Book Review: The Modern Prometheus: An Existential Body Horror Novel by Jayson Robert Ducharme
The Modern Prometheus: An Existential Body Horror Novel
Author: Jayson Robert Ducharme
Published: April 24, 2022
295 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
Peter Murphy, a college professor and family man, has lost everything. Following a tragic series of events, he awakens to discover that parts of his body have been replaced with parts from corpses, and his creator is not giving him all the answers he needs. With little to lose, Peter begins an odyssey to reclaim his old life and come to terms with his new one. Finding a world that has long since moved on without him, he descends into destructive madness, leaving blood and death wherever he goes.
THE MODERN PROMETHEUS is a 300 page “existential body horror” novel about a man reanimated from death, who discovers horrific truths about the nature of his death that will bring about a crescendo of violence and catastrophe.
Kim’s Review:
Ooh…. This was a good one! Starting with the cover: Fabulous. Honestly, the cover was the whole reason I bought the book in the first place. Then I started reading, and I was hooked! This story had me going till the very end! I’ll admit that I’ve never read Frankenstein, though I do know the story. Obviously there are some similarities, but I liked that I wasn’t constantly comparing them. I really liked all the characters too. Peter was relatable and I got very emotionally invested. His growth as a character, whichever direction he grew, was well done and believable. And his poor family! So many times, I started misting. The story wasn’t super complicated, but boy was it a roller coaster! While it was perfect for spooky season, it’s a great book to read anytime!! I really liked it a lot! Definitely one of my Top Ten for the year!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Happy Halloween!! And a Review From Kim
Happy Halloween! It is a Monday, so it’s a work day for Jessica, but we celebrated over the weekend watching scary movies! I love this time of year!!!! And we all know how much Kim loves it and seemingly celebrates year round with her collection of scary dolls!…..
In the spirit of the day, we bring you a review from Kim, this one a classic:
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury!
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Series: Green Town #2
Author: Ray Bradbury
Published: September 17, 1962
293 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4.5 stars
Book Description:
For those who still dream and remember, for those yet to experience the hypnotic power of its dark poetry, step inside. The show is about to begin. Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. The carnival rolls in sometime after midnight, ushering in Halloween a week early. A calliope’s shrill siren song beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. Two boys will discover the secret of its smoke, mazes, and mirrors; two friends who will soon know all too well the heavy cost of wishes…and the stuff of nightmares.
Few novels have endured in the heart and memory as has Ray Bradbury’s unparalleled literary masterpiece Something Wicked This Way Comes. Scary and suspenseful, it is a timeless classic in the American canon.
Kim’s Review:
I just love Bradbury. He’s the true definition of a diverse author. So far we’ve seen sci-fi, political dystopia, and now soft horror.
While I admit that I didn’t get all the metaphors in this book, the plot and characters alone carry this book. They’re real and relatable and by the time you’re done, you want to live in Green Town every year at Halloween. Jim and Will are boys as boys should be. Their curiosity and courageous fear drive them through this story with reckless and responsible abandon. I know that sounds paradoxical, but isn’t that what little boys are?? And Mr. Halloway might be the most relatable character in literature. He works his way through reconciling his age with his position in life. And in the end, he is content. I really loved watching his journey and I love and respect him! I’ll admit that the carnival is where I get a little lost, but even without any complicated metaphors, the carousel is a terrifying prospect!!
Overall, this is a great Halloween read and I absolutely recommend it!!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Book Review: Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell
Stolen Tongues
Author: Felix Blackwell
Published: June 20, 2017
320 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
A romantic cabin getaway doesn’t go exactly as planned.
High up on the windswept cliffs of Pale Peak, Faye and Felix celebrate their new engagement. But soon, a chorus of ghastly noises erupts from the nearby woods: the screams of animals, the cries of children, and the mad babble of a hundred mournful voices. A dark figure looms near the windows in the dead of night, whispering to Faye. As the weather turns deadly, Felix discovers that his terrified fiancée isn’t just mumbling in her sleep – she’s whispering back.
Kim’s Review:
Dang, this was a scary one!! I legit got creeped out while reading this book! Thanks to Beccie for getting it for me!
First, the issues. I didn’t have too many but there were just enough to keep me from giving 5 stars. I didn’t get nearly enough by the end; y’all know I love getting as much info as possible and I’m upset when I don’t get it. I get that some things are better left buried, but I also like digging things up; it’s what I do! But, paradoxically, I think the effectiveness of the horror diminished as the story went on. It wasn’t that I learned too much of the creature and the situation, it’s just that it happened so much and the exposure to it all was every night, that eventually, the horror just kind of wore off. It became a daily occurrence that should have terrified me, but just felt too much.
I also felt that the twist wasn’t super twisty. I appreciate the metaphor and I was still satisfied with the explanation that I got; but as long as it took to get there, the pay off just felt anticlimactic. All that makes it sound like I didn’t like this book and that couldn’t be farther from the truth! I actually really liked it! It had me creeped out and I liked the Native American culture that was thrown in. I was able to sympathize with the characters and got very invested in their plight. This is a great read for the spooky season!!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
