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Stronger Than Hate
Francine watches the deal from below, trapped within a sinkhole that opened up in her precious garden. Forty bucks and a quarter bag of weed. How could she be sold off for so little? Familiar faces look down upon her—the worst students she ever had the displeasure of teaching before she retired from the local high school. They snicker as money changes hands. They spit on her. Throw things at her. And there’s no way in hell they’re going to get help.
What happens when the horrors around her infiltrate her mind? How much can she take before breaking down? How much worse can the torture and humiliation get? Is Francine Mosely STRONGER THAN HATE?
What happens when the horrors around her infiltrate her mind? How much can she take before breaking down? How much worse can the torture and humiliation get? Is Francine Mosely STRONGER THAN HATE?
202 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2023
About the author
Robert Essig
97 books289 followersRobert Essig is the author of 30 books such as Baby Fights, Disco Rice, and Master of Bodies, which was nominated for a Splatterpunk Award. He has published over 130 short stories and edited three anthologies. Robert lives with his family in east Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 25, 2022
Well that was a emotional brutal read. This story was awesome in the way it showed the resilience of the human spirit. The main character in this book suffer horrific humiliation, torment, and torture and just slowly descends into madness with the only comfort being the memories of her late husband to get her through. This was a very intense read with a fucking ending that was awesome and left open enough that there could possibly be a sequel on day and I hope that there is one someday. Just a awesome story great writing . 5 dark stars from me
December 14, 2021
Well, this was brutal!! 😲
I was recommended this book as being right up my street! Within minutes I had downloaded it and a couple days later, I'm left out of breath and very much satisfied! It most definitely was right up my sick, twisted street and I loved it!!
This book went from horror to heart-break, and back again! It followed one old ladies slow, excruciating descent into madness after falling into a sinkhole in her back yard. A neighbour finds her, but rather than help, things take a huge turn for the worse! She suffers long, drawn out torture, agony, utter depravity and humiliation. And my heart really does go out to her!! Which on the other hand makes me hate the other characters with a vengeance, and left me more than satisfied when they receive their ultimate dose of well deserved, brutal karma!!
And then, we meet The Dark Ones!!....😲 And that is where I would love for there to be a sequel to this book!
I was completely hooked from the start, and couldn't put this one down. Awesome!!
5/5 🚽🚽🚽🚽🚽
I was recommended this book as being right up my street! Within minutes I had downloaded it and a couple days later, I'm left out of breath and very much satisfied! It most definitely was right up my sick, twisted street and I loved it!!
This book went from horror to heart-break, and back again! It followed one old ladies slow, excruciating descent into madness after falling into a sinkhole in her back yard. A neighbour finds her, but rather than help, things take a huge turn for the worse! She suffers long, drawn out torture, agony, utter depravity and humiliation. And my heart really does go out to her!! Which on the other hand makes me hate the other characters with a vengeance, and left me more than satisfied when they receive their ultimate dose of well deserved, brutal karma!!
And then, we meet The Dark Ones!!....😲 And that is where I would love for there to be a sequel to this book!
I was completely hooked from the start, and couldn't put this one down. Awesome!!
5/5 🚽🚽🚽🚽🚽
April 14, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I can honestly say that I have never read a book about a teacher falling into a sinkhole and her ex students using the opportunity to torture her. So kudos to the author for a unique idea. The story started out solid.
DO NOT READ AHEAD IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ SPOILERS
The story was solid at first. Students mostly using the sinkhole as a toilet. That was kinda funny and all. Then even that got kinda boring. As with most books where someone is stuck in solitude, you get glimpses into their mind. That part of the teacher reliving old memories started getting old to me. I almost lost interest halfway through. Then, towards the end, the ex students came up with new methods of torture that pulled me back into the story. Yes, parts of it was unbelievable... that the teacher was in the hole for several weeks and all the town delinquents know about it and nobody blabbed. Then taking the neighbors hostage and so on. It was interesting, I just found it to be unbelievable. Then the ending... Here's a spoiler. At the very end it takes on some supernatural element. Overall, the story was interesting. However, due to me losing interest and the sudden supernatural/ paranormal element, I had to knock off 1.5 stars. I still recommend this book to readers who are into humiliation, grossness, and unique storylines.
