Book Review: The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan
The Last Girls Standing
Author: Jennifer Dugan
Narrator: Mia Hutchinson-Shaw
Published: August 15, 2023
Audiobook: 9 hours 39 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: August 31- September 7, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description:
Sloan and Cherry. Cherry and Sloan. They met only a few days before masked men with machetes attacked the summer camp where they worked, a massacre that left the rest of their fellow counselors dead. Now, months later, the two are inseparable, their traumatic experience bonding them in ways no one else can understand.
But as new evidence comes to light and Sloan learns more about the motives behind the ritual killing that brought them together, she begins to suspect that her girlfriend may be more than just a survivor—she may actually have been a part of it. Cherry tries to reassure her, but Sloan only becomes more distraught. Is this gaslighting or reality? Is Cherry a victim or a perpetrator? Is Sloan confused, or is she seeing things clearly for the very first time? Against all odds, Sloan survived that hot summer night. But will she survive what comes next?
Jessica’s Review:
This one sounded interesting to me and I loved the idea of the aftermath of two girls surviving a massacre: Unfortunately, for the most part it didn’t really work for me until that final twisty ending! It was a slow-moving novel that was hard for me to get into. I was just interested enough to want to see what happened to finish the book. I didn’t really connect to the characters.
Sloan and Cherry met at the summer camp where they were to work for the summer until the massacre happened and they were the only two who survived. They formed a bond and are in a relationship, but it is very toxic. Sloan has survivor’s guilt and also doesn’t remember what happened that night, and begins to doubt what Cherry says happened that night. We do get to go back in time and over the course of the novel find out what happens. A cult also becomes involved with a supernatural element which didn’t really work for me. If it had been just the cult, I would have enjoyed the book more. I didn’t need a supernatural type element added to the mix. The ending is really what saved the book for me and added .5 stars to make my review 3.5 versus just the average 3 stars.
The Last Girls Standing was also a homage to 80s slasher films, Dugan must be a fan of them! Even the cover seems to be a homage to those type films. The cover is what drew me to want to read this one.
Though it was not totally for me I would give Dugan a try again if another of her book interests me.
Book Review: Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison
Dead Inside
Author: Chandler Morrison
Published: January 1, 2015
166 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description:
In this bleak and disturbingly erotic debut novel, iconoclast Chandler Morrison provides readers with a dark exploration of the nature of death, individuality, and generational identity. Along the way, lines will be crossed, taboos will be violated, and common decency will take an extended leave of absence. This is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Or anyone who enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey.
A young hospital security guard with a disturbingly unique taste in women. A maternity doctor with a horrifically unusual appetite. When the two of them meet, they embark on a journey of self-discovery as they shatter societal norms while engaging in destructive and abhorrent behavior. As they unwittingly help each other understand a world in which neither of them seems to belong, they begin to realize what it truly means to be alive…and that it might not always be a good thing.
Kim’s Review:
I just … don’t know what to say. This one was absolutely ridiculous! It was nasty, nauseating, gross, inappropriate, etc. It definitely kept my attention but I can’t really say that I enjoyed it. I read it at the totally wrong time too; not a good one for a pregnant lady to read! I can usually handle gross horror, but there has to be some kind of plot justification for excessive gore. This one felt like gore for gore’s sake and not just any gore but depraved gore. I’m not sure I can even say that I’m glad I read it cuz I felt pretty horrible after I finished it. I absolutely cannot recommend it to just anyone; there are select few I would cautiously recommend it to.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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
