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What Doesn't Kill You
Valerie Miller and her younger brother have spent their entire lives in the dreary town of Seven Sisters, where most people are resigned to a bleak future of debt and despair. But when a mysterious woman with a dark past arrives, she brings with her a gift that could transform the town's fortunes - and the lives of Val and Danny.
This extraordinary woman's power is both awe-inspiring and terrifying, capable of unleashing a force that will shake Seven Sisters to its core. The stakes are high, and danger is omnipresent. Can Val and Danny rise to the challenge and seize the opportunity to finally break free from the suffocating grip of their hometown? Or will they fall victim to the terrors unleashed by this enigmatic figure? One thing is certain--when the sun rises on Seven Sisters, nothing will ever be the same again.
Part creature-feature, part survival story, What Doesn't Kill You will keep you on the edge of your seat as Val and Danny fight for their lives and all of Seven Sisters.
This extraordinary woman's power is both awe-inspiring and terrifying, capable of unleashing a force that will shake Seven Sisters to its core. The stakes are high, and danger is omnipresent. Can Val and Danny rise to the challenge and seize the opportunity to finally break free from the suffocating grip of their hometown? Or will they fall victim to the terrors unleashed by this enigmatic figure? One thing is certain--when the sun rises on Seven Sisters, nothing will ever be the same again.
Part creature-feature, part survival story, What Doesn't Kill You will keep you on the edge of your seat as Val and Danny fight for their lives and all of Seven Sisters.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2023
2 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 26, 2023
What doesnt kill you is a superbly crafted horror story delivering a sense of dread and tension which resonates throughout the novel and leads to an action packed and gruesome conclusion.
What the author does so well is making you feel and understand the town and its characters. The town of Seven Sisters has been forgotten left to it's own devices, is run down and depressing. Its residents are broken souls with no opportunity to escape the boredom or chances to better themselves. We are treated to descriptive writing on the elements and its freezing weather and I could visualise the effects this had on our characters and added to the overall feeling of hopelessness they faced.
This at its heart is a creature feature story wreaking havoc on the town however the concept to me at least was quite unique. We learn alot of the creatures history, motivations and reasoning. It is in this that it stands out from the usual hack and slash creature novels as the creature itself has depth to its portrayal.
There is death, gore and horrific moments however it takes it's time, builds the mystery of what it is and why it is in Seven Sisters which adds tension to the plot.
Our characters are believable and established. They have developed traits and backgrounds. I particularly loved the characters of Melanie, Danny and Carlos who are young teens. The actions and dialogue is realistic and they make decisions we all would probably do under the circumstances.
It starts off as a slow burn as we learn of everyone and get to know our characters however the finale is at a frantic pace full of creature action, gory details of death and body horror.
The only downfall of the novel is that it may of had to many characters. We meet lots of the residents and at times I did get confused on who was who and their relationships to the other characters in the novel.
I really enjoyed this, would be a great one to add to your winter reads as it's set in a blizzard. Thanks to the author for a providing an ARC for an honest review.
What the author does so well is making you feel and understand the town and its characters. The town of Seven Sisters has been forgotten left to it's own devices, is run down and depressing. Its residents are broken souls with no opportunity to escape the boredom or chances to better themselves. We are treated to descriptive writing on the elements and its freezing weather and I could visualise the effects this had on our characters and added to the overall feeling of hopelessness they faced.
This at its heart is a creature feature story wreaking havoc on the town however the concept to me at least was quite unique. We learn alot of the creatures history, motivations and reasoning. It is in this that it stands out from the usual hack and slash creature novels as the creature itself has depth to its portrayal.
There is death, gore and horrific moments however it takes it's time, builds the mystery of what it is and why it is in Seven Sisters which adds tension to the plot.
Our characters are believable and established. They have developed traits and backgrounds. I particularly loved the characters of Melanie, Danny and Carlos who are young teens. The actions and dialogue is realistic and they make decisions we all would probably do under the circumstances.
It starts off as a slow burn as we learn of everyone and get to know our characters however the finale is at a frantic pace full of creature action, gory details of death and body horror.
The only downfall of the novel is that it may of had to many characters. We meet lots of the residents and at times I did get confused on who was who and their relationships to the other characters in the novel.
I really enjoyed this, would be a great one to add to your winter reads as it's set in a blizzard. Thanks to the author for a providing an ARC for an honest review.
September 5, 2023
I love good small town horror. Add a dash of snowbound winter horror and some well crafted creatures and you have What Doesn't Kill You by Ken Brosky.
The small town of Seven Sisters has a rich history, but the town is no longer so rich. Former resident-turned-Silicon Valley executive, Emma Rose, believes most of the residents have given up and resigned themselves to an empty life. She brings the town a gift that she hopes will open the residents up to their full potential. Things go horribly wrong. Well, this wouldn't be a horror book if they didn't, right? Siblings Val and Danny are caught up in the mayhem. Townspeople are suffering horrible deaths all around them. Will they be brave enough to survive the night?
There was a lot to love about this book. The monster was amazing. We even get a glimpse into the history of the monster and its inner thoughts. The pace of the story was perfect, with lots of edge-of-my-seat suspense and well written action scenes. There plot twists I never saw coming and made the story even more difficult to put down!
One little item that kept me from giving What Doesn't Kill You five stars was the amount of characters and POV jumps. It's understandable considering this is a small town dealing with the horror. it takes a large cast of characters to demonstrate the horrors that affect the town. But I had a difficult time keeping up with them all. I finally gave up and they eventually fell into place. It was worth the struggle to learn the townspeople, their jobs, their dirty secrets, their hopes and dreams. They all come into play in the end.