DO NOT READ AHEAD IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ SPOILERS
The story was solid at first. Students mostly using the sinkhole as a toilet. That was kinda funny and all. Then even that got kinda boring. As with most books where someone is stuck in solitude, you get glimpses into their mind. That part of the teacher reliving old memories started getting old to me. I almost lost interest halfway through. Then, towards the end, the ex students came up with new methods of torture that pulled me back into the story. Yes, parts of it was unbelievable... that the teacher was in the hole for several weeks and all the town delinquents know about it and nobody blabbed. Then taking the neighbors hostage and so on. It was interesting, I just found it to be unbelievable. Then the ending... Here's a spoiler. At the very end it takes on some supernatural element. Overall, the story was interesting. However, due to me losing interest and the sudden supernatural/ paranormal element, I had to knock off 1.5 stars. I still recommend this book to readers who are into humiliation, grossness, and unique storylines.
September 26, 2024
One day Francine is outside in her backyard gardening when a sink hole evolves and she falls in. Her neighbor Greg sees her and thinks he’s going to help her, but she’s far wrong. Greg decides to bring some people to see her. Greg makes a deal with these other people that he had went to school with, for $40 and a bag of weed they can do whatever they want to her.
This story gets pretty vile, for context Francine use to be these kids teacher, they didn’t like her bc she had failed them, so they decide to get revenge on her. Pretty sad and sick story. I enjoyed reading it, just was a bit confused with the ending.
This story gets pretty vile, for context Francine use to be these kids teacher, they didn’t like her bc she had failed them, so they decide to get revenge on her. Pretty sad and sick story. I enjoyed reading it, just was a bit confused with the ending.
October 10, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Damn was this a dark story! Essig does an amazing job at building a truly bleak and hopeless atmosphere in Stronger Than Hate. Following Francine as she falls into a sinkhole and then is tormented by her former drop-out students, this book is twisted and evil. AND I MEAN EVIL!
However, if after you research trigger warnings, this still feels like a book for you, check it out!
Damn was this a dark story! Essig does an amazing job at building a truly bleak and hopeless atmosphere in Stronger Than Hate. Following Francine as she falls into a sinkhole and then is tormented by her former drop-out students, this book is twisted and evil. AND I MEAN EVIL!
However, if after you research trigger warnings, this still feels like a book for you, check it out!
June 20, 2025
It was a ordinary day when Francine is tending to her garden that she takes pride in. It’s her special place to relax and think about her late husband. She didn’t realize the storm earlier made the ground very soft and muddy, she falls into a 10 ft sinkhole. Her neighbor just so happen to be watching from his window and notices what happened. He’s a loner with no friends and is addicted to w33d. He finds a couple of people he wants to fit in with and sells her off so they can torture her while she is dying in the sinkhole. She has no way out, how much can she handle before it’s too late. This book made me so damn angry!! It was so well written but it will definitely pull at your heartstrings. What a great creative story this was.
September 15, 2024
Francine is a retired high school history teacher. She's a widow and just like to live peacefully in her garden. One day while she's in her garden, she falls into a sinkhole in her backyard due to the heavy rain. When she sees Greg, an old student and her neighbour, she feels lucky. Too bad Greg doesn't so the right thing.
40 bucks and a quarter bag of weed was all Greg needed to sell off Francine. She sold her off to Trevor and Heather, 2 of her previous students, now turned adult drug addicts. The things Trevor would put Francine through while in the sink hole were inhumane and nasty. He makes a living from degrading her.
The way my blood boiled throughout this whole book was insane! Greg and his stupid actions and don't even get me started on druggie Trevor! This starts off right away and it gets nastier as it goes. There was a hint of supernatural towards the end while I kinda liked for the story. Seeing Francine go through everything was heartbreaking but the ending was all worth it ....kinda. Essigs writing is fantastic and I never thought I'd have the feelings I had throughout. Definitely check this one out.
40 bucks and a quarter bag of weed was all Greg needed to sell off Francine. She sold her off to Trevor and Heather, 2 of her previous students, now turned adult drug addicts. The things Trevor would put Francine through while in the sink hole were inhumane and nasty. He makes a living from degrading her.
The way my blood boiled throughout this whole book was insane! Greg and his stupid actions and don't even get me started on druggie Trevor! This starts off right away and it gets nastier as it goes. There was a hint of supernatural towards the end while I kinda liked for the story. Seeing Francine go through everything was heartbreaking but the ending was all worth it ....kinda. Essigs writing is fantastic and I never thought I'd have the feelings I had throughout. Definitely check this one out.
June 5, 2020
Brutal as hell!
June 2, 2023
Disgustingly perverted. If I was their mother, I'd bitch slap those kids to the brink of death. Ugh. I was in a love/hate relationship reading this. Hated it but couldn't stop reading.
February 3, 2022
I loved the first maybe half of this book, and would have stuck to a 4 star rating if not for a certain element towards the end. .
I would sill recommend this book to someone who is wanting a short, nasty read involving human torture. Lots of degradation, shaming, and excrement. It really speaks about how people, sometimes very average people, can be convinced to partake in some terrible acts. The danger and very real horror of pack mentality a la The Girl Next Door. There is something deeper there as well though, with the victim using memories to escape her current hell.
I would sill recommend this book to someone who is wanting a short, nasty read involving human torture. Lots of degradation, shaming, and excrement. It really speaks about how people, sometimes very average people, can be convinced to partake in some terrible acts. The danger and very real horror of pack mentality a la The Girl Next Door. There is something deeper there as well though, with the victim using memories to escape her current hell.
August 31, 2021
Stronger Than Hate by Robert Essig
°
Francine Mosely is a widowed and retired high school history teacher who's only solace is tending to her garden. One day after a particularly harsh rain storm, Francine finds herself at the bottom of a ten foot sinkhole in her back yard. The only witness to her misfortune is her neighbor's son, Gregory. Gregory, a twenty-seven-year-old burn out suddenly finds himself with someone else's life in his hands. With his new found power, Gregory decides to sell Mrs. Mosely to two of her ex-students who blame her for their short comings in life. Francine is suddenly thrown into the horrifying scenario of being a trapped experiment and is subdued to some of the most horrifying torture a person can endure. Her only escape is in to her own mind where she clings to past memories of her husband and son. Can Francine overcome her tormentors and escape the muddy hell that surrounds her, or will her mind slowly crack as the fatigue and degradation become too much to bare? Will Gregory do what he knows is right and help her, or will the fear of prison for the rest of his life spell the end of his elderly neighbor?
°
Right from the jump, the plot had my attention. It was something new and refreshing. It doesn't take long for things to go from bad to worse and there's an overall sense of dread throughout the story. I was getting some very heavy "Girl Next Door" vibes with the attention to slowly peeling away the human psyche and the unique ways to do so. The pacing was really well done and it methodically punches you in the gut just the right spots. As bad as the torture gets, you can't help but continue on just to see how depraved it can actually get.
°
My favorite part of this book was the characters. The author does an excellent job of making some genuinely hateful and disgusting antagonists, while still keeping them human and real. Francine's character is also excellently written and the sympathy you feel for her feels natural as does the anger you feel towards Gregory for being a sort of neutral party, but also feel sorry for him in a small capacity as his back story unfolds.
°
While the characters are great and the plot pulls you in, near the last thirty pages is where the story starts to spiral and lose its focus. The methodical pacing suddenly turns into a sprint and I feel that there was too much shock factor trying to be forced in at the end. Without being too spoilerish, there's an element in the story that never really gets explained, which is a shame as it plays a major role in the story. It brings the story from realistic to supernatural and I personally really don't like that in a story. Taking the personal aspect out of it, I really feel as though the story could have been something that rivaled "The Girl Next Door" had the author stayed focused on Francine and her tormentors with Gregory being the moral boundary between doing the right thing and self preservation. A few other smaller things are a handful of grammatical errors that break the immersion and the use of the phrase, "it was as if" was used much too frequently.
°
Jack Ketchum once said there's nothing in this world more terrifying than human nature, and Stronger Than Hate takes that concept and runs with it. It makes you think of how sudden and unpredictable life can be and that there are truly evil and despicable people in this world. Unfortunately, the story loses that focus and shifts to a more shock value path that ultimately leads to an unsatisfying ending. I enjoyed the story, but really wish it stayed it's course.
°
3/5.
