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Wreckage
After losing everything in life, Frank is eager for a fresh start. He books a flight to Alaska for a job interview, but never reaches his destination. The plane crashes, and his fight for survival becomes a surreal spiral to a point where it becomes hard to differentiate between what is real... and what isn't.
This book explores dark themes of grief, loss, and mental illness
This book explores dark themes of grief, loss, and mental illness
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2023
15 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
June 27, 2025
This was a very intense read. As someone with a lot of personal experience with mental health difficulties, who also focuses my books on that same topic, I know exactly what the author was trying to do, and I think he accomplished it here. Frank has been through a lot. He's suffered terrible losses and been the victim of some really awful circumstances. Now he lives his life, having visions of places and people who may or may not be real. Lost in his trauma, with no real way out. So the author pulls out all the stops to make you feel completely empathetic for Frank. And you are made to feel all of the uncertainty and sadness of our main character. Now this was a very short read, much quicker than I originally anticipated. I would have liked it to be a little longer, so that I could have had some additional time with Frank and get the clarity of what was happening a little more. I didn't love the happy vs sad ending, but that's just my personal preference. I can see it's use and appeal to other readers, but I just prefer definitive endings. Overall a good reading experience that highlights a very overlooked portion of health and wellness.
February 14, 2024
Nickey's name came to my attention as part of the extreme horror scene so when I picked this one up I fully expected something extremely graphic but what I got was an exploration of grief, guilt and losing contact with reality with only a moderate amount of graphic stuff. I'm including this in my review in case there are others who are under the same false impression I was (nothing wrong with EH, it's all about having the right expectations).
It's hard to review this book without giving too much away but I thought it was a great read, the character was compelling, and the pacing was smooth. The story came across as polished and for such a short one it certainly packed quite a punch.
4.5 rounded up.
It's hard to review this book without giving too much away but I thought it was a great read, the character was compelling, and the pacing was smooth. The story came across as polished and for such a short one it certainly packed quite a punch.
4.5 rounded up.
February 26, 2024
Wow, Jason Nickey, you have a new fan. This book was a total mindfuck all the way through. I appreciated the mention of Jacob's Ladder, one of my all-time favorite movies. I'll be back for more of your compelling storytelling.
December 23, 2024
Brace yourselves!!! This spiral of insanity was intense. In less than 200 pages, the author had me completely disoriented, not knowing which way was up or down. I felt like I was spiraling right alongside him, caught in the madness of his break from reality. Nothing felt real because it wasn’t… poor Frank and ….and Katie, I’m not even gonna go there. It was all a nightmare.
April 19, 2023
After a lonely upbringing, for Frank, joining the Marines seemed like a good idea, and connecting with a like-minded individual called Roger, the icing on the cake! Separated and then reunited again in Afghanistan, their bond is as strong as ever….until, it isn't. And then Frank returns to his solitary ways, until he meets Helen, and everything seems to fall into place. They fall in love, get married, start a family….
Frank goes from a lack of love and affection to having an abundance of it, and then back to nothing again. An inevitable downward spiral sees him become a completely broken man, guilt ridden and grief stricken.
He is taking a job interview in a new town, a fresh start for him, things can only get better now, right? Only then his plane crashes, but he survives, and later he finds a fellow survivor, but he starts to lose his mind, and his grip on reality, slowly, disturbingly and heartbreakingly!
This guy really does have it really fucking tough, I really felt for his character and his wreck of a life, utterly soul-destroying!
A tale of survival, in more ways than one!
It also comes with a Choose Your Own ending, "Happy" or "Sad". I opted for the sad ending because I'm a glutton for punishment, and I got some brilliant twists and turns and some sad, shocking realisations! And then, I wanted to read the happy ending too….or did I? Is there ever a happy ending in a story such as this?
This was a real edge of your seat, gripping, tense and emotional rollercoaster of a ride! This story wrecked me! It left me feeling as though I was the one on the verge of losing my mind!
Frank goes from a lack of love and affection to having an abundance of it, and then back to nothing again. An inevitable downward spiral sees him become a completely broken man, guilt ridden and grief stricken.
He is taking a job interview in a new town, a fresh start for him, things can only get better now, right? Only then his plane crashes, but he survives, and later he finds a fellow survivor, but he starts to lose his mind, and his grip on reality, slowly, disturbingly and heartbreakingly!
This guy really does have it really fucking tough, I really felt for his character and his wreck of a life, utterly soul-destroying!
A tale of survival, in more ways than one!
It also comes with a Choose Your Own ending, "Happy" or "Sad". I opted for the sad ending because I'm a glutton for punishment, and I got some brilliant twists and turns and some sad, shocking realisations! And then, I wanted to read the happy ending too….or did I? Is there ever a happy ending in a story such as this?
