasn't seen Steve in days and Ben says the last time they were together was the woods. But Ben goes back to the woods it's like the parents aren't even searching for Ben back there at the last known place he was at. Like how did they not stumble upon the bunker themselves? Did they not file a missing report on their kid?
Final Thoughts: I'd consider this as a reversed version of Clive Barkers "The Hellbound Heart" aká Hellraiser. I liked that much better but not by much. Devil is in the details and I think that's something that is often forgotten in novellas.
IG|Blog
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:After the death of his father and his mother taking off, it becomes clear to Ben that the only thing he can count on, is no one to count on.Until he finds the book. One that calls forth a shadowy horned figure.She comes with unexpected gifts and the comfort of a dependable presence.She asks for very little in return, really. The more Ben offers her, the easier it gets.Sometimes, family requires more than a little sacrifice...
Release Date: August 31st, 2021
Genre: Horror
Pages: 132
Rating: ⭐⭐2.5
What I Liked:
• The cover is creepy af
• The storyline sounded interesting
What I Didn't Like:
• I fucking knew the cat was going to die
• Pretty boring and you know everything that's going to happen
Overall Thoughts: My thoughts as soon as the book started wanting blood was please don't feed the kitten to her.. Please don't! I know it's a fictional cat but I HATE reading about animals dying and I always skip those parts. I found the book kind of straightforward. I can tell an older woman wrote this because there's a part where in the bunger there's a mention of tit & ass magazines.... Um why would a teen boy who owns a cell phone be looking at magazines? Also if you love hearing about a 16 - year old boys dick getting hard 100 times this is for you. The cat died..... Sigh. At least it wasn't in too much detail. I'm confused on how understanding Steve is even after Ben locks him in the bunker and comes back and cuts his ear off and then back again to kill him. It's like he didn't even care to get out. Plus how did he lose so much weight in a few days if he had snacks? Yeah snacks aren't much but they are high in fat and Steve's not burning calories doing much. There just seems to be so many plot issues here. Like the sister comes to visit Ben and says she hasn't seen Steve in days and Ben says the last time they were together was the woods. But Ben goes back to the woods it's like the parents aren't even searching for Ben back there at the last known place he was at. Like how did they not stumble upon the bunker themselves? Did they not file a missing report on their kid?
Final Thoughts: I'd consider this as a reversed version of Clive Barkers "The Hellbound Heart" aká Hellraiser. I liked that much better but not by much. Devil is in the details and I think that's something that is often forgotten in novellas.
IG|Blog
acouplereadss's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
thesawyerbean's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Well-written, dark, intriguing - a *pleasure* to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death of parent, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Murder, and Violence
leahrosereads's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The basics
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐
Start: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐.5
Ending: ⭐⭐
Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I loved
The beginning drew me in. I was so interested in everything that what happening with Ben and the book, but then, it started going a bit downhill for me. I felt like the plot got a little lost, and I do not like animal/pet deaths. In this case, there was no reason for it other than to show the change in the character.
I'm definitely interested in checking out other books by this author, but I'll be more cautious going into them.
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐
Start: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐.5
Ending: ⭐⭐
Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I loved
The beginning drew me in. I was so interested in everything that what happening with Ben and the book, but then, it started going a bit downhill for me. I felt like the plot got a little lost, and I do not like animal/pet deaths. In this case, there was no reason for it other than to show the change in the character.
I'm definitely interested in checking out other books by this author, but I'll be more cautious going into them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Murder
Minor: Homophobia