°
Francine Mosely is a widowed and retired high school history teacher who's only solace is tending to her garden. One day after a particularly harsh rain storm, Francine finds herself at the bottom of a ten foot sinkhole in her back yard. The only witness to her misfortune is her neighbor's son, Gregory. Gregory, a twenty-seven-year-old burn out suddenly finds himself with someone else's life in his hands. With his new found power, Gregory decides to sell Mrs. Mosely to two of her ex-students who blame her for their short comings in life. Francine is suddenly thrown into the horrifying scenario of being a trapped experiment and is subdued to some of the most horrifying torture a person can endure. Her only escape is in to her own mind where she clings to past memories of her husband and son. Can Francine overcome her tormentors and escape the muddy hell that surrounds her, or will her mind slowly crack as the fatigue and degradation become too much to bare? Will Gregory do what he knows is right and help her, or will the fear of prison for the rest of his life spell the end of his elderly neighbor?
°
Right from the jump, the plot had my attention. It was something new and refreshing. It doesn't take long for things to go from bad to worse and there's an overall sense of dread throughout the story. I was getting some very heavy "Girl Next Door" vibes with the attention to slowly peeling away the human psyche and the unique ways to do so. The pacing was really well done and it methodically punches you in the gut just the right spots. As bad as the torture gets, you can't help but continue on just to see how depraved it can actually get.
°
My favorite part of this book was the characters. The author does an excellent job of making some genuinely hateful and disgusting antagonists, while still keeping them human and real. Francine's character is also excellently written and the sympathy you feel for her feels natural as does the anger you feel towards Gregory for being a sort of neutral party, but also feel sorry for him in a small capacity as his back story unfolds.
°
While the characters are great and the plot pulls you in, near the last thirty pages is where the story starts to spiral and lose its focus. The methodical pacing suddenly turns into a sprint and I feel that there was too much shock factor trying to be forced in at the end. Without being too spoilerish, there's an element in the story that never really gets explained, which is a shame as it plays a major role in the story. It brings the story from realistic to supernatural and I personally really don't like that in a story. Taking the personal aspect out of it, I really feel as though the story could have been something that rivaled "The Girl Next Door" had the author stayed focused on Francine and her tormentors with Gregory being the moral boundary between doing the right thing and self preservation. A few other smaller things are a handful of grammatical errors that break the immersion and the use of the phrase, "it was as if" was used much too frequently.
°
Jack Ketchum once said there's nothing in this world more terrifying than human nature, and Stronger Than Hate takes that concept and runs with it. It makes you think of how sudden and unpredictable life can be and that there are truly evil and despicable people in this world. Unfortunately, the story loses that focus and shifts to a more shock value path that ultimately leads to an unsatisfying ending. I enjoyed the story, but really wish it stayed it's course.
°
3/5.
November 9, 2025
𝐒𝐡𝐞'𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐝...𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞--𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠.
Francine Mosely is a retired high school teacher living alone after her husband's death. She's walking out to her garden one morning when the unthinkable happens--a sinkhole swallows her. Luckily, her next door neighbor and former student Greg comes to her aid.
That's what Francine thought, anyway. For $40 and a mere quarter bag of weed, Greg has called not reinforcements, but Francine's eventual tormentors. Two of the worst students she ever had, still angry over their failing grade and blaming Francine for how their lives turned out, are ready to mete out revenge.
The humiliations that Francine endures, especially when the pair gets the idea to call others and charge to be a part of the spectacle, was uncomfortable and difficult to read in places. I kept wondering if Greg's moral compass would win out over his need to be accepted. When the abuse escalates, Francine retreats to a place in her mind filled with good memories, and when her late husband appeared to her as a guide so she would not endure what was happening to her alone, that broke me. The abject absence of empathy and humanity was hard to stomach, yet the storytelling was captivating. I couldn't help but wonder how someone survives a situation such as this without breaking, and if so, the essence of who you were will never be the same.
This was one of my many backlist reads I'm aiming to read in November. This book is available now.
Francine Mosely is a retired high school teacher living alone after her husband's death. She's walking out to her garden one morning when the unthinkable happens--a sinkhole swallows her. Luckily, her next door neighbor and former student Greg comes to her aid.
That's what Francine thought, anyway. For $40 and a mere quarter bag of weed, Greg has called not reinforcements, but Francine's eventual tormentors. Two of the worst students she ever had, still angry over their failing grade and blaming Francine for how their lives turned out, are ready to mete out revenge.