I need to collect some more stories by Ken Brosky now. I love finding new-to-me authors! I'm giving What Doesn't Kill You four stars and look forward to reading more! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The small town of Seven Sisters has a rich history, but the town is no longer so rich. Former resident-turned-Silicon Valley executive, Emma Rose, believes most of the residents have given up and resigned themselves to an empty life. She brings the town a gift that she hopes will open the residents up to their full potential. Things go horribly wrong. Well, this wouldn't be a horror book if they didn't, right? Siblings Val and Danny are caught up in the mayhem. Townspeople are suffering horrible deaths all around them. Will they be brave enough to survive the night?
There was a lot to love about this book. The monster was amazing. We even get a glimpse into the history of the monster and its inner thoughts. The pace of the story was perfect, with lots of edge-of-my-seat suspense and well written action scenes. There plot twists I never saw coming and made the story even more difficult to put down!
One little item that kept me from giving What Doesn't Kill You five stars was the amount of characters and POV jumps. It's understandable considering this is a small town dealing with the horror. it takes a large cast of characters to demonstrate the horrors that affect the town. But I had a difficult time keeping up with them all. I finally gave up and they eventually fell into place. It was worth the struggle to learn the townspeople, their jobs, their dirty secrets, their hopes and dreams. They all come into play in the end.
I need to collect some more stories by Ken Brosky now. I love finding new-to-me authors! I'm giving What Doesn't Kill You four stars and look forward to reading more! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 21, 2023
3.5/5
Huge thanks to Ken for sending me an Advanced Copy of this one!
From the get go, this synopsis had me intrigued. An imminent blizzard. A small town under siege. Something wandered within the snow.
Literally, sign me up for every creature-feature ever, set in a small town and a blizzard.
Diving in, I wanted to see what personal spin Brosky was going to add to this, what his own unique take would be and I was pleasantly surprised to find the layers he’d created had me in his clutches from the first page.
What I liked: The story takes place in the small town of Seven Sisters. Val and Danny have lived their entire lives in the small town. Everything is going ok. There’s some drama, but nothing they can’t handle. That is, until a former resident returns, a snow storm arrives and all hell breaks loose.
Brosky does a great job of intertwining the main narrative with the subplots, of showing the small town ‘Butterfly Effect,’ where when one thing happens, the ripple effect of other occurrences takes place. We see how the discovery of one body throws everyone into panic mode and how everyone is suddenly on edge and a suspect.
As the night goes on and more carnage ensues, we see the survival aspect of some kick in, even as what’s been brought to town begins to take over and change those affected.
The ending was a blast, tons of ripping and shredding and tied up things really well.
What I didn’t like: For whatever reason, I simply didn’t connect with a single character. Don’t get me wrong, none of them felt flat or un-developed or anything, I simply just didn’t connect and didn’t care about any of them throughout. This made for no emotional impact of any deaths on my end. The usual beats that should’ve made for the highs and lows just weren’t there, and honestly, I have no idea why.
Why you should buy this: If you’re looking for a fast-paced, snow-bound, creature-feature where total chaos is the main item on the chef’s menu, look no further. Brosky really created a fun, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, one I think a lot of readers will really enjoy!
Huge thanks to Ken for sending me an Advanced Copy of this one!
From the get go, this synopsis had me intrigued. An imminent blizzard. A small town under siege. Something wandered within the snow.
Literally, sign me up for every creature-feature ever, set in a small town and a blizzard.
Diving in, I wanted to see what personal spin Brosky was going to add to this, what his own unique take would be and I was pleasantly surprised to find the layers he’d created had me in his clutches from the first page.
What I liked: The story takes place in the small town of Seven Sisters. Val and Danny have lived their entire lives in the small town. Everything is going ok. There’s some drama, but nothing they can’t handle. That is, until a former resident returns, a snow storm arrives and all hell breaks loose.
Brosky does a great job of intertwining the main narrative with the subplots, of showing the small town ‘Butterfly Effect,’ where when one thing happens, the ripple effect of other occurrences takes place. We see how the discovery of one body throws everyone into panic mode and how everyone is suddenly on edge and a suspect.
As the night goes on and more carnage ensues, we see the survival aspect of some kick in, even as what’s been brought to town begins to take over and change those affected.
The ending was a blast, tons of ripping and shredding and tied up things really well.
What I didn’t like: For whatever reason, I simply didn’t connect with a single character. Don’t get me wrong, none of them felt flat or un-developed or anything, I simply just didn’t connect and didn’t care about any of them throughout. This made for no emotional impact of any deaths on my end. The usual beats that should’ve made for the highs and lows just weren’t there, and honestly, I have no idea why.
Why you should buy this: If you’re looking for a fast-paced, snow-bound, creature-feature where total chaos is the main item on the chef’s menu, look no further. Brosky really created a fun, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, one I think a lot of readers will really enjoy!
September 6, 2023
The intriguing cover for What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky caught my eye and I had to check further. I am glad I did, because I love creature features and stories that put characters to the test…and they will be. Not all will survive and I love that too. (evil grin)
Emma rolls into town, bringing with her a gift that will change the town forever. It invades the town slowly, and has a sweetness to those who claim its gift. Don’t we all know that nothing comes without a cost, and no on knows what the cost will be.
Valerie and Danny are the stars, but they are not alone. Some of the most surprising characters are those staying at the halfway house, seeking help for their addictions.
