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Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer
Losing a pet is never easy.
For Melvin Cockburn – fortyish, alone, living in his mother’s basement – losing his cat, Lucy, is something he cannot accept. Because losing Lucy means losing his only friend.
When Lucy is diagnosed with cancer and given no chance to survive, Melvin is desperate for a solution that might save her. A second opinion that will prove his veterinarian wrong.
When all seems lost, he is approached by a peculiar stranger. Someone who claims to have an alternative method of treatment for his poor, dying cat.
To save Lucy, Melvin simply has to change her diet.
No more kibble, no canned food. No more treats.
What Lucy needs to survive on is life. What she hungers for is a sacrifice or few.
And all Melvin has to do to save his cat is provide her with a feast of human souls.
For Melvin Cockburn – fortyish, alone, living in his mother’s basement – losing his cat, Lucy, is something he cannot accept. Because losing Lucy means losing his only friend.
When Lucy is diagnosed with cancer and given no chance to survive, Melvin is desperate for a solution that might save her. A second opinion that will prove his veterinarian wrong.
When all seems lost, he is approached by a peculiar stranger. Someone who claims to have an alternative method of treatment for his poor, dying cat.
To save Lucy, Melvin simply has to change her diet.
No more kibble, no canned food. No more treats.
What Lucy needs to survive on is life. What she hungers for is a sacrifice or few.
And all Melvin has to do to save his cat is provide her with a feast of human souls.
- GenresHorror
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2023
About the author
Felix I.D. Dimaro
18 books114 followersBorn in Nigeria, raised in Toronto, Felix I.D. Dimaro is an author of allegorical, dark, psychological fiction often centering around morality, mental health, societal conditions, the environment, or the real-life issues he has experienced. He has released eleven books to date, including the eco-thriller, “Black Bloom: A Story of Survival,” the extreme horror novel, “Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer," and the tale of cat cloning gone wrong, "In the Darkness, Eyes and Teeth.”
When not writing, Dimaro is usually reading, watching professional wrestling, or running even though no one is chasing him.
To find out more about Dimaro and his books, head over to https://www.thingsthatkeepmeupatnight...
When not writing, Dimaro is usually reading, watching professional wrestling, or running even though no one is chasing him.
To find out more about Dimaro and his books, head over to https://www.thingsthatkeepmeupatnight...
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 29, 2025
Part Little Shop of Horrors, part Pet Sematary, all heart. I am a cat lover. And we’ve had quite a few over the years. All, but two, developed their own individual chronic illnesses, forcing us to pay whatever the vets said, all to keep their quality of life intact. At one point, with our six year old tabby, who had stomach cancer, we even went into debt to get her treatments. And it didn’t work, forcing us to put her down, which still burns a wide hole in my heart, over six years later. But it’s extremely stressful and financially burdening. However, we’ll do what we can for our furbabies, nonetheless. And our lead, Melvin, did just that, but to an all new extreme. Things get very creepy and bloody, as he finds new victims to sustain his terminally ill cat, Lucy. He alienates himself further and further as he plunges into insanity, plagued by the cries of a suffering, bloodthirsty animal. It all gets very intense as the suspicion of his heinous acts closes in. I had no idea that Felix DiMaro wrote another book, but was tickled pink to see this. It did not disappoint.
September 3, 2023
This was my first Felix I.D. Dimaro book, but it won’t be my last. This was a fun ride from start to finish, with an ending I didn’t know I wanted; but was very satisfied with. Pet-lovers will empathize with our main character, tasked with dealing with a sick pet who means the world to them. So much so that they would strike up a deal with a mysterious stranger in order to keep them alive? All it needs is a little sacrifice or six to keep it healthy. What could go wrong? Only one way to find out. A great story, an engrossing concept, done very well. Descriptions that will make you wince, gag, and wonder what the insides of a chest cavity feels like. 🤔 Highly recommend it for extreme horror fans or those willing to see if they can survive it.
Extra credit: that cover. 😻
Extra credit: that cover. 😻
February 10, 2024
Ok, really not sure how to feel about this story! I mean, my fur babies are my children, so I totally understood Melvin’s desperation to save his cat. But he was also so so out of touch with reality. I also really loved the supernatural elements of this tale as well, they really had the reader questioning what was actually happening to Melvin & Lucy.
To briefly summarize the story, Lucy is Melvin’s only friend. She’s dying from a malignant tumour and suffering, Melvin is at his wits end trying to extend her life.
He’s offered a chance to save Lucy, but she needs “life” in return. Melvin has a list of people who have wronged him, and he’s starting at the top. This book begs the question: how far is someone willing to go and what are they willing to do if it means saving a loved one from death.
I wanted to know more about Mrs. Thames and her tragic story. Felix Dimaro has written a number of works that interconnect with places/people/supernatural elements from “Humane Sacrifice”, so be sure to check those out as well!
“The raining fire pooled, and those within it swam, magma making them move their bodies, pain their dance partner in this disco of the damned.
They shook, they squirmed, they screamed up at the scarlet sky.”
P.S. I loved the eulogy for the author’s cat, Cat. So so sweet and what a great way to honour a faithful companion. ♥️
To briefly summarize the story, Lucy is Melvin’s only friend. She’s dying from a malignant tumour and suffering, Melvin is at his wits end trying to extend her life.
He’s offered a chance to save Lucy, but she needs “life” in return. Melvin has a list of people who have wronged him, and he’s starting at the top. This book begs the question: how far is someone willing to go and what are they willing to do if it means saving a loved one from death.
I wanted to know more about Mrs. Thames and her tragic story. Felix Dimaro has written a number of works that interconnect with places/people/supernatural elements from “Humane Sacrifice”, so be sure to check those out as well!
“The raining fire pooled, and those within it swam, magma making them move their bodies, pain their dance partner in this disco of the damned.
They shook, they squirmed, they screamed up at the scarlet sky.”
P.S. I loved the eulogy for the author’s cat, Cat. So so sweet and what a great way to honour a faithful companion. ♥️
April 27, 2023
How far would you go to save your pet? Would you lose you're dang mind? This was such a good read that has you questioning how fat you'd go to save your pet. I definitely got Psycho and American Psycho vibes from aspects of this. I can't wait to read what Dimaro comes up with next!
April 16, 2023
By coincidence, I started reading this the day I had to put my dog to sleep for cancer. So I understand the pain when a beloved pet passes away. When Melvin is faced with losing his only friend, Lucy, he will go to any lengths to keep her alive, including human sacrifices.
I liked the premise of this book and how it all played out. This book has a lot of gore but it felt relevant to the storyline. It may be disturbing to someone who is not used to reading more extreme horror, but I thought it was fine. I felt sorry for Melvin the whole book and hated the people who bullied him. The ending was not what I expected and I really enjoyed the part where Melvin meets the mysterious stranger again. This was a fast read with nonstop action. And I absolutely love the cover art.