The humiliations that Francine endures, especially when the pair gets the idea to call others and charge to be a part of the spectacle, was uncomfortable and difficult to read in places. I kept wondering if Greg's moral compass would win out over his need to be accepted. When the abuse escalates, Francine retreats to a place in her mind filled with good memories, and when her late husband appeared to her as a guide so she would not endure what was happening to her alone, that broke me. The abject absence of empathy and humanity was hard to stomach, yet the storytelling was captivating. I couldn't help but wonder how someone survives a situation such as this without breaking, and if so, the essence of who you were will never be the same.
This was one of my many backlist reads I'm aiming to read in November. This book is available now.
May 10, 2020
3 AND 1/2 STARS
Stronger Than Hate has the obvious comparison to Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door, and although both books slowly progress into extreme torture on a helpless victim, Robert Essig's novel does not carry the emotional power or depth as Ketchum's masterpiece. While more in line with the writing of Wrath James White and Edward Lee, I enjoyed seeing how far the characters would take their situation of having a disliked former school teacher trapped inside a sinkhole. As with The Girl Next Door, each chapter raises the stakes on not just the level of depravity inflicted on the elderly woman, but the number of people that know about the victims situation and do nothing about it.
A few things that bothered me was the awkward beginning when Greg first discovers his neighbor in the pit. He seems to abandon her far too quickly with the intention of selling his knowledge of Francine's predicament. The story shifts perspective to different characters but strangely does not stay with Greg at this point, only with Francine. A few typos aside, I also had problems with Francine's ethereal encounters with her late husband that felt too repetitive. I could have also done without the out-of-left-field ending, since, up until that point, everything was grounded in reality and suddenly shifted into the realm of the supernatural. Regardless, the overall book was enjoyable and I look forward to seeing what else this writer puts out. Squeamish readers should be warned that this book contains extreme violence, rape, graphic torture, and necrophilia.
Stronger Than Hate has the obvious comparison to Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door, and although both books slowly progress into extreme torture on a helpless victim, Robert Essig's novel does not carry the emotional power or depth as Ketchum's masterpiece. While more in line with the writing of Wrath James White and Edward Lee, I enjoyed seeing how far the characters would take their situation of having a disliked former school teacher trapped inside a sinkhole. As with The Girl Next Door, each chapter raises the stakes on not just the level of depravity inflicted on the elderly woman, but the number of people that know about the victims situation and do nothing about it.
A few things that bothered me was the awkward beginning when Greg first discovers his neighbor in the pit. He seems to abandon her far too quickly with the intention of selling his knowledge of Francine's predicament. The story shifts perspective to different characters but strangely does not stay with Greg at this point, only with Francine. A few typos aside, I also had problems with Francine's ethereal encounters with her late husband that felt too repetitive. I could have also done without the out-of-left-field ending, since, up until that point, everything was grounded in reality and suddenly shifted into the realm of the supernatural. Regardless, the overall book was enjoyable and I look forward to seeing what else this writer puts out. Squeamish readers should be warned that this book contains extreme violence, rape, graphic torture, and necrophilia.
August 11, 2021
I won't tell the story you can read the synopsis.
But it's if you can handle this one. Its degrading, sick & brutal and at times quite unbelievable that you could find so many disturbed young people that would get off doing those torturous actions to Mrs Mosely their ex teacher.
Softness is exhibited partially in the form of Greg and his conscience and at times we are made to feel sorry for him due to him not fitting him, his lazy eye and abusive Step father but I had little sympathy for how far he let the situation go when his Mum constantly was wanting him to talk.
A rather bizarre story with a element of the supernatural. Very graphic it contains rape, violence & torture etc but the writing style and me wanting to know if she ever got out kept me reading which I did in one go!.
I'd be interested to read more by this author.
But it's if you can handle this one. Its degrading, sick & brutal and at times quite unbelievable that you could find so many disturbed young people that would get off doing those torturous actions to Mrs Mosely their ex teacher.
Softness is exhibited partially in the form of Greg and his conscience and at times we are made to feel sorry for him due to him not fitting him, his lazy eye and abusive Step father but I had little sympathy for how far he let the situation go when his Mum constantly was wanting him to talk.
A rather bizarre story with a element of the supernatural. Very graphic it contains rape, violence & torture etc but the writing style and me wanting to know if she ever got out kept me reading which I did in one go!.
I'd be interested to read more by this author.
January 4, 2022
To say that this book went to places I didn’t see coming is a complete understatement. This books deals with so much more than it’s surface description. If you’re one who’s fascinated by the horror that humans are capable of inflicting on each other, than this one might be for you. The first 2/3’s of this story reminded me of a lot of Ketchum’s work. I liked that the author explored Francine’s mindset and her struggle to hang on to both her life and her mind as her ordeal goes from bad to worse. It also tries to make sense of Greg’s decisions and actions and to a much lesser extent Trevor’s. Francine’s plight is terrifying because although it’s not true, it very much certainly could be. The last 1/3 or so of the story goes in a completely unforeseen direction (for me anyway) that I’m still trying to wrap my head around.
April 1, 2025
I am speechless. I've read work by Robert Essig, which have been great. However, I think the writing and storyline are immensely strong in this novel.
Yes, it's splatterpunk. Be ready for every trigger almost imaginable. Almost difficult to get through parts of the story with the torture that is brought up on not only Francine, but multiple characters of this story.
What really got me was how Robert dove into what madness can look like. The way the mind can break when hope is lost, the need for survival, and the way to escape those circumstances. It makes me wonder.... do we all start with a little crack, a jagged line of darkness, the lightening bolt of black that only consumes us as we age and the evil, rotten world wraps their arms around us??
Yes, it's splatterpunk. Be ready for every trigger almost imaginable. Almost difficult to get through parts of the story with the torture that is brought up on not only Francine, but multiple characters of this story.
What really got me was how Robert dove into what madness can look like. The way the mind can break when hope is lost, the need for survival, and the way to escape those circumstances. It makes me wonder.... do we all start with a little crack, a jagged line of darkness, the lightening bolt of black that only consumes us as we age and the evil, rotten world wraps their arms around us??
June 25, 2024
GRRRRRREAT!
As usual the author’s portrayal of a woman’s descent into madness is horrifically and disturbingly realistic but this time there is an interesting and spooky addition that I won’t spoil for other readers.
By the end of this story, which I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish I felt like I was trapped in there with this lady suffering the same as her. It felt like a 4d experience and I am still trying to get rid of the ptsd.
You have to have a strong stomach for these type of books and Mr Essig will test those tummy limits.
I have to ration his remaining books now as I have read almost all of them.
As usual the author’s portrayal of a woman’s descent into madness is horrifically and disturbingly realistic but this time there is an interesting and spooky addition that I won’t spoil for other readers.
By the end of this story, which I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish I felt like I was trapped in there with this lady suffering the same as her. It felt like a 4d experience and I am still trying to get rid of the ptsd.
You have to have a strong stomach for these type of books and Mr Essig will test those tummy limits.
I have to ration his remaining books now as I have read almost all of them.
April 4, 2020
Wow!
It's been a while since I've read human depravity at this level.
The story worked - the bully and the bullied, the mentality that allowed this to go on for so long, and the drugs, (it had to have the drugs).
The reason I only gave 4 stars instead of 5 was 'The Dark Ones'.
*Not really - but possible spoilers ahead*
It's only my personal opinion, others may completely disagree. 'The Dark Ones' took the story somewhere that I didn't think was needed. As a coping mechanism - yes. But, the bit at the end was something I think the story could have done without.
It's been a while since I've read human depravity at this level.
The story worked - the bully and the bullied, the mentality that allowed this to go on for so long, and the drugs, (it had to have the drugs).
The reason I only gave 4 stars instead of 5 was 'The Dark Ones'.
*Not really - but possible spoilers ahead*
It's only my personal opinion, others may completely disagree. 'The Dark Ones' took the story somewhere that I didn't think was needed. As a coping mechanism - yes. But, the bit at the end was something I think the story could have done without.
October 7, 2023
Well hell...this book took me on a ride I wasn't expecting!! It is absolutely brutal but also heartbreaking. Amazing how Essing can detail human cruelty of others but also ourselves. If you haven't picked this one up yet... what are you waiting on?!
January 13, 2024
This was a brutal read. This book had me hook to where I couldn't put it down. I kept wanting to know what's gonna happen next. There were some parts hard to read. If you didn't think things could get worse think again.
June 15, 2025
Well, that definitely falls into the “what the ***k did I just read” category. What a trip into some sick stuff. A retired teacher falls into more than just a sinkhole in this crazy brutal read. Being a teacher myself, I certainly hope none of my kids have this kind of hatred for me. Ha
August 30, 2021
I feel like I can't give this book a 1 star without explaining why. No spoilers and spoilers incoming, both marked first.