In a small town, there are no secrets, and Seven Sisters is in dire need of anything that can help the people, since Highway 55 became the Old Highway 55. How many towns have died because progress has passed them by? Why do they stay, when there is no future? What would be the lure that would compel people to move on? Does Emma know?
For Seven Sisters to survive, residents will be put to the test, needing the courage to fight for what is their lives. They will need to work together. They will need to draw from deep inside and find the strength to overcome their fear.
What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky was not exactly what I thought it would be, but the more involved I became, the more the characters drew me in, the more the tension built. The pacing and action allowed the suspense to build and I did not see the end coming. I do appreciate an author that can make me say, “Well, I sure didn’t see that coming.”
I felt the rating jumping between a three and a four. Whenever that happens, a four it is.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky.
Emma rolls into town, bringing with her a gift that will change the town forever. It invades the town slowly, and has a sweetness to those who claim its gift. Don’t we all know that nothing comes without a cost, and no on knows what the cost will be.
Valerie and Danny are the stars, but they are not alone. Some of the most surprising characters are those staying at the halfway house, seeking help for their addictions.
In a small town, there are no secrets, and Seven Sisters is in dire need of anything that can help the people, since Highway 55 became the Old Highway 55. How many towns have died because progress has passed them by? Why do they stay, when there is no future? What would be the lure that would compel people to move on? Does Emma know?
For Seven Sisters to survive, residents will be put to the test, needing the courage to fight for what is their lives. They will need to work together. They will need to draw from deep inside and find the strength to overcome their fear.
What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky was not exactly what I thought it would be, but the more involved I became, the more the characters drew me in, the more the tension built. The pacing and action allowed the suspense to build and I did not see the end coming. I do appreciate an author that can make me say, “Well, I sure didn’t see that coming.”
I felt the rating jumping between a three and a four. Whenever that happens, a four it is.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky.
September 3, 2023
This was a solid 4 stars from me: reasonably paced, imaginative, with cinematic prose and detailed visuals. I enjoyed it throughout, both for the premise and the characters. Not your typical creature story nor your standard book of survival horror: the insight into the characters is unusually deep, the escalation of the threat proceeds masterfully; the reactions to the creature were realistic, the personalities varied enough to drive the story forward without a glitch, and the ending did not disappoint. What threw me a bit off was how tightly crafted it all seemed afterwards, almost like a chess match; there was a lack of spontaneity in how the situations unfolded, as though the author took special care in getting every little detail scripted beforehand. Still, the dialogue felt so natural that when actually reading the book, this storytelling device did not really matter.
Ken Brosky's 'What Doesn’t Kill You' is my first book by this author and it won't be my last.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ken Brosky's 'What Doesn’t Kill You' is my first book by this author and it won't be my last.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 20, 2023
3.75 rounded up
The best thing about the horror genre is that it allows for so much freedom, in terms of both invention and storytelling. It’s why I love the genre, and why I get a fear of missing out whenever I find, or hear about, an interesting book, be it something I’ve held at the library, discovered at a used book store, preordered, found as an ebook deal or been offered for review. I have a hard time passing on books, and that’s why my room is full of them and my to-be-read list features hundreds.
When I started reviewing books, I did so for fun and got the chance to check out some review copies that I requested, thanks to major and smaller publishers. Now, folks are emailing our website and asking me to read their books, which is honestly both flattering and appreciated. What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky is the first book review to result from that.
Although he seems to have written a number of books, I hadn’t heard of Ken Brosky until he emailed us and sent a finished copy over. I’d be interested in reading more from him though, because his latest book is a good one. If you’re a fan of small town horror, it should be up your alley.
What Doesn’t Kill You is set in the small, unincorporated area of Seven Sisters, which is located in middle of nowhere America. Those passing through — provided they use the old highway and not the new one — will find a post office, a general store, a church, an old motel and a number of houses located on a few nearby streets. However, the motel is no longer a place for travellers to spend the night, and is now home to a substance abuse recovery program run by the church. This plays an integral role in the book of note, because some of its characters are recovering addicts, and the motel is an important setting like the church.
Things begin as a large shipping container is brought to a grain feed silo and treatment facility, where its cargo is left. What’s found inside is an odd looking statue, which begins to move all of a sudden. Said statue resembles a naked woman with no nipples, who happens to have a beehive instead of a head. One that is full of black bees. On top of that, she has odd bone protrusions coming out of her elbows and elsewhere.
When this unexpected monster visitor awakens, the townsfolk start to become aware of danger. Well, some do. The result is a monster slash slasher book, which kept me wondering what would happen next, and always had me thinking about its origins. Reading this 262 page novel was never a chore, and I got through it pretty quickly.
The only real issue I had with What Doesn’t Kill You is that it lacked a bit of gel, or flow. It features a number of characters, and it could be argued that there are too many, given that the story jumps from one set to another on a very regular basis. This kind of kept me from identifying with our protagonists as much as I’d hoped, and didn’t allow me to become hooked into the story as well as I’d wanted to. I think that, if this narrative had been a bit more focused, it would’ve been better.
As it stands, we meet the majority of the residents of Seven Sisters, whose town is threatened on a normal night. One that just so happens to have a massive snowstorm going on, which obscures tracks and makes it hard for people to get around, especially in an unincorporated area that hasn’t been plowed. We spend that night with newly pregnant teen, Val, her mother and also her brother, Danny, who’s spending the night with two other friends his age. Then, there are the addicts seeking help, a woman named Emma who’s returning to her hometown after a long absence, the bar keeper, a police officer and more.
The characters definitely had good depth, for the most part, but there were a lot of them and things jumped around quite a bit.
