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The Color of Pain
In The Color of Pain, author EG Rose delivers a haunting horror novel that explores the dark side of human nature.
Raymond is an orphan with a talent for art who suffers from chronic stomach pain. He has been ruthlessly bullied about his strangeness and “special” abilities that sometimes frighten the other children at The Haven for Little Wanderers Orphanage.
When his new case worker, Ada, shows him affection and helps explain how he can see through people’s emotions and secrets, Raymond is thrilled. However, as he delves deeper into his strange abilities, he discovers the horrifying truth about himself – he must feed on the pain of others to survive.
Ada becomes increasingly controlling and possessive, pushing Raymond to feed off his only friend, leading him down a dark path that culminates in a tragic ending.
With chilling prose and a gripping storyline, The Color of Pain is a must-read for horror fans who crave stories that delve deep into the human psyche.
Raymond is an orphan with a talent for art who suffers from chronic stomach pain. He has been ruthlessly bullied about his strangeness and “special” abilities that sometimes frighten the other children at The Haven for Little Wanderers Orphanage.
When his new case worker, Ada, shows him affection and helps explain how he can see through people’s emotions and secrets, Raymond is thrilled. However, as he delves deeper into his strange abilities, he discovers the horrifying truth about himself – he must feed on the pain of others to survive.
Ada becomes increasingly controlling and possessive, pushing Raymond to feed off his only friend, leading him down a dark path that culminates in a tragic ending.
With chilling prose and a gripping storyline, The Color of Pain is a must-read for horror fans who crave stories that delve deep into the human psyche.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2023
61 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 20, 2023
This was such a unique and interesting story. Pretty depressing at times, but I love how colours are used throughout the plot.
I will say that I was confused on and off, and had hoped for more answers by the end. Unfortunately, just like Ray, we only get one question answered.
The editing was a bit off- there were some areas that could be polished, typos, accidental repetition, character name mixups. The pace of the story ebbed and flowed, I wish it had been a bit faster at some parts.
The whole concept of Ray- his gifts and “hungers” was so interesting, and the author was adept at creating the narration from his child like perspective. You really feel for Ray; empathize and sympathize for his circumstances and struggles.
I hope there’s another book in the works so we can find out more about the characters and their “gifts”.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Sterling & Stone for a copy!
I will say that I was confused on and off, and had hoped for more answers by the end. Unfortunately, just like Ray, we only get one question answered.
The editing was a bit off- there were some areas that could be polished, typos, accidental repetition, character name mixups. The pace of the story ebbed and flowed, I wish it had been a bit faster at some parts.
The whole concept of Ray- his gifts and “hungers” was so interesting, and the author was adept at creating the narration from his child like perspective. You really feel for Ray; empathize and sympathize for his circumstances and struggles.
I hope there’s another book in the works so we can find out more about the characters and their “gifts”.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Sterling & Stone for a copy!
April 11, 2023
Raymond is an orphan living in an orphanage where he is bullied all the time. He has chronic stomach pains and barely eats. The others stay away from him because they say he is weird. He knows things he shouldn't about others. His new case worker takes him under her wing and teaches him that he must eat the pain and sorrow of others. He feeds off his only friend and suspects his caseworker of knowing more than she's telling him.
I really enjoyed this while reading. It was a compelling story that kept me reading and wanting just another chapter. It's a solid three stars however, it's a book that will soon leave my mind and is starting to be hard to remember. It's a fun, in-the-moment, quick read.
I really enjoyed this while reading. It was a compelling story that kept me reading and wanting just another chapter. It's a solid three stars however, it's a book that will soon leave my mind and is starting to be hard to remember. It's a fun, in-the-moment, quick read.
August 7, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
I'm a huge fan of horror books. So this was right up my alley.. The title itself caught my eye.
This book has such an unique storyline and concept to it.