This was a real edge of your seat, gripping, tense and emotional rollercoaster of a ride! This story wrecked me! It left me feeling as though I was the one on the verge of losing my mind!
June 1, 2023
A well written story where you're never quite sure what's real or not. Have a ton of sympathy for the main character Frank, just wanted to give him a hug.
March 24, 2023
“I don’t know what’s real anymore “ Frank, suffered a horrible loss so he’s decided to take a job in Anchorage Alaska, and start over. He wakes up from a plane wreckage which in turn brings up, horrible memories, and heartache He is now left to figure out what is reality and what isn’t? I read this in one sitting. To say I loved it is an understatement . This had so many twists and turns from dreams , death, mental illness and extreme loss. I highly recommend to anyone who likes the darker side of books or a really good mind fuck !
December 12, 2024
I see you, Jason Nickey! This was the first story I've read by Jason that wasn't a short story in an antho. And holy crap! The dude can WRITE! This was a hell of a psychological horror tale. Within the first 20 pages, there is so much devastation you're left wondering what the hell else could go wrong? Then more things go wrong! It's bonkers from start to finish.
Nickey dangles hope like a carrot throughout this short read. You can try to make sense of everything, but nothing is as it appears. Or everything is as it appears, but you've gone crazy while reading. I'm not sure.
All I know is that this book was excellent, painful, hopeful, and devastating. Fucked up grief horror done damn well. Highly recommend. You need to be broken by this book, too!
Nickey dangles hope like a carrot throughout this short read. You can try to make sense of everything, but nothing is as it appears. Or everything is as it appears, but you've gone crazy while reading. I'm not sure.
All I know is that this book was excellent, painful, hopeful, and devastating. Fucked up grief horror done damn well. Highly recommend. You need to be broken by this book, too!
April 20, 2024
excellent!
Gripping and extremely heartbreaking, this story is so well written! I had forgotten how much I enjoy Jason Nickey’s storytelling, this might just be one of my favorites of his.
Gripping and extremely heartbreaking, this story is so well written! I had forgotten how much I enjoy Jason Nickey’s storytelling, this might just be one of my favorites of his.
April 14, 2023
This novella was a masterpiece. Kept thinking I knew where it was going, and then another twist. By the end of this story you will be emotionally wrecked.
February 17, 2024
Frank seeks to escape his past traumas and begin a new life in Alaska. Things go from bad to worse when his plane crashes into the desolate wilderness. Can he survive the elements, and the betrayal of his own mind against him?
If you want a surreal escape into the head of a character suffering from complicated grief, a surreal narration that makes you wonder what could happen next, then this story is for you.
This rating is more a reflection of my personal preferences/struggle with a narrative you have to continuously question. It’s a well written, fast paced, psychological/ survival horror story overall.
If you want a surreal escape into the head of a character suffering from complicated grief, a surreal narration that makes you wonder what could happen next, then this story is for you.
This rating is more a reflection of my personal preferences/struggle with a narrative you have to continuously question. It’s a well written, fast paced, psychological/ survival horror story overall.
January 30, 2025
This was my first Jason Nickey book.
First impression… HOLY FREAKIN’ WOW!
I’m going to need more of Nickey’s books, STAT!!
First impression… HOLY FREAKIN’ WOW!
I’m going to need more of Nickey’s books, STAT!!
March 1, 2024
I'm so grateful to the author for gifting me a code of this audiobook because I loved it! I enjoyed the narration by Tom Jordan that impersonated the character really well.
Although very short, this story felt complete, and a great dive into a man's psyche, trying to navigate the pain and grief left by the loss of his family and friend. It's such a powerful story, full of tension and unexpected directions, swaying the listener to one way and then the other, attempting to make sense of Frank's mind as he tries to hold it together.
What struck me was the ability to really throw the listener into Frank's mental and emotional state, seeing with his mind and experiencing his utter wreckage, little by little until the very end. And what an end! A total surprise!
If you like grief horror and an unsettling immersion into the dark corners of the human mind, then I really recommend it!
Although very short, this story felt complete, and a great dive into a man's psyche, trying to navigate the pain and grief left by the loss of his family and friend. It's such a powerful story, full of tension and unexpected directions, swaying the listener to one way and then the other, attempting to make sense of Frank's mind as he tries to hold it together.
What struck me was the ability to really throw the listener into Frank's mental and emotional state, seeing with his mind and experiencing his utter wreckage, little by little until the very end. And what an end! A total surprise!
If you like grief horror and an unsettling immersion into the dark corners of the human mind, then I really recommend it!