What Doesn’t Kill You was also a welcomed surprise in terms of writing, as it’s a well written novel with only a few small errors. The only one that wasn’t a minor spelling mistake related to a character who grabbed her snowshoes before leaving a building, but then didn’t have them on the next page. That hardly affected much, though, and errors happen. I was pleasantly surprised by this book from a small publisher, given how well written and thought out it is.
At the end of the day, What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky is an imperfect but rather good horror novel, which will appeal to fans of small town horror, monsters, slashers and creature features. It’s well written, has good characters and tells a story worth reading. Check it out if you’re looking for something new to read.
This review is based on a finished copy of the book, which we were provided by the author.
The best thing about the horror genre is that it allows for so much freedom, in terms of both invention and storytelling. It’s why I love the genre, and why I get a fear of missing out whenever I find, or hear about, an interesting book, be it something I’ve held at the library, discovered at a used book store, preordered, found as an ebook deal or been offered for review. I have a hard time passing on books, and that’s why my room is full of them and my to-be-read list features hundreds.
When I started reviewing books, I did so for fun and got the chance to check out some review copies that I requested, thanks to major and smaller publishers. Now, folks are emailing our website and asking me to read their books, which is honestly both flattering and appreciated. What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky is the first book review to result from that.
Although he seems to have written a number of books, I hadn’t heard of Ken Brosky until he emailed us and sent a finished copy over. I’d be interested in reading more from him though, because his latest book is a good one. If you’re a fan of small town horror, it should be up your alley.
What Doesn’t Kill You is set in the small, unincorporated area of Seven Sisters, which is located in middle of nowhere America. Those passing through — provided they use the old highway and not the new one — will find a post office, a general store, a church, an old motel and a number of houses located on a few nearby streets. However, the motel is no longer a place for travellers to spend the night, and is now home to a substance abuse recovery program run by the church. This plays an integral role in the book of note, because some of its characters are recovering addicts, and the motel is an important setting like the church.
Things begin as a large shipping container is brought to a grain feed silo and treatment facility, where its cargo is left. What’s found inside is an odd looking statue, which begins to move all of a sudden. Said statue resembles a naked woman with no nipples, who happens to have a beehive instead of a head. One that is full of black bees. On top of that, she has odd bone protrusions coming out of her elbows and elsewhere.
When this unexpected monster visitor awakens, the townsfolk start to become aware of danger. Well, some do. The result is a monster slash slasher book, which kept me wondering what would happen next, and always had me thinking about its origins. Reading this 262 page novel was never a chore, and I got through it pretty quickly.
The only real issue I had with What Doesn’t Kill You is that it lacked a bit of gel, or flow. It features a number of characters, and it could be argued that there are too many, given that the story jumps from one set to another on a very regular basis. This kind of kept me from identifying with our protagonists as much as I’d hoped, and didn’t allow me to become hooked into the story as well as I’d wanted to. I think that, if this narrative had been a bit more focused, it would’ve been better.
As it stands, we meet the majority of the residents of Seven Sisters, whose town is threatened on a normal night. One that just so happens to have a massive snowstorm going on, which obscures tracks and makes it hard for people to get around, especially in an unincorporated area that hasn’t been plowed. We spend that night with newly pregnant teen, Val, her mother and also her brother, Danny, who’s spending the night with two other friends his age. Then, there are the addicts seeking help, a woman named Emma who’s returning to her hometown after a long absence, the bar keeper, a police officer and more.
The characters definitely had good depth, for the most part, but there were a lot of them and things jumped around quite a bit.
What Doesn’t Kill You was also a welcomed surprise in terms of writing, as it’s a well written novel with only a few small errors. The only one that wasn’t a minor spelling mistake related to a character who grabbed her snowshoes before leaving a building, but then didn’t have them on the next page. That hardly affected much, though, and errors happen. I was pleasantly surprised by this book from a small publisher, given how well written and thought out it is.
At the end of the day, What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky is an imperfect but rather good horror novel, which will appeal to fans of small town horror, monsters, slashers and creature features. It’s well written, has good characters and tells a story worth reading. Check it out if you’re looking for something new to read.
This review is based on a finished copy of the book, which we were provided by the author.
September 1, 2023
WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU is a unique take on horror that had me interested from the very beginning. Although, I will admit that it took me a little bit to get into the story. Not because the concept wasn’t compelling, or I was uninterested. But for the first half-ish part of the book, the chapters jump from one character to another without any repeats. So for a while it seemed like the story didn’t really move forward time-wise for the sake of getting different perspectives on paper. I stuck with it because it wasn’t a difficult read, and I wanted to see where it went, and I’m glad I did. It was just a little bit of a struggle for me to keep my focus until the story really settled into Danny and Val’s perspectives.
The more I think on this story, the deeper it goes. On the surface it can very much be a creature feature of a rampaging woman tearing apart the world. But just under the surface, and with the realization by one of the characters, it’s a hearty eff you to the patriarchy by basically saying women are exactly what the men controlling them have made them. I don’t want to give too many details, because I would consider that a spoiler, but it’s very hoisted by their own petard on the men’s part.
It starts with the founding of this town by seven women, when it’s quickly co-opted by the men folk and turned into exactly what they wanted it to be. Generations later, when one woman tries to break the cycle, she unknowingly falls right back into a patriarchal trap, but a trap with unintended consequences for that patriarchy. By the time the next generation breaks that same mold, we can only hope that she’s doing it the right way, but the story leaves us hand shy, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Once the story settles behind the eyes of Val and Danny, it really picks up and as the reader you finally get to see a 360-degree view of what’s going on, and what certain people are doing about it. Or trying to do about it. It starts off almost Darwinian, survival of the fittest and all of that. But it quickly devolves into something else entirely, and something unexpected.