Our main character is an orphaned boy with an unique "gift." He loves to be artistic... particularly drawing and painting. He is horrified by his "gift"... and saddened by what he needs to do to literally stay alive. The author does an amazing job at making you FEEL his emotions and pain, which is amazing.
The book is ... just so damn good. Seriously, if you are a horror fan, get this book
I'm a huge fan of horror books. So this was right up my alley.. The title itself caught my eye.
This book has such an unique storyline and concept to it.
Our main character is an orphaned boy with an unique "gift." He loves to be artistic... particularly drawing and painting. He is horrified by his "gift"... and saddened by what he needs to do to literally stay alive. The author does an amazing job at making you FEEL his emotions and pain, which is amazing.
The book is ... just so damn good. Seriously, if you are a horror fan, get this book
June 12, 2023
Raymond is an artistic young boy, constantly being bullied by the other children in the orphanage. His stomach roils most of the time leaving him weak and unable to eat. Until he discovers a different, more sinister source of food for himself, the pain of others.
This is a really enjoyable read that keeps you guessing until the very end. I felt very drawn to the story and had trouble putting it down. It seems to be the first in a series and I cannot wait for the next one!
Beautifully written with vivid colors and emotions, The Color of Pain is a can't miss for fans of slightly supernatural horror.
This is a really enjoyable read that keeps you guessing until the very end. I felt very drawn to the story and had trouble putting it down. It seems to be the first in a series and I cannot wait for the next one!
Beautifully written with vivid colors and emotions, The Color of Pain is a can't miss for fans of slightly supernatural horror.
October 18, 2025
I wanted to slap Ada so many times!
September 25, 2023
This book grabs you right from the start, and is relentless as it tears away at your heart, chapter by chapter. There aren’t any trigger warnings given, and its all their in the description so not really needed, but the emotional abuse and neglect of children are the locus around which the story revolves, and it can be a brutal portrayal. But also quite effective. Parts of this story feel expected, and yet parts of it are delightfully fresh.
The world-building is a little heavy-handed, with some of the worst stereotypes about orphanages and bullies all wrapped up into one story, but it never felt beyond the realm of realistic. The characters felt real and genuine, or as much as one would expect in a horror-novel set in an orphanage. Our main character is supposed to be around eight years old, and I will say his emotional intelligence and does seem to move around depending on the needs of the chapter, but at the same time, given the trauma he has endured and the circumstances he is in that is not entirely unexpected. And the main antagonizing force does seem a little over the top, a little cliched. But, while we do get some objective experiences of her, most of our interaction is from the perspective of a child, so she seeming larger than life is, again, expected. The world and characters all toyed with being exaggerations, yet managed to reign it in enough to be compelling characters that felt real enough that I was quickly invested in their emotional journeys. I really enjoyed the writing. The chapters were short, and crafted and paced in such a way as to keep you going. The front third of the story seemed a little bit slowly paced, but it did a lot of heavy lifting in getting us emotionally involved with our main character, and his desperation to fit in and be loved, that it didn’t feel wasted. Once things start moving it is easy to telescope how things will turn out, again it is alluded to in the story’s description but it also just makes sense for the story and genre, but being able to predict the ending didn’t make the journey less fulfilling. If anything it made it more tragic. The novel ends very much in just the beginning of a bigger story, really leaving more questions than answers, yet it still felt fulfilling.