February 24, 2024
I listened to Jason Nickey 's Wreckage, and let me tell you, this was one fantastic story! We already know how great of a storyteller Jason is, and if you don't, I recommend you go and read one of his books and find out. But this one was on another level. Intense, sad, and full of crazy twists, this book may very well Wreck you. Another 5 star read for me, and narrator Tom Jordan was just flat out bad ass!
July 17, 2023
Twists and turns!
This book is all over the place... In the best way possible. Plus, it has multiple endings and as someone who grew up loving choose your own adventures, that was awesome
This book is all over the place... In the best way possible. Plus, it has multiple endings and as someone who grew up loving choose your own adventures, that was awesome
March 22, 2023
Emotionally heavy head-scratcher of 100-ish pages. Unreliable narrator, two different endings, and I'm still not sure what's real/the truth. Good on you, Jason Nickey!
January 26, 2025
Frank has lost everything in life. His best friend, his wife, his son, everything. When he gets a new job in Alaska, it feels like things have changed for the better. Excited, Frank goes on his adventure only for it to be stopped by a terrible accident.
Franks airplane crashes, and he's the only survivor. Instead of crying, he laughs at his misfortune. He does everything he needs to survive, but he's still seeing his dead family until he hears someone. Follow Frank in the woods as he descends into madness and tries to see what is real and what is just made up
Now, this is a ride I couldn't get off. This was hard to put down, and the constant back and forth between none reality and reality gave me whiplash in the best way. Nickey did a great job at showing a man who's lost everything and has nothing else to lose. Full of emotions, regret, and sadness, this is a quick and emotional read. I loved the wood settings so much. It added a lot to the story. I highly recommend this bleak story.
Franks airplane crashes, and he's the only survivor. Instead of crying, he laughs at his misfortune. He does everything he needs to survive, but he's still seeing his dead family until he hears someone. Follow Frank in the woods as he descends into madness and tries to see what is real and what is just made up
Now, this is a ride I couldn't get off. This was hard to put down, and the constant back and forth between none reality and reality gave me whiplash in the best way. Nickey did a great job at showing a man who's lost everything and has nothing else to lose. Full of emotions, regret, and sadness, this is a quick and emotional read. I loved the wood settings so much. It added a lot to the story. I highly recommend this bleak story.
June 26, 2024
I don't know why I even try to follow through with tbr's because it seems like every time I open this app I am distracted by something I have never heard of before.
I was in between books when this bad boy showed up on my feed. This was very dark and so sad, but also so well done. I really appreciated the unique way a really sensitive and painful topic was explored. I would describe this as a fictional work about grief, with horror themes. Not the other way around, and I loved that.
It read like a twitter thread almost, or like a reddit post I guess- I am less familiar with that app. I wouldn't widely recommend this to the masses, but if this seems like your kind of thing, def check it out.
I can see myself reading more from this author, especially since most of their work is on kindle unlimited. I have heard he writes a lot of splatterpunk (which I am not sure is my vibe) but hopefully I can find more gems like this.
I was in between books when this bad boy showed up on my feed. This was very dark and so sad, but also so well done. I really appreciated the unique way a really sensitive and painful topic was explored. I would describe this as a fictional work about grief, with horror themes. Not the other way around, and I loved that.
It read like a twitter thread almost, or like a reddit post I guess- I am less familiar with that app. I wouldn't widely recommend this to the masses, but if this seems like your kind of thing, def check it out.
I can see myself reading more from this author, especially since most of their work is on kindle unlimited. I have heard he writes a lot of splatterpunk (which I am not sure is my vibe) but hopefully I can find more gems like this.
April 4, 2024
Powerful
Every time I read one of Jason's books, I am blown away. This book had me SHOOK! It completely messed with my mind. It starts out well, but then it smacks you right in the face. My neck hurts from all the twists! I read this book in less than an hour. I haven't had a book mess with me this much in a long time. The writing is impeccable. The story flowed flawlessly. I had literal chills. Just when you think you have this book figured out, Jason's goes, "But wait, there's more." I absolutely loved everything about this!
Every time I read one of Jason's books, I am blown away. This book had me SHOOK! It completely messed with my mind. It starts out well, but then it smacks you right in the face. My neck hurts from all the twists! I read this book in less than an hour. I haven't had a book mess with me this much in a long time. The writing is impeccable. The story flowed flawlessly. I had literal chills. Just when you think you have this book figured out, Jason's goes, "But wait, there's more." I absolutely loved everything about this!