No Spoilers:
For the first ten or so chapters I could not put this book down.
I winced, I scowled, I actually felt sick to my stomach at times because the writing was so evocative. It wasn't until the writing started to get lazy that the momentum came to a screeching halt. I have nothing good to say about this book beyond the fantastic beginning, Act I, and part of Act II.
Now for the (mild) SPOILERS:
Shit. Gets. Old.
Literally.
Defecating, spitting, puking, pissing, etc. on the old woman was horrific the first gazillion times. It was effective and really got me itchin' for a justice boner at the end of the story where the perpetrators would get what they deserved, and even if the old lady died shortly thereafter, at least there would be some kind of resolve. But then everything took a turn for ridiculous. The last half of this book ruined this entire book.
Something else that wore on my nerves was a predictable infodump pattern where there would be one important sentence (maybe two) per paragraph, and the rest would be wild, frivolous meandering filler that had no bearing on what was happening in the story. I learned quickly how to find the important sentence and skip the rest. It was very annoying and threw me right out of the story altogether. The only reason I didn't DNF it is because the book is so short, and I'd already burned through half of it in no time at all.
This book -- which could have been amazing -- is a victim of lazy writing and a lack of editing. So much so that even the manuscript spacers (###) weren't even removed in the last half of the book, and I counted eight instances where they were left in.
In closing, I gave this book a 1-Star because a.)I couldn't give it zero stars, and b.)it was insanely disappointing.
No Spoilers:
For the first ten or so chapters I could not put this book down.
I winced, I scowled, I actually felt sick to my stomach at times because the writing was so evocative. It wasn't until the writing started to get lazy that the momentum came to a screeching halt. I have nothing good to say about this book beyond the fantastic beginning, Act I, and part of Act II.
Now for the (mild) SPOILERS:
Shit. Gets. Old.
Literally.
Defecating, spitting, puking, pissing, etc. on the old woman was horrific the first gazillion times. It was effective and really got me itchin' for a justice boner at the end of the story where the perpetrators would get what they deserved, and even if the old lady died shortly thereafter, at least there would be some kind of resolve. But then everything took a turn for ridiculous. The last half of this book ruined this entire book.
Something else that wore on my nerves was a predictable infodump pattern where there would be one important sentence (maybe two) per paragraph, and the rest would be wild, frivolous meandering filler that had no bearing on what was happening in the story. I learned quickly how to find the important sentence and skip the rest. It was very annoying and threw me right out of the story altogether. The only reason I didn't DNF it is because the book is so short, and I'd already burned through half of it in no time at all.
This book -- which could have been amazing -- is a victim of lazy writing and a lack of editing. So much so that even the manuscript spacers (###) weren't even removed in the last half of the book, and I counted eight instances where they were left in.
In closing, I gave this book a 1-Star because a.)I couldn't give it zero stars, and b.)it was insanely disappointing.
October 5, 2019
Be forewarned if you have triggers of torture, humiliation, and deprivation, this story is not for you. I do not have any triggers but this was still a hard book to read. Robert Essig illustrates how cruel we as people can be to ourselves and others. Although the story is focused on teens exacting their revenge, the amount of torture, sadism and abuse is appalling. Essig gradually shows how the mind breaks down as that envelope gets pushed deeper and deeper to their darkest, sadistic desires. A sinister evil takes prey as a mechanism for their own objective, constantly searching for a way into our world. The story flows and escalates well. I would describe it as hoodlumism at its best. I look forward to reading more from Robert Essig.
September 4, 2019
Not for the faint of heart
Fantastic story! Full of violence, there was a sweetness to several scenes I was not expecting! As this was my first Essig story, I will definitely be checking out his other works!
Fantastic story! Full of violence, there was a sweetness to several scenes I was not expecting! As this was my first Essig story, I will definitely be checking out his other works!
September 5, 2019
Twisted tale of perverson
A very original story that gets more twisted with each turn of the page. How far can a twisted mind go? We find out quickly. With plenty of twist and turns this book rocks.
A very original story that gets more twisted with each turn of the page. How far can a twisted mind go? We find out quickly. With plenty of twist and turns this book rocks.
April 6, 2025
This was pretty much the mall goth of horror. Tries to be extreme but lacks depth and just comes off kinda corny.
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