I was equal parts creeped out and amazed by the storytelling here. Despite my wobbly legs at the beginning, WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU turned into a poignant, eerie story about falling in line and breaking the cycle, and how the two can be both advantageous and destructive in the right/wrong hands. With some Cronenberg-level body horror to go along with it.
4
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The more I think on this story, the deeper it goes. On the surface it can very much be a creature feature of a rampaging woman tearing apart the world. But just under the surface, and with the realization by one of the characters, it’s a hearty eff you to the patriarchy by basically saying women are exactly what the men controlling them have made them. I don’t want to give too many details, because I would consider that a spoiler, but it’s very hoisted by their own petard on the men’s part.
It starts with the founding of this town by seven women, when it’s quickly co-opted by the men folk and turned into exactly what they wanted it to be. Generations later, when one woman tries to break the cycle, she unknowingly falls right back into a patriarchal trap, but a trap with unintended consequences for that patriarchy. By the time the next generation breaks that same mold, we can only hope that she’s doing it the right way, but the story leaves us hand shy, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Once the story settles behind the eyes of Val and Danny, it really picks up and as the reader you finally get to see a 360-degree view of what’s going on, and what certain people are doing about it. Or trying to do about it. It starts off almost Darwinian, survival of the fittest and all of that. But it quickly devolves into something else entirely, and something unexpected.
I was equal parts creeped out and amazed by the storytelling here. Despite my wobbly legs at the beginning, WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU turned into a poignant, eerie story about falling in line and breaking the cycle, and how the two can be both advantageous and destructive in the right/wrong hands. With some Cronenberg-level body horror to go along with it.
4
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2023
Seven Sisters is a small town in need of help. The new highway bypassed the town and it’s hurting. Siblings Valerie and Danny grew up there. Along with the rest of the residents, they should move on. Head for greener pastures. Something keeps them there. When Emma comes to town, it might be a blessing to all. Or maybe not. She could be the worst thing that could happen.
I’ve always loved stories where the main protagonists captured my heart. Which Valerie and Danny did. And where secondary characters had their time to shine. Perhaps to steal the show. My fondness for the characters kept the suspense tuned to a high level. The mystery that surrounded Emma escalated the deeper I got into the story. When the elements, such as the blizzard, compound the character’s chances of survival, it’s always a big draw for me. And the ending set me back on my heels. There were some pretty gruesome events and they grew uglier the closer I got to the conclusion.
The snow storm blew in and the creatures began to do their thing. Then it was wanton mayhem. And I relished every messy bit of it.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
I’ve always loved stories where the main protagonists captured my heart. Which Valerie and Danny did. And where secondary characters had their time to shine. Perhaps to steal the show. My fondness for the characters kept the suspense tuned to a high level. The mystery that surrounded Emma escalated the deeper I got into the story. When the elements, such as the blizzard, compound the character’s chances of survival, it’s always a big draw for me. And the ending set me back on my heels. There were some pretty gruesome events and they grew uglier the closer I got to the conclusion.
The snow storm blew in and the creatures began to do their thing. Then it was wanton mayhem. And I relished every messy bit of it.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
August 27, 2023
This is a solid and imaginative piece of horror, maybe taking its inspiration from a creature in Greek mythology. The story begins with a very successful woman, responsible for creating a social media app called TheBuzz, returning home to her dead end town to give them a gift. Of course things turn incredibly bad quickly, once the gift — a statuesque female like creature with a beehive for a head, comes to life.
The only way to survive this queen and her protective drones is to literally kill her. Because, according to successful businesswoman Emma, your perseverance in killing the thing proves you’re special. It proves that you have what it takes to break free of the strangling hold of a small town like Seven Sisters and to transform into something bigger than your weaknesses, into something successful.
But as you might guess, killing this monster isn’t easy. It regenerates in a unique way, and if you do succeed in “killing it," be prepared for the truly unexpected consequences. Bee careful what you wish for… see what I did there? (I’ll show myself out…)
The only way to survive this queen and her protective drones is to literally kill her. Because, according to successful businesswoman Emma, your perseverance in killing the thing proves you’re special. It proves that you have what it takes to break free of the strangling hold of a small town like Seven Sisters and to transform into something bigger than your weaknesses, into something successful.
But as you might guess, killing this monster isn’t easy. It regenerates in a unique way, and if you do succeed in “killing it," be prepared for the truly unexpected consequences. Bee careful what you wish for… see what I did there? (I’ll show myself out…)
July 9, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of What Doesn't Kill You for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Some books are easy to review, but What Doesn’t Kill You isn’t one of them. It's not that there’s little to talk about; the opposite is true. Avoiding spoilers is particularly pertinent for this: discussions about the book and its inner workings are better had between people who have read the book and can offer their own opinions.
The blurb describes this book as “part creature-feature, part survival story,” an apt description that neglects to mention it’s a literary tale that plays with narrative devices. It mentions Val, Danny and a mysterious woman, but not all those other characters, and how it proves to be a character study for so many of them. It's indeed a creature horror, but it's so much more.
The above isn’t to undercut the importance of the horror, which works exceedingly well. The threat is uniquely presented. While it features many tropes horror fans will enjoy, it presents many with a new spin. The horror is a slow burn, creeping through the novel’s pages as the situation escalates, through which the author expertly builds tension.
While this isn’t a particularly long book, the author has crammed a lot in, through a carefully written story that uses its space judicially. Horror isn’t known for its plots, and while the plot isn’t particularly complex, it's far more coherent than many of its contemporaries. The story doesn't get its characters together with a thin excuse to have them trapped with whoever or whatever is trying to kill them, it builds in logical steps that feel as reasoned as a story of its ilk can. The plot moves magnificently as the author moves all the chess pieces like a grandmaster.
As important as the horror is, its characters are equally so. What Doesn’t Kill You is filled with wonderful, realistic characters. While I'd certainly recommend this to horror fans, I won’t hesitate to recommend it to readers who aren’t. These characters are entirely human; flawed in all the ways we ourselves are. Not one character feels like they’re included to pad out the story; they all have a role to play, and they're all engrossing. Outside of the story’s events, they all have their lives, needs and wants, and strengths and weaknesses. The book conveys so much about so many characters, and balancing this with the plot and horror elements.
While Val and Danny are the two main characters, they're not the sole POV characters. Many characters provide their perspective throughout the book, with each chapter honing in on one character’s point of view. The stories and perspectives flow together wonderfully and the author uses this device for one of the book’s more literary aspects. In doing so, he not only does something I’ve only occasionally, he does so with possibly the greatest effect.
While the author uses clever literary devices, they never feel pretentious or overused, nor do they obscure the story. This isn't a book that delights in confusing its reader; it ensures the reader can follow along. The author uses short, sharp sentences, conveying all the necessary information while adding some great splashes of colour. The prose feels rhythmic as it explores the characters, the horror, and the town of Seven Sisters. Dialogue is used sparingly, and when characters speak, it's with intention.
At every turn, What Doesn’t Kill You amazes. Whether it’s the horror, characters, story, prose or literary devices, the author has put his storytelling mastery on display. If you’re a fan of horror, engaging characters or literary fiction, you should read this book. This is my first Ken Brosky book, but it won’t be my last.
My full review will be available on my website from 12 July, 2023. To read it, and a host of other reviews, click here.
Some books are easy to review, but What Doesn’t Kill You isn’t one of them. It's not that there’s little to talk about; the opposite is true. Avoiding spoilers is particularly pertinent for this: discussions about the book and its inner workings are better had between people who have read the book and can offer their own opinions.
The blurb describes this book as “part creature-feature, part survival story,” an apt description that neglects to mention it’s a literary tale that plays with narrative devices. It mentions Val, Danny and a mysterious woman, but not all those other characters, and how it proves to be a character study for so many of them. It's indeed a creature horror, but it's so much more.
The above isn’t to undercut the importance of the horror, which works exceedingly well. The threat is uniquely presented. While it features many tropes horror fans will enjoy, it presents many with a new spin. The horror is a slow burn, creeping through the novel’s pages as the situation escalates, through which the author expertly builds tension.
While this isn’t a particularly long book, the author has crammed a lot in, through a carefully written story that uses its space judicially. Horror isn’t known for its plots, and while the plot isn’t particularly complex, it's far more coherent than many of its contemporaries. The story doesn't get its characters together with a thin excuse to have them trapped with whoever or whatever is trying to kill them, it builds in logical steps that feel as reasoned as a story of its ilk can. The plot moves magnificently as the author moves all the chess pieces like a grandmaster.
As important as the horror is, its characters are equally so. What Doesn’t Kill You is filled with wonderful, realistic characters. While I'd certainly recommend this to horror fans, I won’t hesitate to recommend it to readers who aren’t. These characters are entirely human; flawed in all the ways we ourselves are. Not one character feels like they’re included to pad out the story; they all have a role to play, and they're all engrossing. Outside of the story’s events, they all have their lives, needs and wants, and strengths and weaknesses. The book conveys so much about so many characters, and balancing this with the plot and horror elements.
While Val and Danny are the two main characters, they're not the sole POV characters. Many characters provide their perspective throughout the book, with each chapter honing in on one character’s point of view. The stories and perspectives flow together wonderfully and the author uses this device for one of the book’s more literary aspects. In doing so, he not only does something I’ve only occasionally, he does so with possibly the greatest effect.
While the author uses clever literary devices, they never feel pretentious or overused, nor do they obscure the story. This isn't a book that delights in confusing its reader; it ensures the reader can follow along. The author uses short, sharp sentences, conveying all the necessary information while adding some great splashes of colour. The prose feels rhythmic as it explores the characters, the horror, and the town of Seven Sisters. Dialogue is used sparingly, and when characters speak, it's with intention.
At every turn, What Doesn’t Kill You amazes. Whether it’s the horror, characters, story, prose or literary devices, the author has put his storytelling mastery on display. If you’re a fan of horror, engaging characters or literary fiction, you should read this book. This is my first Ken Brosky book, but it won’t be my last.
My full review will be available on my website from 12 July, 2023. To read it, and a host of other reviews, click here.
September 1, 2023
Set to release September 5, 2023!
"It's a gift to the town."
Nothing ever happens in the town of Seven Sisters. Many of the residents remain in the town until they can no longer leave it, the years just slipping bye. Two siblings wish to leave their hometown behind in hopes of a bigger, brighter, future. Both having to grow up and make choices they may not be entirely ready for.
Everything drastically changes when a woman goes out of her way to come to the bump in the road place. Bringing with her a gift for the town that will prove to be Seven Sisters' greatest challenge. How will this snowy night play out? And will anyone be able to survive until the sun rises?
"No one will choose for her." - Val
I was rather blown away by this read and devoured it in the course of two days! Would have read it all in one day but apparently you need some sleep before the day job. Absolutely loved the plotline of the story, the horror, and how it ended! I kept getting "Stranger Things" vibes as I was reading through the book!
Val and Danny are siblings who are trapped within their hometown. Seven Sisters is nothing more than a blip on the map that no one goes out of their way for. The two are trying to grow up, survive their upbringing, and getting ready for the next stages of their lives. Val's tired of living up to everyone else's standards while not fully embracing hers! She knows what she wants out of her life but does she have the determination and commitment to do so? Her arc was excellent to read through.
Danny is going through the dreaded first stages of puberty as he tries to navigate his feelings for his best friend who is a female! Realizing he may have to let go of some of the more "childish" things of his life before he gets into high school. But should he really give everything up? Is it okay to hang onto the things he loves even if they may be seen as "baby stuff"? Could relate to a lot of things Danny went through as the story progressed.
". . .because small towns have a way of lingering a few decades back." - Emma
Ken really captured the feel of a small town and how it can be suffocating. I missed my small hometown as I read through some of the nicer points of having a tiny community, but I was also glad I had the chance to leave it behind. We get to see many of the POVs of the townspeople and how some blinked and years had already passed them by. I appreciated the variety of characters and how individuals ended up in the town.
Things really change for the sleeping community when a blizzard and a mysterious woman roll in. The woman bringing with her a dark past and a gift that will change the course of everything for Seven Sisters. I really loved the horror and the mystery revolving around the "villains" of the story. We get a really interesting second person POV from the antagonist's side that had me changing my mind about certain things. The depth of all the characters that were shown was phenomenal even if some were brief.
The horror was excellent and very intriguing. I love horror that has an actual plot line and depth tied into it. The details and how the writing was done surrounding the intense events was very good. I want to go into specifics of what I really liked but don't want to give any spoilers away! Just the monster of the story was rather original and had my interest piqued.
This read does contain language, violence, and bloodshed. When you are just trying to survive your moral compass kind of flies out the window. I will say this may be a spoiler but if you have a phobia of bees than this read may not be for you. There are arcs revolving around addicts of different substances and their dark pasts. Two main coming of age arcs, talk of puberty, and difficulties with both mental and physical attributes of maturing. Histories that may be unsettling to some and more.
This book started peacefully and slowly draws you in until you can't help but finish it! I wanted to know how it was all going to end and was not disappointed! I want to read more books from this author whenever that may be!
Enjoy the read with a small town and its residents who are about to have the night of their lives. . . Don't forget to give the author some stars!
shutupandbookup.com
"It's a gift to the town."
Nothing ever happens in the town of Seven Sisters. Many of the residents remain in the town until they can no longer leave it, the years just slipping bye. Two siblings wish to leave their hometown behind in hopes of a bigger, brighter, future. Both having to grow up and make choices they may not be entirely ready for.
Everything drastically changes when a woman goes out of her way to come to the bump in the road place. Bringing with her a gift for the town that will prove to be Seven Sisters' greatest challenge. How will this snowy night play out? And will anyone be able to survive until the sun rises?
"No one will choose for her." - Val
I was rather blown away by this read and devoured it in the course of two days! Would have read it all in one day but apparently you need some sleep before the day job. Absolutely loved the plotline of the story, the horror, and how it ended! I kept getting "Stranger Things" vibes as I was reading through the book!
Val and Danny are siblings who are trapped within their hometown. Seven Sisters is nothing more than a blip on the map that no one goes out of their way for. The two are trying to grow up, survive their upbringing, and getting ready for the next stages of their lives. Val's tired of living up to everyone else's standards while not fully embracing hers! She knows what she wants out of her life but does she have the determination and commitment to do so? Her arc was excellent to read through.
Danny is going through the dreaded first stages of puberty as he tries to navigate his feelings for his best friend who is a female! Realizing he may have to let go of some of the more "childish" things of his life before he gets into high school. But should he really give everything up? Is it okay to hang onto the things he loves even if they may be seen as "baby stuff"? Could relate to a lot of things Danny went through as the story progressed.
". . .because small towns have a way of lingering a few decades back." - Emma
Ken really captured the feel of a small town and how it can be suffocating. I missed my small hometown as I read through some of the nicer points of having a tiny community, but I was also glad I had the chance to leave it behind. We get to see many of the POVs of the townspeople and how some blinked and years had already passed them by. I appreciated the variety of characters and how individuals ended up in the town.
Things really change for the sleeping community when a blizzard and a mysterious woman roll in. The woman bringing with her a dark past and a gift that will change the course of everything for Seven Sisters. I really loved the horror and the mystery revolving around the "villains" of the story. We get a really interesting second person POV from the antagonist's side that had me changing my mind about certain things. The depth of all the characters that were shown was phenomenal even if some were brief.
The horror was excellent and very intriguing. I love horror that has an actual plot line and depth tied into it. The details and how the writing was done surrounding the intense events was very good. I want to go into specifics of what I really liked but don't want to give any spoilers away! Just the monster of the story was rather original and had my interest piqued.
This read does contain language, violence, and bloodshed. When you are just trying to survive your moral compass kind of flies out the window. I will say this may be a spoiler but if you have a phobia of bees than this read may not be for you. There are arcs revolving around addicts of different substances and their dark pasts. Two main coming of age arcs, talk of puberty, and difficulties with both mental and physical attributes of maturing. Histories that may be unsettling to some and more.
This book started peacefully and slowly draws you in until you can't help but finish it! I wanted to know how it was all going to end and was not disappointed! I want to read more books from this author whenever that may be!