What insidious forces grow in the darkness of neglect, in the absence of the sun of care and affection? What happens when those with social power exploit the gifts of the marginalized, retraumatizing them in the process, and yet they can do so in such a way that has a veneer of benevolence, instead of abuse and exploitation? And what happens when our own nourishment is intimately linked to others’ suffering? Is there a price too high, a price where happiness or contentment can only come in exchange for morality? Is that even happiness? And what happens when those questions are forced on an adolescent who has no angel on their shoulder, only demon after demon? This novel certainly doesn’t answer any of those questions, but it certainly forces you to think about them, which is what great genre writing does.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Sterling & Stone, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The world-building is a little heavy-handed, with some of the worst stereotypes about orphanages and bullies all wrapped up into one story, but it never felt beyond the realm of realistic. The characters felt real and genuine, or as much as one would expect in a horror-novel set in an orphanage. Our main character is supposed to be around eight years old, and I will say his emotional intelligence and does seem to move around depending on the needs of the chapter, but at the same time, given the trauma he has endured and the circumstances he is in that is not entirely unexpected. And the main antagonizing force does seem a little over the top, a little cliched. But, while we do get some objective experiences of her, most of our interaction is from the perspective of a child, so she seeming larger than life is, again, expected. The world and characters all toyed with being exaggerations, yet managed to reign it in enough to be compelling characters that felt real enough that I was quickly invested in their emotional journeys. I really enjoyed the writing. The chapters were short, and crafted and paced in such a way as to keep you going. The front third of the story seemed a little bit slowly paced, but it did a lot of heavy lifting in getting us emotionally involved with our main character, and his desperation to fit in and be loved, that it didn’t feel wasted. Once things start moving it is easy to telescope how things will turn out, again it is alluded to in the story’s description but it also just makes sense for the story and genre, but being able to predict the ending didn’t make the journey less fulfilling. If anything it made it more tragic. The novel ends very much in just the beginning of a bigger story, really leaving more questions than answers, yet it still felt fulfilling.
What insidious forces grow in the darkness of neglect, in the absence of the sun of care and affection? What happens when those with social power exploit the gifts of the marginalized, retraumatizing them in the process, and yet they can do so in such a way that has a veneer of benevolence, instead of abuse and exploitation? And what happens when our own nourishment is intimately linked to others’ suffering? Is there a price too high, a price where happiness or contentment can only come in exchange for morality? Is that even happiness? And what happens when those questions are forced on an adolescent who has no angel on their shoulder, only demon after demon? This novel certainly doesn’t answer any of those questions, but it certainly forces you to think about them, which is what great genre writing does.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Sterling & Stone, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 8, 2023
As if being abandoned as a toddler by his mother wasn’t enough, Raymond also has chronic stomach pain and is ruthlessly bullied by the other kids at The Haven for Little Wanderers Orphanage. Constantly let down by every person around him, he is more than thrilled when his new case worker, Ada, shows him love and affection. It also helps that she understands and helps to teach Raymond more about his special “abilities”. The more he learns the more terrifying things become, and the more terrifying he becomes.
The Color of Pain is an intriguing story. I really love the use of color and their meanings in horror and this does a great job painting those pictures and evoking that emotion associated with them. Essentially Raymond is an Empath, but with a dangerous twist. This gets quite dark and emotional and that’s not including the bullying and essentially the neglect Raymond is subjected to. Although his age is stated, his behavior actually made his age feel more ambiguous. I kept finding myself wondering how old he was repeatedly. Sometimes he felt like a teenager and sometimes like a young child. I didn’t really care for that. He is pretty well developed for this being the first book in The Colors of Novice Raymond series. He is definitely a sympathetic character. I couldn’t help but feel his sadness and guilt.
Ada really pissed me off. Talk about gaslighting. So, great writing there. There is a chapter from her POV when she goes home and has a nightmare and it really felt unnecessary. We get enough later about who she is and what she can do without that small part.
I do like that this takes a different side from typical Empath stories. Since having empathy is generally seen as a good thing, to take something so positive and turn it into something more tragic is abhorrent but it works. Everything has a dark side. I’m ready to see where Ray’s story goes.
Overall, its a decent book. It’s giving me Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep vibes with the whole feeding off people’s energies, pain in particular and I love that book, so take that as you will.
Thank you to NetGalley, E.G. Rose, and Sterling and Stone for the ARC for review. This is my honest opinion and a voluntary submission.
The Color of Pain is an intriguing story. I really love the use of color and their meanings in horror and this does a great job painting those pictures and evoking that emotion associated with them. Essentially Raymond is an Empath, but with a dangerous twist. This gets quite dark and emotional and that’s not including the bullying and essentially the neglect Raymond is subjected to. Although his age is stated, his behavior actually made his age feel more ambiguous. I kept finding myself wondering how old he was repeatedly. Sometimes he felt like a teenager and sometimes like a young child. I didn’t really care for that. He is pretty well developed for this being the first book in The Colors of Novice Raymond series. He is definitely a sympathetic character. I couldn’t help but feel his sadness and guilt.
Ada really pissed me off. Talk about gaslighting. So, great writing there. There is a chapter from her POV when she goes home and has a nightmare and it really felt unnecessary. We get enough later about who she is and what she can do without that small part.
I do like that this takes a different side from typical Empath stories. Since having empathy is generally seen as a good thing, to take something so positive and turn it into something more tragic is abhorrent but it works. Everything has a dark side. I’m ready to see where Ray’s story goes.
Overall, its a decent book. It’s giving me Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep vibes with the whole feeding off people’s energies, pain in particular and I love that book, so take that as you will.
Thank you to NetGalley, E.G. Rose, and Sterling and Stone for the ARC for review. This is my honest opinion and a voluntary submission.
April 10, 2023
I just finished The Color of Pain by E.G Rose and here are my thoughts!
It’s bad enough when your mother dumps you in an orphanage when you are small but to spend your life being bullied while you are there is just miserable. That’s what happened to Raymond. The other kids think he is a freak for the things he seems to be able to do. The chronic stomach pains and the lack of bladder control are just the icing on the cake.
Then a new caseworker comes, Ada, who seems to see past Raymond’s weirdness and offers him help and some insight into who he is and what he can do. He can see people's emotions right into their secrets and Raymond is not only thrilled to understand what has been going on with him but that Ada seems to know so much about it. What Raymond needs to do to feel better is so horrific, he fights it. To stay alive he must feed off other people's pain.
When Ada sets him up with a foster family, he thinks that he has finally landed on his feet but really, the couple have a darkness of their own and he isn’t with them by chance.
I devoured this book in one sitting. I am a huge horror fan but I have never before gone down the path of horror from the human psyche. This book was creeptastic with a side order of what the F did I just read. It was cleverly written and it had that slow tingle of spine chilling goose bumps up the back of your neck, wanting it to end but dreading it being over.
I thought the plot was excellent and carefully laid out. Loved that it was mostly set in an orphanage with all the strange happenings and the urban legend of the orphanage too.
Totally fell in love with Raymond. It was definitely a change of pace having to watch a young child make some pretty harrowing decisions for themselves but it was brilliant. So brilliant and I was so pumped to see that is the start of a series and I am so here for that!
5 stars! The writing was marvelous and if you are a fan of horror this has to be on your list! It is out now!
Thank you to @netgalley and @sterlingandstone for my review copy!
It’s bad enough when your mother dumps you in an orphanage when you are small but to spend your life being bullied while you are there is just miserable. That’s what happened to Raymond. The other kids think he is a freak for the things he seems to be able to do. The chronic stomach pains and the lack of bladder control are just the icing on the cake.
Then a new caseworker comes, Ada, who seems to see past Raymond’s weirdness and offers him help and some insight into who he is and what he can do. He can see people's emotions right into their secrets and Raymond is not only thrilled to understand what has been going on with him but that Ada seems to know so much about it. What Raymond needs to do to feel better is so horrific, he fights it. To stay alive he must feed off other people's pain.
When Ada sets him up with a foster family, he thinks that he has finally landed on his feet but really, the couple have a darkness of their own and he isn’t with them by chance.
I devoured this book in one sitting. I am a huge horror fan but I have never before gone down the path of horror from the human psyche. This book was creeptastic with a side order of what the F did I just read. It was cleverly written and it had that slow tingle of spine chilling goose bumps up the back of your neck, wanting it to end but dreading it being over.
I thought the plot was excellent and carefully laid out. Loved that it was mostly set in an orphanage with all the strange happenings and the urban legend of the orphanage too.
Totally fell in love with Raymond. It was definitely a change of pace having to watch a young child make some pretty harrowing decisions for themselves but it was brilliant. So brilliant and I was so pumped to see that is the start of a series and I am so here for that!
5 stars! The writing was marvelous and if you are a fan of horror this has to be on your list! It is out now!
Thank you to @netgalley and @sterlingandstone for my review copy!
December 22, 2023
“Knowledge wasn’t power.
It was pain.”
The color of pain is uniquely written and peculiar sort of book. It tells us story of a 8 years old Raymond who’s orphan. Now everyone must have read a book about orphan or watched movies too. Even then the color of pain hits differently.
“An orphan’s whole life was being told what to do.”
Being an orphan is already a hard life but Raymond is different, a freak as most people consider him to be. Some treat him badly. He is even bullied by some, especially a boy named Kevin who is a charmer and showoff when adults are around.
“Things would always be easy for the Kevins of the world, whether they deserved it or not. It's the way it is.”
When trouble starts, even when it is not Raymond's fault he is sure to be punished
“For as long as he lived, he’d never understand the sisters. They’d jump to pull out the ruler for a dumb word like “dick,” but when it came to actual violence, they couldn’t be bothered. It made no sense.”
Raymond is not just different, he has a power, an unique one. He can see colors not like normal people do. But he is not able to decipher the secret behind. When his counselor leaves suddenly, not at fault of Raymond but still because of him, he gets new counsellor Ada. Ada makes him understand what he is exactly but she is asking him a price he might not be ready to pay for.
The color pain is written brilliantly and captures your attention from the start. Overall a good read.
April 13, 2023
This was such a fun read. The premise sounded interesting and I was surprised how much I enjoyed reading this story with such a young main character. Really when I requested the book I was expecting Ray to be a bit older, but it worked really well.
I loved the way Ray saw the world. The colors and things he would know. It must all be so confusing when you are so different with no one to help guide you. He is lonely (the other kids find him strange), he is hungry and tired but can't seem to eat or sleep, he is having a hard time. He just wants to be normal. He has a rough go of it at times, but oh I enjoyed this one. All the characters were great to read, there were some really creepy moments, and it was such a fun read. The ending did feel a bit abrupt and unresolved, but I think that is because there are more books planned (or I hope there are! I want to see what happens next!)
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book
I loved the way Ray saw the world. The colors and things he would know. It must all be so confusing when you are so different with no one to help guide you. He is lonely (the other kids find him strange), he is hungry and tired but can't seem to eat or sleep, he is having a hard time. He just wants to be normal. He has a rough go of it at times, but oh I enjoyed this one. All the characters were great to read, there were some really creepy moments, and it was such a fun read. The ending did feel a bit abrupt and unresolved, but I think that is because there are more books planned (or I hope there are! I want to see what happens next!)
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book
March 30, 2023
If you had to eat others pain, could you? That is what Raymond has to decide in this chilling novel. Raymond is an orphan, abandoned as a baby, by his mother. He barely remembers her or his father. No one at the orphanage will tell him any facts. He knows he is odd and others make sure he knows. He cannot eat regular food but he does not understand what he needs only that he is always hungry. After chasing his social worker away, he gets a new one who knows more about him than she lets on. The more he learns, the more questions he has. I felt so much sorrow for this young man, who only wants to be loved. Through Ada’s manipulation, he loses an opportunity to have a real family. What will become of Raymond? I must read the next book in this series.
September 29, 2023
A suspenseful thriller that follows a young boy attempting to reconcile what he needs to eat to survive with his sense of right and wrong, meanwhile being manipulated by a woman with ulterior motives, who seems to know more than she lets on. Set in a religious orphanage that seems to have its own dark history.
Despite some minor technical errors around the editing and repetition of some parts, I enjoyed this book SO much. I hope future books in this series will answer some of the questions I was left with, and I'm insanely excited to follow this author and their works going forward.
(Also as someone with synesthesia the entire concept was very cool to read.)
Despite some minor technical errors around the editing and repetition of some parts, I enjoyed this book SO much. I hope future books in this series will answer some of the questions I was left with, and I'm insanely excited to follow this author and their works going forward.
(Also as someone with synesthesia the entire concept was very cool to read.)
April 17, 2023
It's been a while since I wasn't able to predict a paranormal book. This was great. Raymond is a very enjoyable character, and as the book progresses, you start to think maybe you shouldn't like him. Some things that inevitably bothered me: Where does Raymond get his "gift"? What happened to his parents? Who is Ada? Is she Raymond's mom? What's her backstory? What the hell happens to Matt?
I felt his "gift" could have been narrowed down to something easier, but he only "feeds" a few times throughout the book and has never done it before?
I felt his "gift" could have been narrowed down to something easier, but he only "feeds" a few times throughout the book and has never done it before?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2023
3.5 stars.
Raymond’s tummy hurts, he’s never hungry but he’s starving. Perhaps he’s not eating the right thing? Raymond wants to be normal, his fellow orphans think he’s weird and he feels weird himself… there is only one person who truly gets him.
The story was unique and well told. There were multiple typos that I hope get fixed before it’s officially published but otherwise no issues! This is an easy binge read and would be great in one sitting, I did it over multiple sittings but think I would’ve been more immersed if I really hunkered down.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Raymond’s tummy hurts, he’s never hungry but he’s starving. Perhaps he’s not eating the right thing? Raymond wants to be normal, his fellow orphans think he’s weird and he feels weird himself… there is only one person who truly gets him.
The story was unique and well told. There were multiple typos that I hope get fixed before it’s officially published but otherwise no issues! This is an easy binge read and would be great in one sitting, I did it over multiple sittings but think I would’ve been more immersed if I really hunkered down.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
June 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this novel. The story is primarily told from the perspective of a young orphaned boy, and the author did a great job with this character. Some of the scenes were heartbreaking.
The ending doesn't wrap everything up fully, but it looks like this novel will have a sequel and I will definitely be reading it. I wish there was more information online about the author because I'd love to know when to expect the follow up.
4.5/5
The ending doesn't wrap everything up fully, but it looks like this novel will have a sequel and I will definitely be reading it. I wish there was more information online about the author because I'd love to know when to expect the follow up.
4.5/5
August 10, 2023
I really enjoyed the originality of this story. Raymond has a “gift” if you can call it that. He’s very young but also very intelligent and his character is very well developed. He is bullied and outcast at the orphanage where he lives and that leaves him open to manipulation by his caseworker Ada, whose motives are unclear through much of the story. This moves the story along as you try to figure out what’s going on. I liked the writing and would look forward to a Novice Ray book 2.
May 16, 2023
The Color of Pain
Fantastic read! I couldn’t put it down. Ray was an orphan in the orphanage, he wasn’t like normal boys. He was an artist who associated everything to colors. They called him weird and different names. After years he got a “real” home. Things really strange starts going on . A definite must read
Fantastic read! I couldn’t put it down. Ray was an orphan in the orphanage, he wasn’t like normal boys. He was an artist who associated everything to colors. They called him weird and different names. After years he got a “real” home. Things really strange starts going on . A definite must read
August 12, 2023
This whole book felt like an acid trip. It left me more confused than I was in the beginning mostly because the timeline was so jumpy.
More detail on what Raymond was and why Ada had such a controlling power over him would’ve been nice. For such a short book there were just a lot of unanswered questions and lacking explanations.
More detail on what Raymond was and why Ada had such a controlling power over him would’ve been nice. For such a short book there were just a lot of unanswered questions and lacking explanations.
Read
May 23, 2023DNF
I don't mean to leave a one-star review, but Amazon doesn't give any other options.
The fact is I cannot finish this book. It's not that I want to ignore bullying, I just don't want to read a book about it. I read for my own entertainment, and bullying is not entertaining.
I don't mean to leave a one-star review, but Amazon doesn't give any other options.
The fact is I cannot finish this book. It's not that I want to ignore bullying, I just don't want to read a book about it. I read for my own entertainment, and bullying is not entertaining.
August 21, 2023
The Co!or of Pain
I don't normally give 5 stars, but this one deserves it. It held my interest right to the very end. I would recommend this book to, well, everyone. I am going to go find Book 2 now to continue with the story.
I don't normally give 5 stars, but this one deserves it. It held my interest right to the very end. I would recommend this book to, well, everyone. I am going to go find Book 2 now to continue with the story.
Want to read
April 6, 2023 I received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
RTC
RTC
June 20, 2023
Smooth prose, compelling characters and story, enough mystery to keep you hooked, and some truly creepy set pieces. I will definitely keep my eye out for the next book!
July 2, 2023
Something completely different. It was well done and I enjoyed it. Fast paced and finished in one day.
July 22, 2023
3.5 rounded down. Good idea, Stephen King-like, kept my interest, but I needed a bit more resolution. Looks like this may become a series. I'd probably read the next installment.
June 18, 2023
Certainly a different plot from what I've read. It's a little weird but a whole lot interesting - I couldn't put it down. The boy feels in colors - he meets a scary person and knows it, he meets a kind soul and knows it... you get the idea. There are many layers to this novel - him being an outcast at his school/orphanage (and probably a trigger warning for bullying), to the new therapist, and ... well I can't say more without blowing the suspense for you. I do feel bad for what he's gone through in his little life, abandonment can't be easy. And to have his "gift" would be crazy for anyone to deal with. It's a good book.
May 5, 2023
I'm so excited since this is my first ever ARC, and I will say : I'm not disappointed!
Although there are quite a bit of spelling, grammar, and sentence structure mistakes, I didn't really mind it. The writing at the beginning was hard to get into, but the way E.G. Rose describes scenes is so beautiful. It really helps with imagining the scenarios. As well, I found the characters to actually be quite compelling. Raymond as a main character is extremely sympathetic and I became attached to his character very quickly. Even some of the side characters became amusing in certain scenes. I even found the ending to be satisfying, which isn't very common in my case.
Aside from the editing it needs, I'm not quite sure I would consider this horror. One review (on Netgalley LOL) mentioned it's all shock value from the idea of the characters being orphaned children, but I found it to be much more of a maybe.. mystery thriller? But I might not be super qualified, as I usually read extreme horror so take that with a grain of salt. All in all, I'm a happy reader and hope to see this author improve with time!
**edit !! i forgot ! i will say, i found some of the commentary to be weird. like when ray mentions that the new girl is black, but then corrects himself by saying "person of color" and then goes on a weird tangent about how he thinks Everyone is a person of color?
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC <33
Although there are quite a bit of spelling, grammar, and sentence structure mistakes, I didn't really mind it. The writing at the beginning was hard to get into, but the way E.G. Rose describes scenes is so beautiful. It really helps with imagining the scenarios. As well, I found the characters to actually be quite compelling. Raymond as a main character is extremely sympathetic and I became attached to his character very quickly. Even some of the side characters became amusing in certain scenes. I even found the ending to be satisfying, which isn't very common in my case.
Aside from the editing it needs, I'm not quite sure I would consider this horror. One review (on Netgalley LOL) mentioned it's all shock value from the idea of the characters being orphaned children, but I found it to be much more of a maybe.. mystery thriller? But I might not be super qualified, as I usually read extreme horror so take that with a grain of salt. All in all, I'm a happy reader and hope to see this author improve with time!
**edit !! i forgot ! i will say, i found some of the commentary to be weird. like when ray mentions that the new girl is black, but then corrects himself by saying "person of color" and then goes on a weird tangent about how he thinks Everyone is a person of color?
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC <33
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