I received a free ARC ftom the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
I liked the premise of this book and how it all played out. This book has a lot of gore but it felt relevant to the storyline. It may be disturbing to someone who is not used to reading more extreme horror, but I thought it was fine. I felt sorry for Melvin the whole book and hated the people who bullied him. The ending was not what I expected and I really enjoyed the part where Melvin meets the mysterious stranger again. This was a fast read with nonstop action. And I absolutely love the cover art.
I received a free ARC ftom the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 11, 2023
Since connecting with Felix however many years ago over on Instagram (I’m thinking five years? Maybe six?) I’ve loved seeing how prolific he is with creating new and exciting nightmares. Felix is also not afraid to explore different topics within his stories, which means you’re always going to get something new and he won’t be repeating himself.
I realized it had been a bit since I’d read one of his works, so, while we were chatting, I asked him if there was something of his specifically I should tackle next and he replied with ‘Humane Sacrifice.’ With that, I dove in, ready to deal with whatever horror Dimaro had thrown me into this time.
What I liked: The story follows ‘loser’ Melvin, a forty-year-old man living in his mom’s basement. He suffers from dyslexia, which was never diagnosed and as such has led to a lifetime of his mother shitting on him and calling him all kinds of names.
But Melvin pushes that aside, depending solely on his feline companion, Lucy, a cat he loves more than anything else in the world. When she develops a tumor and the vet lets him know it’s untreatable, Melvin spirals. Not all hope is lost, though. Not when a strange man tells him that there’s a way to save Lucy. And Melvin is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her alive and make her better. Even if that means taking the lives of others to feed Lucy their lifeforce.
It’s an interesting character study from there on out. One of a man who has been constantly pushed down, told he is stupid, told he can’t and that he isn’t able to do, and when he realizes he can make his own decisions and do what needs to be done, this creates an internal battle between good and evil. Between what should be done versus what he actually does.
The ending and the reveal are fantastic. As Melvin continues taking lives and Lucy continues to improve, Melvin himself grows ill and when everything collides and the truth is revealed, it’s a moment of sheer brilliance with how well Dimaro kept those cards close to his chest.
What I didn’t like: The nature of the story makes it so, but it does have some repetitive aspects, simply because Melvin must kill to feed Lucy. So, any tension that should be created by Melvin’s perceived slightness and awkwardness is minimized knowing that he will lash out and choose violence.
Why you should buy this: Dimaro has created a character in Melvin that you’ll both want to yell at but also hug. He’s a great take on the simmering character who you know will explode at some point in time and when his believed cat’s life is on the line, he’s willing to go that extra mile.
This novel is fast-paced, blood-soaked and completely bonkers in the best way possible.
I realized it had been a bit since I’d read one of his works, so, while we were chatting, I asked him if there was something of his specifically I should tackle next and he replied with ‘Humane Sacrifice.’ With that, I dove in, ready to deal with whatever horror Dimaro had thrown me into this time.
What I liked: The story follows ‘loser’ Melvin, a forty-year-old man living in his mom’s basement. He suffers from dyslexia, which was never diagnosed and as such has led to a lifetime of his mother shitting on him and calling him all kinds of names.
But Melvin pushes that aside, depending solely on his feline companion, Lucy, a cat he loves more than anything else in the world. When she develops a tumor and the vet lets him know it’s untreatable, Melvin spirals. Not all hope is lost, though. Not when a strange man tells him that there’s a way to save Lucy. And Melvin is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her alive and make her better. Even if that means taking the lives of others to feed Lucy their lifeforce.
It’s an interesting character study from there on out. One of a man who has been constantly pushed down, told he is stupid, told he can’t and that he isn’t able to do, and when he realizes he can make his own decisions and do what needs to be done, this creates an internal battle between good and evil. Between what should be done versus what he actually does.
The ending and the reveal are fantastic. As Melvin continues taking lives and Lucy continues to improve, Melvin himself grows ill and when everything collides and the truth is revealed, it’s a moment of sheer brilliance with how well Dimaro kept those cards close to his chest.
What I didn’t like: The nature of the story makes it so, but it does have some repetitive aspects, simply because Melvin must kill to feed Lucy. So, any tension that should be created by Melvin’s perceived slightness and awkwardness is minimized knowing that he will lash out and choose violence.
Why you should buy this: Dimaro has created a character in Melvin that you’ll both want to yell at but also hug. He’s a great take on the simmering character who you know will explode at some point in time and when his believed cat’s life is on the line, he’s willing to go that extra mile.
This novel is fast-paced, blood-soaked and completely bonkers in the best way possible.
December 5, 2023
Me - lifting my eyes from the Kindle and slowly putting the berries cookie back onto the plate, trying HARD not to retch:
'He wasn't a monster, after all.'
I re-read the line, set the plate of cookies out of sight for good measure, then get back to the book and literally huff: Noooooo! You aren't a monster. You're a batshit crazy sick fuck!!!
Note to self: NEVER EVER snack while reading a Felix Dimaro book!
Especially not one like this here!
You know those WTF did I just read books?
This is NOT one of them.
This book will straight out have you go 'FUUUUCK!!' several times over - all throughout.
This is the kind of book you do NOT want to read if you're squeamish or shy away from rough language and gore.
The kind of book you do NOT want to miss if you're a fan of bloody horror.
It's dark, twisted, creepy, gory and, at times, absolutely gross.
A mindfuck in every sense of the word.
Well written and poignantly rendered, this tale of a pet owner turned killer for the love of his fur-baby checks all the boxes for an addictive read.
From premise to characters and scenes to plot twists, everything is meant to make you react and hits just right.
I hated the mother and both pitied and despised Melvin at first. By the end however, crazy motherfucker was the gentlest term I would have used for him.
I appreciated the irony of a certain killing towards the end, and STILL wanted to keep on reading even after being literally about to hurl at one time.
And don't even get me started on that end! I just have to tip my hat to the writer for that. A first class mindfuck.
Happy reading Bookdragons
And be careful what you wish for.
I re-read the line, set the plate of cookies out of sight for good measure, then get back to the book and literally huff: Noooooo! You aren't a monster. You're a batshit crazy sick fuck!!!
Note to self: NEVER EVER snack while reading a Felix Dimaro book!
Especially not one like this here!
You know those WTF did I just read books?
This is NOT one of them.
This book will straight out have you go 'FUUUUCK!!' several times over - all throughout.
This is the kind of book you do NOT want to read if you're squeamish or shy away from rough language and gore.
The kind of book you do NOT want to miss if you're a fan of bloody horror.
It's dark, twisted, creepy, gory and, at times, absolutely gross.
A mindfuck in every sense of the word.
Well written and poignantly rendered, this tale of a pet owner turned killer for the love of his fur-baby checks all the boxes for an addictive read.
From premise to characters and scenes to plot twists, everything is meant to make you react and hits just right.
I hated the mother and both pitied and despised Melvin at first. By the end however, crazy motherfucker was the gentlest term I would have used for him.
I appreciated the irony of a certain killing towards the end, and STILL wanted to keep on reading even after being literally about to hurl at one time.
And don't even get me started on that end! I just have to tip my hat to the writer for that. A first class mindfuck.
Happy reading Bookdragons
And be careful what you wish for.
July 24, 2023
This is my third five star book by this author and I’m sure it won’t be my last!
What I like about Dimaro’s style is his ability to illustrate a story with his words, from characters, sceneries and situations it projects like a movie in my mind. I strangely felt connected to Melvins character who just wanted his cat to be okay. As a pet owner and as someone currently going through the same motions of pain and knowing their cat is at the final stages of her life, this hit me especially hard. Emotions felt raw, visceral and real in a way I could relate to, even with how damaged and depraved Melvin was. The author delves into the darkest side of humanity that shows what someone is capable of when suffering mental destruction and abuse their entire life. It’s both heartbreaking and unsettling, especially when the story slowly starts to unfold in horrific moments of madness and horror. There’s lots of bloodshed in this story and it’s not for the squeamish! The author writes these grotesque scenes with exquisite detail that’ll make you cringe and want to turn away. There’s a big twist that I didn’t expect and while it completely disturbed me and made me emotional, it’s what propelled the story to new heights. I don’t want to spoil anything but the conclusion was perfect and strikingly written with surrealistic beauty. If you’ve read “The Fire On Memory Lane” by this author, you’ll appreciate the Easter egg placed in here.
To simply put it, I loved this book and would recommend it to all Horror fans who would enjoy a unique take of striking a deal with the Devil. Bonus points if you’re a cat lover who’d do anything for their cat, even if it means leaving a long trail of blood…
What I like about Dimaro’s style is his ability to illustrate a story with his words, from characters, sceneries and situations it projects like a movie in my mind. I strangely felt connected to Melvins character who just wanted his cat to be okay. As a pet owner and as someone currently going through the same motions of pain and knowing their cat is at the final stages of her life, this hit me especially hard. Emotions felt raw, visceral and real in a way I could relate to, even with how damaged and depraved Melvin was. The author delves into the darkest side of humanity that shows what someone is capable of when suffering mental destruction and abuse their entire life. It’s both heartbreaking and unsettling, especially when the story slowly starts to unfold in horrific moments of madness and horror. There’s lots of bloodshed in this story and it’s not for the squeamish! The author writes these grotesque scenes with exquisite detail that’ll make you cringe and want to turn away. There’s a big twist that I didn’t expect and while it completely disturbed me and made me emotional, it’s what propelled the story to new heights. I don’t want to spoil anything but the conclusion was perfect and strikingly written with surrealistic beauty. If you’ve read “The Fire On Memory Lane” by this author, you’ll appreciate the Easter egg placed in here.
To simply put it, I loved this book and would recommend it to all Horror fans who would enjoy a unique take of striking a deal with the Devil. Bonus points if you’re a cat lover who’d do anything for their cat, even if it means leaving a long trail of blood…
February 21, 2025
All he wanted was for someone to try to save his cat.
Back in October 2024 when I left a 5-star review for Felix I.D. Dimaro's mindfudge of a book, namely, "Bug Spray", I joked a bit about how well I had survived my experience based on the provided trigger warnings. Warnings that wound up being essentially a plot checklist. It was a crazy story that had its gruesome moments for sure, but nothing where I went "oh wow, that was worse than anything I've seen before." Yeah, we all had a good laugh and went out for fresh organ meat entrees later. Yeah, that will probably make a hell of a lot more sense if you read THIS book, trust me…
She could truly live again if that is what you require.
Well, for Mr. Dimaro's "Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer" I shall be singing a slightly different tune. No, no, don't worry, I also REALLY liked this book, too. HOWEVER, I will not be joking around about any discretionary advice the author provided. Because this book was, if anything, on the limits of what I've experienced to date in terms of gruesomeness, gore, and splattery goodness. Put differently: this book severely AFFECTED me! Seriously, I don't think the author used the descriptive "buckets of blood" at any point, but it wouldn't have sufficed. Not even for any given isolated incident! Let's just say I definitely uttered the word "yuck!" more than a few times. But, you know, yuck in the good sense!
Looking at the walls, the sheets, the carpet, the bed, the word ‘massacre’ came to mind.
I even double-checked the goodreads entry to see what genres this book covered - where it says simply though quite accurately "horror" - in large part because I was wondering if I had finally ventured into that forbidden realm commonly called "splatterpunk". I don't think any of my past reads* have been covered by that even during a phase where it seemed half of my selections featured cannabalism of some kind and/or species. Still, there's been enough splattery bits in my reading selections where I thought I was starting to at least build up a bit of resistance. I don't think squeamishness is a bad thing but I've definitely gotten ahold of my gag reflex! (*update: I'm just noticing from a list found via google/goodreads that C.J.Leede's "Maeve Fly" is being called splatterpunk but come on! That was just honest to goodness feminist rage mixed with perfectly understandable serial killer tendencies!)
He would reap, taking this living heart – this life – to feed his loved one.
Anyway, "Humane Sacrifice" (oh yeah, the book review!) is an excellently formulated and executed tale. I also thought the same about "Bug Spray" but they are pretty different in terms of the overall mind-fvckery. Whereas "Bug Spray" was more of a slow burn with reality seemingly drifting in and out of focus, "HS" wastes no time getting the chop-chop-hackety-hack bits going. We are immediately faced with Melvin Cockburn's (pronounced "Co-burn" dammit! You know that!) anguish as his beloved cat Lucy is dying from severe cancer. Thinking the veterinarian is not taking things seriously enough, we in fact meet Melvin as he is filled with rage and hatred. He is beyond convinced this hack of a doctor is trying to murder his best friend. In fact, his ONLY friend.
He couldn’t help but wonder why being a pet owner had to be so difficult.
But the warm-up to this adventure goes well beyond the suffering of his beloved cat. We also quickly see just how truly tortured Melvin's life has been since his birth, as he lives with a mother that blames him for every bad thing in the world. It seems dear mom - a woman who can't "stand anything being happy and free" - was impregnated those 42 or so years ago during a one-night "fling" (actually a bar bathroom quickie given to a dishonest cop that offers to ignore a speeding ticket in favor of other, um, well, favors). She wanted to abort the child - something she has told Melvin repeatedly - but her father forbade her from carrying out the procedure. Still, this truly despicable lady is presented as nothing less than a demon as she belittles Melvin in the most cruel ways, including calling him retarded to his face (he turns out to be in fact dyslexic) and preventing him from having any life of his own. At one point Dimaro describes it somewhat poetically but still with harsh reality, namely that she had subjected her son to "a lifelong curriculum of pain and maternal cruelty." So our hearts reach out to the poor guy… um, on second thought, I should rephrase that.