May 20, 2025
Frank is living horrible realities to cope with tragedies within his life. The loss of his best friend Roger in Afghanistan from an IED, the loss of his wife Helen in a car accident, the loss of his son Micah due to illness, or surviving a plane wreck in the Canadian wilderness... How is he able to discern reality from fantasy when his brain goes into survival mode?
Jason Nickey has written an absolute mind fuck with this Novella and I absolutely loved it!
Jason Nickey has written an absolute mind fuck with this Novella and I absolutely loved it!
February 17, 2024
What the fuck? First of all this is my first time reading Jason Nickey and all I have to say is I'm pissed at myself for not picking up one of his books sooner. This story is an emotional rollercoaster clusterfuck that descends into the madness and heart ache of a mental breakdown caused by trauma. Holy fuck go get this one and all of this authors stuff because he can write and tell a damn good story. Highly highly recommend this one.
July 23, 2023
Wow! What a ride.
What's real and what isn't? Frank certainly doesn't know. Trying to get to the bottom of what the real reality is made this impossible to put down.
Devoured in one setting. Narration brought the perfect edge to the experience.
This is a short listen, but definitely packs quite a punch both emotionally and suspensefully.
What's real and what isn't? Frank certainly doesn't know. Trying to get to the bottom of what the real reality is made this impossible to put down.
Devoured in one setting. Narration brought the perfect edge to the experience.
This is a short listen, but definitely packs quite a punch both emotionally and suspensefully.
December 29, 2023
So many twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book.
January 12, 2025
This was an entertaining read about one man’s downward spiral. The reader doesn’t know what is real or not, along with the protagonist, which added to the tension.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2025
Sir? Are you ok? Dang this book sent me through a loop. From sadness to wtf moments. We'll done! Looking forward to bingeing more of his books!
July 24, 2023
This is my 13th reason.
I wish I could give this 6/5 stars.
I wish I could give this 6/5 stars.
January 24, 2024
Twisted
Oh this book has me going from one emotion to the other, to one thought or another and predicting airports was happening. I loved it how it had you gripped and guessing all the way through, trying to work out why he was going through all these emotions etc. The hurt and sorrow to then wondering where it was going to go next but never quite getting it right. I especially loved the double ending. Of course I read them both! A thoroughly enjoyable short read that has your emotions going awry and feeling his sorrow, hurt, delight, happiness, hope and sadness all in one short read. Definitely twisted and worth reading. Recommended!
Oh this book has me going from one emotion to the other, to one thought or another and predicting airports was happening. I loved it how it had you gripped and guessing all the way through, trying to work out why he was going through all these emotions etc. The hurt and sorrow to then wondering where it was going to go next but never quite getting it right. I especially loved the double ending. Of course I read them both! A thoroughly enjoyable short read that has your emotions going awry and feeling his sorrow, hurt, delight, happiness, hope and sadness all in one short read. Definitely twisted and worth reading. Recommended!
December 17, 2024
5/5 ⭐️
1/1 🪞
Normally I’m not a fan of books where you don’t know what’s real or what isn’t. But this book was an exception for me. The writing was sad and bleak. The character building in a such a short book was also impressive. I felt for Frank.
Frank has been through tragedy after tragedy. His home life as a child wasn’t good. Then everyone in his life slowly leaves it one way or another leaving him in a bad state alone and depressed.
He gets a job opportunity but has to fly to Alaska for the interview. On the way the plane crashes. He starts a spiral into a world he’s not sure is real. But it feels real for him regardless. Will Frank make it out of his situation alive and unharmed?
1/1 🪞
Normally I’m not a fan of books where you don’t know what’s real or what isn’t. But this book was an exception for me. The writing was sad and bleak. The character building in a such a short book was also impressive. I felt for Frank.
Frank has been through tragedy after tragedy. His home life as a child wasn’t good. Then everyone in his life slowly leaves it one way or another leaving him in a bad state alone and depressed.
He gets a job opportunity but has to fly to Alaska for the interview. On the way the plane crashes. He starts a spiral into a world he’s not sure is real. But it feels real for him regardless. Will Frank make it out of his situation alive and unharmed?
December 4, 2024
A Twisted Descent!
Man, this one hits hard. A friend recommended this after reviewing it favorably, and I absolutely was not disappointed. I'm looking forward to reading more by Nickey. Highly recommended!
Man, this one hits hard. A friend recommended this after reviewing it favorably, and I absolutely was not disappointed. I'm looking forward to reading more by Nickey. Highly recommended!
January 20, 2025
Just when you think you have it figured out, you don't.
This book is all psychological, and I absolutely loved it! When the realization of Katie hit...🤢
This book is all psychological, and I absolutely loved it! When the realization of Katie hit...🤢
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews