bookswithdobby's review
4.0
Wow!
This book had my attention from start to finish. I really wish more detail was given in certain areas of the story, but all in all I enjoyed it!
This book had my attention from start to finish. I really wish more detail was given in certain areas of the story, but all in all I enjoyed it!
motherhorror's review
4.0
Review originally published in SCREAM Magazine issue #60 May/June 2020
Character-driven horror is my thing. I’m an emotional reader hoping to fall in love with the people in the story so that I can have my heart crushed when bad things may or may not happen to them. It’s all about that up-front investment. The Other Inside engages the reader right away. I found myself investing in the protagonist/narrator Billie early on; which raised the stakes and built up that lovely suspense and tension.
Billie is a troubled young man. His childhood home was wrought with violence, ultimately ending in the murder of his mother. Poor Billie is the unfortunate one to find his mother’s mutilated body on the floor in their home.
Ultimately, Billie runs away in order to leave behind painful memories and also this animalistic persona he finds himself transitioning into more and more as he grows older.
As the story progresses, Billie meets up with an old friend named, Claire and a lingering flame begins to burn. Claire sees that Billie is still haunted by his past and hopes to help him sort through all of his conflicting emotions.
There’s a real danger of me spoiling too much of the reader discovery in such a cleverly devised plotline so I’m holding back some of the more entertaining aspects of this story. I just want to make sure to recommend this novel to fans of character-driven (werewolf!) horror fiction. I had a good time with this one; pleasantly surprised that I had such an emotional experience with this one.
4.5
Writing up my review for SCREAM Magazine! I'm so excited because I previously was able to share J. M. White's debut novel, SHATTERED with SCREAM fans. The teaser: "this author is one to watch". Now I get to prove that White's storytelling is on that upward trajectory.
Readers who love character-driven (werewolf!) horror novels should get on this one.
Character-driven horror is my thing. I’m an emotional reader hoping to fall in love with the people in the story so that I can have my heart crushed when bad things may or may not happen to them. It’s all about that up-front investment. The Other Inside engages the reader right away. I found myself investing in the protagonist/narrator Billie early on; which raised the stakes and built up that lovely suspense and tension.
Billie is a troubled young man. His childhood home was wrought with violence, ultimately ending in the murder of his mother. Poor Billie is the unfortunate one to find his mother’s mutilated body on the floor in their home.
Ultimately, Billie runs away in order to leave behind painful memories and also this animalistic persona he finds himself transitioning into more and more as he grows older.
As the story progresses, Billie meets up with an old friend named, Claire and a lingering flame begins to burn. Claire sees that Billie is still haunted by his past and hopes to help him sort through all of his conflicting emotions.
There’s a real danger of me spoiling too much of the reader discovery in such a cleverly devised plotline so I’m holding back some of the more entertaining aspects of this story. I just want to make sure to recommend this novel to fans of character-driven (werewolf!) horror fiction. I had a good time with this one; pleasantly surprised that I had such an emotional experience with this one.
4.5
Writing up my review for SCREAM Magazine! I'm so excited because I previously was able to share J. M. White's debut novel, SHATTERED with SCREAM fans. The teaser: "this author is one to watch". Now I get to prove that White's storytelling is on that upward trajectory.
Readers who love character-driven (werewolf!) horror novels should get on this one.
exorcismofemilyreed's review
4.0
"What would they say if they knew what lived inside me?"
The Other Inside is the second book I've read by JM White. Her first book, Shattered, was sort of a combination of domestic thiller and horror, and I would say that The Other Inside is a straight up horror novel.
I really enjoyed this book! The synopsis caught my attention, and the book totally delivered. Once the story got going, I was totally hooked & couldn't put it down. The story is grim and interesting, and it held my attention throughout the entire book.
If you like serial killer / slasher horror, I highly recommend picking up The Other Inside when it comes out on 1/9. You don't want to miss out on this one!
The Other Inside is the second book I've read by JM White. Her first book, Shattered, was sort of a combination of domestic thiller and horror, and I would say that The Other Inside is a straight up horror novel.
I really enjoyed this book! The synopsis caught my attention, and the book totally delivered. Once the story got going, I was totally hooked & couldn't put it down. The story is grim and interesting, and it held my attention throughout the entire book.
If you like serial killer / slasher horror, I highly recommend picking up The Other Inside when it comes out on 1/9. You don't want to miss out on this one!
jpjackson's review
5.0
White has done one bang-up job in this tale. The novel is cleverly crafted between different points of view. The first-person point of view is used for all of the scenes that are happening in the here and now. When the author dives into the past, the writing narrative switches to the third person past tense. In addition, the story is told to us from both of the main characters; Billie and Clare.
Billie and Clare are best friends and neighbors in small-town America, where every house is hiding some secret. This book has several. We get to watch as these two grow up together, experience the trials of childhood, snippets of the teenage years and finally into young adulthood. Clare seems to have traveled well on her journey and yet we get clues, sometimes very subtle, other times told quite loudly, that all is not as it might seem.
Billie, on the other hand, has had one hell of a journey. Growing up in an abusive and toxic environment, thanks to an alcoholic stepfather, we see the end results of Billie’s formative years spent in fear. But, is the abuse his step-father delivers to every member of the family the reason why Billie is the way he is?
Billie likes blood. In fact, he needs it. Which gives this tale an incredibly different take on Vampires. “The Other” is Billie’s way of describing the cravings that overtake him, the indescribable need for blood. White holds our hand at the beginning of this tale and shows us (plausibly) how step-daddy’s anger and lashing out slowly turns Billie into someone who finds satisfaction in the coppery taste of life-giving blood. From the journey’s first steps of self-harm to animal hunting, to human murder.
The pivot point in this novel is the death of Billie’s mother. As the reader, we are left guessing, sort of, how the murder happened. Again, White leads us down a path of suspicion that would have you believe that Frank (the stepfather) is the murderer. But then maybe was it Billie?
Believe me, the truth of it all, I didn’t see coming. And that’s kind of how I found the whole book. I just didn’t see it coming. You suspect that something’s up – like when you pay money at the movie theater for a horror movie – you know what you’ve signed up for, yet you still end up jumping in your seat at the scary moments.
This is what White’s done. Clever. Very, very clever. “Look here, let’s walk down this path. Isn’t it dark and scary? See the shadows and the gnarled old roots of the giant trees?” And then something completely wild and unsuspected jumps out and leaves you breathless.
That’s The Other Inside.
At the end of the book, the author has her bio listed and some interesting information. The ‘vampirism’ in this tale is modeled after a real-life condition (not truly recognized yet) as Renfield Syndrome. I encourage you to read the extra page. It will send shivers down your spine.
Real. Vampires. Exist.
Now, go read this book.
Billie and Clare are best friends and neighbors in small-town America, where every house is hiding some secret. This book has several. We get to watch as these two grow up together, experience the trials of childhood, snippets of the teenage years and finally into young adulthood. Clare seems to have traveled well on her journey and yet we get clues, sometimes very subtle, other times told quite loudly, that all is not as it might seem.
Billie, on the other hand, has had one hell of a journey. Growing up in an abusive and toxic environment, thanks to an alcoholic stepfather, we see the end results of Billie’s formative years spent in fear. But, is the abuse his step-father delivers to every member of the family the reason why Billie is the way he is?
Billie likes blood. In fact, he needs it. Which gives this tale an incredibly different take on Vampires. “The Other” is Billie’s way of describing the cravings that overtake him, the indescribable need for blood. White holds our hand at the beginning of this tale and shows us (plausibly) how step-daddy’s anger and lashing out slowly turns Billie into someone who finds satisfaction in the coppery taste of life-giving blood. From the journey’s first steps of self-harm to animal hunting, to human murder.
The pivot point in this novel is the death of Billie’s mother. As the reader, we are left guessing, sort of, how the murder happened. Again, White leads us down a path of suspicion that would have you believe that Frank (the stepfather) is the murderer. But then maybe was it Billie?
Believe me, the truth of it all, I didn’t see coming. And that’s kind of how I found the whole book. I just didn’t see it coming. You suspect that something’s up – like when you pay money at the movie theater for a horror movie – you know what you’ve signed up for, yet you still end up jumping in your seat at the scary moments.
This is what White’s done. Clever. Very, very clever. “Look here, let’s walk down this path. Isn’t it dark and scary? See the shadows and the gnarled old roots of the giant trees?” And then something completely wild and unsuspected jumps out and leaves you breathless.
That’s The Other Inside.
At the end of the book, the author has her bio listed and some interesting information. The ‘vampirism’ in this tale is modeled after a real-life condition (not truly recognized yet) as Renfield Syndrome. I encourage you to read the extra page. It will send shivers down your spine.
Real. Vampires. Exist.
Now, go read this book.
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