This wasn’t about violation. This was a sacrifice to save a life. He wasn’t a monster, after all.
So acting on the advice of a dapper man that had appeared to him earlier that asks "Can I interest you in better days?" (that's not suspicious, is it?) Melvin starts pretty much slicing and dicing his way through Saturn City, Canada. Of course, it's not for evil reasons per se, it's to save Lucy's life. He's not evil, he just has to do this! Because the only way to save HER life is to feed her life. It definitely gets very sacrifice-y (see the 2nd part of the title again) as we see our (pro/anta)gonist slowly begin to lose his sanity as well as for some odd reason his health. Yes, even though we see marked improvements in Lucy's condition - naturally - something odd is happening to Melvin. But darned if we can figure out what…
It occurred to him that this could truly be the end.
And with that in mind, I will say that the big WTF moment in this book is worth the price of admission alone. No, I'm not kidding: this was like one of those moments where you're reading on your Kindle in the dentist's office and you suddenly stand up and shout "holy scheisse!!!" but, you know, a lot less Germanic. I, for one, was caught totally off-guard even though it winds up making so much sense once the reveal is accomplished! My only regret to this was, it would have made for an excellent place to begin to wrap things up, however, we continue not only with the activities on the earthly realm but expand our viewpoint to encompass just a weeeee bit more. It's not that it doesn't make sense in terms of what is revealed, it's just I thought we were at a pretty good stopping point during Melvin's farewell bits. But to each their own. It didn't detract (or subtract) from anything, just an observation.
He squirmed on the ground like an earthworm in the mud, well aware of birds descending.
Otherwise, holy cow! Read this! P.S. Buckets, nay, tubs of blood. You've been warned! And RIP to poor Chloe “Cat” Dimaro, a beautiful wee lady from the included pictures. Losing her sucks. Cancer sucks. But this book does not suck. Aloha!
Back in October 2024 when I left a 5-star review for Felix I.D. Dimaro's mindfudge of a book, namely, "Bug Spray", I joked a bit about how well I had survived my experience based on the provided trigger warnings. Warnings that wound up being essentially a plot checklist. It was a crazy story that had its gruesome moments for sure, but nothing where I went "oh wow, that was worse than anything I've seen before." Yeah, we all had a good laugh and went out for fresh organ meat entrees later. Yeah, that will probably make a hell of a lot more sense if you read THIS book, trust me…
She could truly live again if that is what you require.
Well, for Mr. Dimaro's "Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer" I shall be singing a slightly different tune. No, no, don't worry, I also REALLY liked this book, too. HOWEVER, I will not be joking around about any discretionary advice the author provided. Because this book was, if anything, on the limits of what I've experienced to date in terms of gruesomeness, gore, and splattery goodness. Put differently: this book severely AFFECTED me! Seriously, I don't think the author used the descriptive "buckets of blood" at any point, but it wouldn't have sufficed. Not even for any given isolated incident! Let's just say I definitely uttered the word "yuck!" more than a few times. But, you know, yuck in the good sense!
Looking at the walls, the sheets, the carpet, the bed, the word ‘massacre’ came to mind.
I even double-checked the goodreads entry to see what genres this book covered - where it says simply though quite accurately "horror" - in large part because I was wondering if I had finally ventured into that forbidden realm commonly called "splatterpunk". I don't think any of my past reads* have been covered by that even during a phase where it seemed half of my selections featured cannabalism of some kind and/or species. Still, there's been enough splattery bits in my reading selections where I thought I was starting to at least build up a bit of resistance. I don't think squeamishness is a bad thing but I've definitely gotten ahold of my gag reflex! (*update: I'm just noticing from a list found via google/goodreads that C.J.Leede's "Maeve Fly" is being called splatterpunk but come on! That was just honest to goodness feminist rage mixed with perfectly understandable serial killer tendencies!)
He would reap, taking this living heart – this life – to feed his loved one.
Anyway, "Humane Sacrifice" (oh yeah, the book review!) is an excellently formulated and executed tale. I also thought the same about "Bug Spray" but they are pretty different in terms of the overall mind-fvckery. Whereas "Bug Spray" was more of a slow burn with reality seemingly drifting in and out of focus, "HS" wastes no time getting the chop-chop-hackety-hack bits going. We are immediately faced with Melvin Cockburn's (pronounced "Co-burn" dammit! You know that!) anguish as his beloved cat Lucy is dying from severe cancer. Thinking the veterinarian is not taking things seriously enough, we in fact meet Melvin as he is filled with rage and hatred. He is beyond convinced this hack of a doctor is trying to murder his best friend. In fact, his ONLY friend.
He couldn’t help but wonder why being a pet owner had to be so difficult.
But the warm-up to this adventure goes well beyond the suffering of his beloved cat. We also quickly see just how truly tortured Melvin's life has been since his birth, as he lives with a mother that blames him for every bad thing in the world. It seems dear mom - a woman who can't "stand anything being happy and free" - was impregnated those 42 or so years ago during a one-night "fling" (actually a bar bathroom quickie given to a dishonest cop that offers to ignore a speeding ticket in favor of other, um, well, favors). She wanted to abort the child - something she has told Melvin repeatedly - but her father forbade her from carrying out the procedure. Still, this truly despicable lady is presented as nothing less than a demon as she belittles Melvin in the most cruel ways, including calling him retarded to his face (he turns out to be in fact dyslexic) and preventing him from having any life of his own. At one point Dimaro describes it somewhat poetically but still with harsh reality, namely that she had subjected her son to "a lifelong curriculum of pain and maternal cruelty." So our hearts reach out to the poor guy… um, on second thought, I should rephrase that.
This wasn’t about violation. This was a sacrifice to save a life. He wasn’t a monster, after all.
So acting on the advice of a dapper man that had appeared to him earlier that asks "Can I interest you in better days?" (that's not suspicious, is it?) Melvin starts pretty much slicing and dicing his way through Saturn City, Canada. Of course, it's not for evil reasons per se, it's to save Lucy's life. He's not evil, he just has to do this! Because the only way to save HER life is to feed her life. It definitely gets very sacrifice-y (see the 2nd part of the title again) as we see our (pro/anta)gonist slowly begin to lose his sanity as well as for some odd reason his health. Yes, even though we see marked improvements in Lucy's condition - naturally - something odd is happening to Melvin. But darned if we can figure out what…
It occurred to him that this could truly be the end.
And with that in mind, I will say that the big WTF moment in this book is worth the price of admission alone. No, I'm not kidding: this was like one of those moments where you're reading on your Kindle in the dentist's office and you suddenly stand up and shout "holy scheisse!!!" but, you know, a lot less Germanic. I, for one, was caught totally off-guard even though it winds up making so much sense once the reveal is accomplished! My only regret to this was, it would have made for an excellent place to begin to wrap things up, however, we continue not only with the activities on the earthly realm but expand our viewpoint to encompass just a weeeee bit more. It's not that it doesn't make sense in terms of what is revealed, it's just I thought we were at a pretty good stopping point during Melvin's farewell bits. But to each their own. It didn't detract (or subtract) from anything, just an observation.
He squirmed on the ground like an earthworm in the mud, well aware of birds descending.
Otherwise, holy cow! Read this! P.S. Buckets, nay, tubs of blood. You've been warned! And RIP to poor Chloe “Cat” Dimaro, a beautiful wee lady from the included pictures. Losing her sucks. Cancer sucks. But this book does not suck. Aloha!
April 8, 2023
First of all, I would like to thank the author for providing me with an e-ARC of his book in exchange for an honest review.
The story of Humane sacrifice revolves around a middle-aged man called Melvin, who is truly a lost soul. His mother never misses an opportunity to remind him of how big a disappointment he is to her. Stupid and retarded. That he is just a product of a one-night stand she never intended to keep.
The problem is, that Melvin lives in his mother's basement, doesn't have a job and the only highlight of his beloved cat Lucy, who is slowly dying of cancer.
When everything seems lost, Melvin is approached by a peculiar stranger who tells him there still is hope. The only thing he has to do is stop feeding her cat kibble or canned food and provide her with 'life'. A sacrifice or two. That's where Melvin's journey to save his cat begins...But where is it going to end?
I must admit that this story was disgusting and brilliant at the same time. Do you know the feeling when you're repelled and attracted by something at the same time? That's exactly how you're going to feel about this book.
Do not expect anything like a mysterious or scary horror. This one is plain disgusting.
Humane sacrifice is a relatively short story, but a lot happens on those few pages. I am still not sure how I feel about Melvin. I mean, I understand that Lucy was his only reason to live. I know what it feels like when you love an animal more than most people in the world and would probably be willing to do the same thing for my furbabies. On the other hand, he is no hero. Not a good character. Morally grey.
What I'm sure of is that I absolutely despised his mother. I understand the fact that people do not want to have children, but if they already have one, they should at least try to be good parents. She didn't. She never did anything good for her son, never helped him secure a place in the society. All she did was drink and insult Melvin.
To be honest, I thought the ending of the story was going to be totally different than it actually turned out to be. That's probably why I didn't see the small hints scattered between the lines that could give me an idea of what was going to happen. I was shocked and stunned by it. And I hope that if you decide to read this story, you'll feel the same way.
A small but touching detail is the fact that Lucy's character was based on the author's cat called Cat who unfortunately suffered of the same illness as poor Luce.
In conclusion, I would like to highlight the author's ability to create realistic, morally grey characters who are much closer to real people than those heroes destined to save the world. I can't wait to read some other stories by Mr. Dimaro and I also hope that his books will find their way to Czechia.
The story of Humane sacrifice revolves around a middle-aged man called Melvin, who is truly a lost soul. His mother never misses an opportunity to remind him of how big a disappointment he is to her. Stupid and retarded. That he is just a product of a one-night stand she never intended to keep.
The problem is, that Melvin lives in his mother's basement, doesn't have a job and the only highlight of his beloved cat Lucy, who is slowly dying of cancer.
When everything seems lost, Melvin is approached by a peculiar stranger who tells him there still is hope. The only thing he has to do is stop feeding her cat kibble or canned food and provide her with 'life'. A sacrifice or two. That's where Melvin's journey to save his cat begins...But where is it going to end?
I must admit that this story was disgusting and brilliant at the same time. Do you know the feeling when you're repelled and attracted by something at the same time? That's exactly how you're going to feel about this book.
Do not expect anything like a mysterious or scary horror. This one is plain disgusting.
Humane sacrifice is a relatively short story, but a lot happens on those few pages. I am still not sure how I feel about Melvin. I mean, I understand that Lucy was his only reason to live. I know what it feels like when you love an animal more than most people in the world and would probably be willing to do the same thing for my furbabies. On the other hand, he is no hero. Not a good character. Morally grey.
What I'm sure of is that I absolutely despised his mother. I understand the fact that people do not want to have children, but if they already have one, they should at least try to be good parents. She didn't. She never did anything good for her son, never helped him secure a place in the society. All she did was drink and insult Melvin.
To be honest, I thought the ending of the story was going to be totally different than it actually turned out to be. That's probably why I didn't see the small hints scattered between the lines that could give me an idea of what was going to happen. I was shocked and stunned by it. And I hope that if you decide to read this story, you'll feel the same way.
A small but touching detail is the fact that Lucy's character was based on the author's cat called Cat who unfortunately suffered of the same illness as poor Luce.
In conclusion, I would like to highlight the author's ability to create realistic, morally grey characters who are much closer to real people than those heroes destined to save the world. I can't wait to read some other stories by Mr. Dimaro and I also hope that his books will find their way to Czechia.
April 3, 2023
This book literally made me gag on multiple occasions. I mean I was assaulted by all my phobias while reading this book,at one point I had to stop eating because I had the nerve to think I could actually consume food while reading.
Humane Sacrifice the story by the Aztec Killer is firing on all cylinders; a heartfelt story at the core, but this is an extreme horror story so there’s no shortage of gore and carnage.
Melvin Coburn is a downtrodden loner, he lives in his mothers basement, has no job, no friends, and the minimal human interaction he does have is with his emotionally and verbally abusive mother who offers absolutely no comfort to the son she despises. Melvin's only reprieve from this lonely existence is his cat Lucy. At the start of this story Melvin is hit with the hard news that his beloved Lucy is severely ill with no hope of being saved. Destroyed by the devastating news, Melvin is given an offer by an ominous stranger to save Lucy’s life. From there we see Melvin spiral into madness. That’s all you need to know going into this one.
First I’m going to say for all those with pets this story is going to get you in the feels. Dimario captured the essence of that unconditional love one has for their pet. It was very emotional and some of the events in the novel are based on the author’s recent experience with his cat Cat, the Eulogy at the end was heartfelt. Some of us know that feeling, I mean your pets are your babies and you don’t ever want to imagine the day when they are no longer with you.
The story quickly transitions from a devastatingly emotional setup to complete carnage in 0.5 seconds. Things take off really quickly and it literally is a never ending gore fest. Essentially this is a serial killer origin story where readers are in the killer's head the whole time. Traditionally readers get the perspective of the victims, but being inside the mind of the killer, along with their ridiculous “reasoning”was an absolute mindfuck. At first I thought I would remain empathetic for Melvin because of all that he had experienced in his childhood and even up to the current situation with his cat, but I ended up hating him (insert laughing emoji). He was such a stupid villain, but it was very entertaining and hilarious watching events unfold
I was completely pulled into the story and there was never a lull. I rated this a 4.5 stars, I would highly recommend it for extreme horror fans who enjoy the gore with a really well constructed plot. Thank you to the author for kindly sending me an arc copy to review for my honest opinion.
Humane Sacrifice the story by the Aztec Killer is firing on all cylinders; a heartfelt story at the core, but this is an extreme horror story so there’s no shortage of gore and carnage.
Melvin Coburn is a downtrodden loner, he lives in his mothers basement, has no job, no friends, and the minimal human interaction he does have is with his emotionally and verbally abusive mother who offers absolutely no comfort to the son she despises. Melvin's only reprieve from this lonely existence is his cat Lucy. At the start of this story Melvin is hit with the hard news that his beloved Lucy is severely ill with no hope of being saved. Destroyed by the devastating news, Melvin is given an offer by an ominous stranger to save Lucy’s life. From there we see Melvin spiral into madness. That’s all you need to know going into this one.
First I’m going to say for all those with pets this story is going to get you in the feels. Dimario captured the essence of that unconditional love one has for their pet. It was very emotional and some of the events in the novel are based on the author’s recent experience with his cat Cat, the Eulogy at the end was heartfelt. Some of us know that feeling, I mean your pets are your babies and you don’t ever want to imagine the day when they are no longer with you.
The story quickly transitions from a devastatingly emotional setup to complete carnage in 0.5 seconds. Things take off really quickly and it literally is a never ending gore fest. Essentially this is a serial killer origin story where readers are in the killer's head the whole time. Traditionally readers get the perspective of the victims, but being inside the mind of the killer, along with their ridiculous “reasoning”was an absolute mindfuck. At first I thought I would remain empathetic for Melvin because of all that he had experienced in his childhood and even up to the current situation with his cat, but I ended up hating him (insert laughing emoji). He was such a stupid villain, but it was very entertaining and hilarious watching events unfold
I was completely pulled into the story and there was never a lull. I rated this a 4.5 stars, I would highly recommend it for extreme horror fans who enjoy the gore with a really well constructed plot. Thank you to the author for kindly sending me an arc copy to review for my honest opinion.
August 12, 2024
As a devoted pet owner and animal lover, I’ve always wondered just how far I’d go to keep my furbabies safe. Felix I.D. Dimaro’s
Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer
pushed those musings to a thrilling extreme, and I loved every twisted minute of it.
Losing a pet is never easy. For Melvin Cockburn, fortyish, alone, and living in his mother’s basement, losing his cat, Lucy, is simply unthinkable. She’s his only friend, his constant companion, the one bright spot in his otherwise lonely existence. So, when Lucy is diagnosed with cancer and given no chance of survival, Melvin’s desperation leads him down a dark and twisted path, one that any sane, or maybe insane, pet lover might secretly wonder if they’d tread themselves.
Humane Sacrifice is a gruesome, yet epic animal horror novel that will gnaw at the deepest fears of anyone who’s ever owned and loved a pet. The premise is horrifying yet brilliant: save your beloved pet by feeding them human souls. It’s a chilling proposition, and Dimaro doesn’t shy away from the gore and moral decay that ensues as Melvin descends into madness, all in the name of love.
What I found particularly gripping about this book is how disturbingly relatable Melvin’s struggle is. Who among us wouldn’t do anything to save our furbabies? But Dimaro takes that primal need to protect and amplifies it to terrifying extremes, challenging the reader to confront their own limits. The writing is razor-sharp, pulling you into Melvin’s twisted mind as he grapples with the impossible choices laid before him.
The horror is relentless, each sacrifice more grotesque than the last, yet there’s a dark, almost tender undercurrent to Melvin’s actions. He’s not a villain in his own eyes, just a man doing whatever it takes to keep his best friend alive. And that’s what makes Humane Sacrifice so compelling. It’s a story about love, loss, and the terrifying lengths one might go to in order to avoid the inevitable.
This was my first time reading a Felix Dimarro book, and I was completely blown away. If you’re a pet owner/animal lover with a penchant for horror and the macabre, this book is an absolute must-read. Dimaro has crafted a gruesomely epic tale, where the line between love and madness is blurred beyond recognition. Humane Sacrifice will leave you questioning just how far you’d go to keep your beloved pet/s alive, no matter the cost.
Losing a pet is never easy. For Melvin Cockburn, fortyish, alone, and living in his mother’s basement, losing his cat, Lucy, is simply unthinkable. She’s his only friend, his constant companion, the one bright spot in his otherwise lonely existence. So, when Lucy is diagnosed with cancer and given no chance of survival, Melvin’s desperation leads him down a dark and twisted path, one that any sane, or maybe insane, pet lover might secretly wonder if they’d tread themselves.
Humane Sacrifice is a gruesome, yet epic animal horror novel that will gnaw at the deepest fears of anyone who’s ever owned and loved a pet. The premise is horrifying yet brilliant: save your beloved pet by feeding them human souls. It’s a chilling proposition, and Dimaro doesn’t shy away from the gore and moral decay that ensues as Melvin descends into madness, all in the name of love.
What I found particularly gripping about this book is how disturbingly relatable Melvin’s struggle is. Who among us wouldn’t do anything to save our furbabies? But Dimaro takes that primal need to protect and amplifies it to terrifying extremes, challenging the reader to confront their own limits. The writing is razor-sharp, pulling you into Melvin’s twisted mind as he grapples with the impossible choices laid before him.
The horror is relentless, each sacrifice more grotesque than the last, yet there’s a dark, almost tender undercurrent to Melvin’s actions. He’s not a villain in his own eyes, just a man doing whatever it takes to keep his best friend alive. And that’s what makes Humane Sacrifice so compelling. It’s a story about love, loss, and the terrifying lengths one might go to in order to avoid the inevitable.
This was my first time reading a Felix Dimarro book, and I was completely blown away. If you’re a pet owner/animal lover with a penchant for horror and the macabre, this book is an absolute must-read. Dimaro has crafted a gruesomely epic tale, where the line between love and madness is blurred beyond recognition. Humane Sacrifice will leave you questioning just how far you’d go to keep your beloved pet/s alive, no matter the cost.
June 25, 2023
Melvin is a loner and his beloved cat is dying. When his veterinarian tells him there's nothing he can do for Lucy, Melvin refuses to accept her fate and seeks radical treatment that is, well, aggressive and unusual.
Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer is a gorefest that explores the damaged mind of a world-weary man who has endured a lifetime of abuse. It is absolutely not for the squeamish, though it doesn't feel like typical extreme horror with buckets of blood and guts just for the fun of it. I think the difference in Humane Sacrifice is that the author takes a more thoughtful approach to exploring the disintegrating mind of the killer, even as brutal eviscerations take place.
You can't not think of Norman Bates while reading this novel, given the trauma-filled mother-son relationship here. I think I would have somehow found a way to root for the main character if there were at least one flashback showing a happy, hopeful version of Melvin before Lucy got sick and things unraveled. I had to take off a star for that, but otherwise:
The writing is very strong, as I've come to expect from Dimaro. The scenes are tense and the storytelling rarely takes a minute to allow the reader to catch their breath. The slow, draggy part of the book? It does not exist. If horror is your genre, you need to read this.
Something I learned after 57 years on this planet: The surname "Cockburn" is pronounced "Coburn." I had no idea there was a silent CK. Blew my mind. So there you have it. You've got a legit horror must-read to dive into — and you might learn something new within its pages.
Highly recommended.
Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer is a gorefest that explores the damaged mind of a world-weary man who has endured a lifetime of abuse. It is absolutely not for the squeamish, though it doesn't feel like typical extreme horror with buckets of blood and guts just for the fun of it. I think the difference in Humane Sacrifice is that the author takes a more thoughtful approach to exploring the disintegrating mind of the killer, even as brutal eviscerations take place.
You can't not think of Norman Bates while reading this novel, given the trauma-filled mother-son relationship here. I think I would have somehow found a way to root for the main character if there were at least one flashback showing a happy, hopeful version of Melvin before Lucy got sick and things unraveled. I had to take off a star for that, but otherwise:
The writing is very strong, as I've come to expect from Dimaro. The scenes are tense and the storytelling rarely takes a minute to allow the reader to catch their breath. The slow, draggy part of the book? It does not exist. If horror is your genre, you need to read this.
Something I learned after 57 years on this planet: The surname "Cockburn" is pronounced "Coburn." I had no idea there was a silent CK. Blew my mind. So there you have it. You've got a legit horror must-read to dive into — and you might learn something new within its pages.
Highly recommended.
March 23, 2023
First off, Thank you Felix for personally sending me a copy of your new book in exchange for an honest review.
Im going to start this review by saying, what the fuck.
I dont want to give away to much of the story, as I want to talk about my experience of the book. so heres a little explanation.
Melvin Cockburn loves his cat Lucy. And will do anything to save her. When Lucy gets a tumour and is declared not to live long, Melvin gets help from a man who shows up to his house. Offering a way to help save Lucy from death.
This book is undoubtedly the most vile, cynical, fucked up thing I have read. It makes The Corruption of Phillip Toles look like a children’s book.
This book was so good, that I literally read it in less than a day. And its roughly 57 chapters with a post mortem chapter.
Felix again makes it so you despise the main character for all the vile shit he does, but he does it for a good reason. To save his cat😺.
I also found this book to be the love child of Stephen Kings Pet Semetary and Clive Barkers The Hellbound Heart. Which is a great compliment.
Again, thank you to Felix for sending me a copy and getting me out of my reading slump.
Humane Sacrifice releases on April 8th, so go make sure you pre order a copy or buy it when it comes out. To support a friend of mine.
Overall, Humane Sacrifice gets a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars.
Trigger warnings for this book: Animal death, gore, explicit depiction of graphic violence, derogatory language and adult themes.
Im going to start this review by saying, what the fuck.
I dont want to give away to much of the story, as I want to talk about my experience of the book. so heres a little explanation.
Melvin Cockburn loves his cat Lucy. And will do anything to save her. When Lucy gets a tumour and is declared not to live long, Melvin gets help from a man who shows up to his house. Offering a way to help save Lucy from death.
This book is undoubtedly the most vile, cynical, fucked up thing I have read. It makes The Corruption of Phillip Toles look like a children’s book.
This book was so good, that I literally read it in less than a day. And its roughly 57 chapters with a post mortem chapter.
Felix again makes it so you despise the main character for all the vile shit he does, but he does it for a good reason. To save his cat😺.
I also found this book to be the love child of Stephen Kings Pet Semetary and Clive Barkers The Hellbound Heart. Which is a great compliment.
Again, thank you to Felix for sending me a copy and getting me out of my reading slump.
Humane Sacrifice releases on April 8th, so go make sure you pre order a copy or buy it when it comes out. To support a friend of mine.
Overall, Humane Sacrifice gets a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars.
Trigger warnings for this book: Animal death, gore, explicit depiction of graphic violence, derogatory language and adult themes.
April 1, 2023
This is gory and humorous horror at its finest! My number ONE March read. I am so glad Dimaro asked if I wanted to read his newest work! So let's dive in...
It's about Melvin, a man whose potential has been curbed by the nastiness of his mother his whole life. At first, I really didn't like Melvin Cockburn ("pronounced Co-burn), but I grew a surface understanding at least of how he could be the way he is. Nobody has ever understood him, but his cat, Lucy is always there for him--until she is struck with a terminal tumor--and the greedy vet won't help him unless he can afford a surgery that even then may not work.
Enter a mysterious man with an answer that he says will keep Lucy alive. It starts small, but it seems that Lucy's needs grow exponentially. That's ok, although it sickens Melvin he will do anything for his furbaby.
There was a huge twist I didn't see coming. It was disturbingly delicious. Terror oozes thickly from this one drowning you in one disturbing question: How far would you go for your pet? If you believed something taboo would work, could you do it?
It's about Melvin, a man whose potential has been curbed by the nastiness of his mother his whole life. At first, I really didn't like Melvin Cockburn ("pronounced Co-burn), but I grew a surface understanding at least of how he could be the way he is. Nobody has ever understood him, but his cat, Lucy is always there for him--until she is struck with a terminal tumor--and the greedy vet won't help him unless he can afford a surgery that even then may not work.
Enter a mysterious man with an answer that he says will keep Lucy alive. It starts small, but it seems that Lucy's needs grow exponentially. That's ok, although it sickens Melvin he will do anything for his furbaby.
There was a huge twist I didn't see coming. It was disturbingly delicious. Terror oozes thickly from this one drowning you in one disturbing question: How far would you go for your pet? If you believed something taboo would work, could you do it?
November 22, 2023
I'm a fan of supporting small independent authors, especially in the horror genre. I found this book through Mr. Dimaro's page on the Slasher app and bought it on Kindle where it sat for months while I was reading/watching/doing other things. By time I finally came around to reading it, I was genuinely amazed at how quickly I devoured it. Amazed at how something so disturbing could also be so moving. I was kicking myself that I hadn't gotten to it sooner!
While it is explicitly gory in a way I haven't really seen before, the gore and violence is by no means gratuitous or unwarranted and only helps put you in the mind of the main character who is incredibly well written!
On top of all this, there's an underlying supernatural aspect that I've since learnt is an ongoing element shared across many of his books, bringing them together and leaving me wanting to learn more about that world.
It's been a while since a book and an author has captivated me this much.
While it is explicitly gory in a way I haven't really seen before, the gore and violence is by no means gratuitous or unwarranted and only helps put you in the mind of the main character who is incredibly well written!
On top of all this, there's an underlying supernatural aspect that I've since learnt is an ongoing element shared across many of his books, bringing them together and leaving me wanting to learn more about that world.
It's been a while since a book and an author has captivated me this much.
September 5, 2023
I got this book at Fan Expo after being impressed by how the author spoke at a horror panel.
Humane Sacrifice went in a completely different direction than I was expecting, but I'm not complaining. It's a bizarre, gruesome, but fun experience that had a much better ending than the options I was coming up with in my head as I was reading.
I have 2 more of Felix's books already and I look forward to reading them!
Humane Sacrifice went in a completely different direction than I was expecting, but I'm not complaining. It's a bizarre, gruesome, but fun experience that had a much better ending than the options I was coming up with in my head as I was reading.
I have 2 more of Felix's books already and I look forward to reading them!
April 30, 2023
Humane Sacrifice is the latest offering by Felix I. D. Dimaro and it might be his goriest book yet. The easiest way to describe this book is blood. So. Much. Blood.
This story follows Melvin, a loner whose only real companion is his beloved cat Lucy. When Melvin learns that Lucy has a life threatening tumor, he looks for any way to save Lucy. Any. Way. Imaginable.
This story follows Melvin, a loner whose only real companion is his beloved cat Lucy. When Melvin learns that Lucy has a life threatening tumor, he looks for any way to save Lucy. Any. Way. Imaginable.
May 3, 2023
How far would you go to save your pet? Gory and funny and sad and violent, this might be my favorite from Felix.
May 23, 2023
3.75 ⭐️
Review to come
Review to come
April 12, 2023
I've been obsessed with Dimaro since I first read How To Make A Monster in March of 2020, and with every release, said obsession has grown. His latest, Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer, is absolutely no different. It's disgusting, brutal, sad, and if you've ever loved a pet, you have to read it. You just do. And if you don't find yourself questioning what you would do to protect that pet while you're reading, you might not need to have a pet in the future. I don't want to give anything away, because I think this is better read blind, but for the love of all that is bloody and visceral in this world, read this book.
That being said, don't go into this thinking it won't make you sick. Because it probably will. It is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. But just skip your afternoon snack and power through, y'all, because this book is worth every ounce of discomfort you might feel. It's beautifully dark and twisty, and nestles perfectly into the larger world of Dimaro's stories. It's forced me to reevaluate my ranking of his books in terms of most favorite to least favorite, and I don't care for that sort of introspection. Seriously, read this book. Just do it.
That being said, don't go into this thinking it won't make you sick. Because it probably will. It is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. But just skip your afternoon snack and power through, y'all, because this book is worth every ounce of discomfort you might feel. It's beautifully dark and twisty, and nestles perfectly into the larger world of Dimaro's stories. It's forced me to reevaluate my ranking of his books in terms of most favorite to least favorite, and I don't care for that sort of introspection. Seriously, read this book. Just do it.
December 2, 2023
🄷🅄🄼🄰🄽🄴 🅂🄰🄲🅁🄸🄵🄸🄲🄴 🄱🅈 🄵🄴🄻🄸🅇 🄸.🄳. 🄳🄸🄼🄰🅁🄾
ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴 𝔟𝔶 𝔈𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔞.𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔅𝔬𝔬𝔨.𝔖𝔫𝔦𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧? 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞? 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 (𝐂𝐨𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧) 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬.
𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚝 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚅𝚎𝚝, 𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢. 𝚄𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝚊 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝.
𝚆𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚠𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚞𝚙𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙷𝚎'𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎.
𝙷𝚎'𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚞𝚙 𝚊 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜, 𝙵𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚡 (𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛) 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚢 𝚋𝚢 𝙵𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚡. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 '𝙾𝙷 𝚆𝚃𝙵!!??" 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔. 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝙵𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚡 𝙸.𝙳 𝙳𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚘 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝.
𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨: 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 . 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭 𝙄.𝘿 𝘿𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.
ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴 𝔟𝔶 𝔈𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔞.𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔅𝔬𝔬𝔨.𝔖𝔫𝔦𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧? 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞? 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 (𝐂𝐨𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧) 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬.
𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚝 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚅𝚎𝚝, 𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢. 𝚄𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝚊 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝.
𝚆𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚠𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚞𝚙𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙷𝚎'𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎.
𝙷𝚎'𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚞𝚙 𝚊 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜, 𝙵𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚡 (𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛) 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚢 𝚋𝚢 𝙵𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚡. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 '𝙾𝙷 𝚆𝚃𝙵!!??" 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔. 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝙵𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚡 𝙸.𝙳 𝙳𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚘 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝.
𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨: 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 . 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭 𝙄.𝘿 𝘿𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.
August 25, 2023
Whew. This was a wild ride from beginning to end. I read this as if it were a black and white episode of the twilight zone - but with a lot more gore.
In my mind's twilight zone episode, I can clearly see the peculiar stranger appear at the vet, seemingly out of no where. As events unfold, I definitely heard the TZ theme music. This was so intense.
To not spoil any, I will say that I anticipated crying. And I did. At the very end when the story had been told and the author writes about his beloved cat, Cat. And the pictures of Cat. Big tears.
Speaking of pictures, I loved the images at the end of each chapter. And the one of Lucy at the back of the book is freaking terrifying.
And I LOVED the connections to the author's previous books. It's been a bit since I had read some of them, but the connection to 2222, How to Make A Monster, and The Fire on Memory Lane were super clear in my mind early on.
Thankfully tho, Dimaro connects some dots at the back of the book. My shit memory appreciated that too.
In my mind's twilight zone episode, I can clearly see the peculiar stranger appear at the vet, seemingly out of no where. As events unfold, I definitely heard the TZ theme music. This was so intense.
To not spoil any, I will say that I anticipated crying. And I did. At the very end when the story had been told and the author writes about his beloved cat, Cat. And the pictures of Cat. Big tears.
Speaking of pictures, I loved the images at the end of each chapter. And the one of Lucy at the back of the book is freaking terrifying.
And I LOVED the connections to the author's previous books. It's been a bit since I had read some of them, but the connection to 2222, How to Make A Monster, and The Fire on Memory Lane were super clear in my mind early on.
Thankfully tho, Dimaro connects some dots at the back of the book. My shit memory appreciated that too.
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