Enjoy the read with a small town and its residents who are about to have the night of their lives. . . Don't forget to give the author some stars!
shutupandbookup.com
November 6, 2023
Important things you need to know about the book:
Pace: The pacing of What Doesn’t Kill You is fast. It has to be; the entire story takes place within one night. There is no slow build-up; the author goes from zero to one hundred and keeps that pace going until the end of the book.
Trigger/Content Warning: There are trigger and content warnings in What Doesn’t Kill You. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:
Addiction (moderate to graphic)
Alcoholism (graphic)
Body Horror (graphic)
Drug Use (moderate)
Infidelity (minor to moderate)
Death (graphic)
Violence (graphic)
Verbal Child Abuse (moderate)
Gun Violence (moderate to graphic)
Gore (graphic)
Sexual Content: There is sexual content in What Doesn’t Kill You. It isn’t graphic, but it is insinuated (like when the Deputy keeps thinking of his mistress and their time together). There are some scenes where a twelve-year-old boy reacts to his love interest/friend (gets an erection). But again, nothing graphic.
Language: There is a lot of explicit swearing in What Doesn’t Kill You.
Setting: What Doesn’t Kill You is set in the remote town of Seven Sisters, Wisconsin.
Tropes: Mysterious Things Are Happening, Monsters, Bad Things Happen at Night, Backing into Darkness, Severed Limbs, Creepy Settings
Age Range: I recommend What Doesn’t Kill You to anyone over 21.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
Seven Sisters, Wisconsin, is a dying town. When a former resident of Seven Sisters returns for a visit, she brings something monstrous, but she knows she can breathe life back into the town with it. After turning it loose on the town, she sits back and watches the carnage and mayhem ensue. But she wasn’t expecting what to happen after the monster slaughtered almost everyone in town. Why did that former resident bring such unimaginable evil back to Seven Sisters? Will anyone survive? Or will this monster’s terror expand to other towns in the area?
Main Characters
What Doesn’t Kill You is different than most books because there are a lot of characters introduced at the beginning of the book. But, by the middle, most of those characters are killed off. In the end, I was surprised at who was left.
My review:
What Doesn’t Kill You is a well-written book that should be read during the daytime and not during the winter. I am being serious here. This book should not be read at night and in any season but in winter. I don’t get scared easily, and this book had me jumping at every little thing after I was done.
The main storyline in What Doesn’t Kill You focuses on Seven Sisters and the carnage that the beehive-headed woman wrecks on the town. The storyline is gory and bloody. There were some scenes that I gagged at and others where I wanted to cry (because of who was killed). I also want to note that the author wasn’t particularly attached to his characters, and he didn’t hesitate to kill them.
There was an aspect of the storyline that I found fascinating, and I wished that the author had gone into it. It was the origins of the beehive-headed woman. I wanted to know where this thing came from and why it was in the wilderness of California. I did like that if the person the monster was attacking killed it and ate the honey, that person was granted their heart’s desire. But there was a caveat that even the person was unaware of, highlighted in the last half of the book.
The end of What Doesn’t Kill You wasn’t a happy ending. Without giving away spoilers, that’s all I can say about it.
Pace: The pacing of What Doesn’t Kill You is fast. It has to be; the entire story takes place within one night. There is no slow build-up; the author goes from zero to one hundred and keeps that pace going until the end of the book.
Trigger/Content Warning: There are trigger and content warnings in What Doesn’t Kill You. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:
Addiction (moderate to graphic)
Alcoholism (graphic)
Body Horror (graphic)
Drug Use (moderate)
Infidelity (minor to moderate)
Death (graphic)
Violence (graphic)
Verbal Child Abuse (moderate)
Gun Violence (moderate to graphic)
Gore (graphic)
Sexual Content: There is sexual content in What Doesn’t Kill You. It isn’t graphic, but it is insinuated (like when the Deputy keeps thinking of his mistress and their time together). There are some scenes where a twelve-year-old boy reacts to his love interest/friend (gets an erection). But again, nothing graphic.
Language: There is a lot of explicit swearing in What Doesn’t Kill You.
Setting: What Doesn’t Kill You is set in the remote town of Seven Sisters, Wisconsin.
Tropes: Mysterious Things Are Happening, Monsters, Bad Things Happen at Night, Backing into Darkness, Severed Limbs, Creepy Settings
Age Range: I recommend What Doesn’t Kill You to anyone over 21.
Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):
Seven Sisters, Wisconsin, is a dying town. When a former resident of Seven Sisters returns for a visit, she brings something monstrous, but she knows she can breathe life back into the town with it. After turning it loose on the town, she sits back and watches the carnage and mayhem ensue. But she wasn’t expecting what to happen after the monster slaughtered almost everyone in town. Why did that former resident bring such unimaginable evil back to Seven Sisters? Will anyone survive? Or will this monster’s terror expand to other towns in the area?
Main Characters
What Doesn’t Kill You is different than most books because there are a lot of characters introduced at the beginning of the book. But, by the middle, most of those characters are killed off. In the end, I was surprised at who was left.
My review:
What Doesn’t Kill You is a well-written book that should be read during the daytime and not during the winter. I am being serious here. This book should not be read at night and in any season but in winter. I don’t get scared easily, and this book had me jumping at every little thing after I was done.
The main storyline in What Doesn’t Kill You focuses on Seven Sisters and the carnage that the beehive-headed woman wrecks on the town. The storyline is gory and bloody. There were some scenes that I gagged at and others where I wanted to cry (because of who was killed). I also want to note that the author wasn’t particularly attached to his characters, and he didn’t hesitate to kill them.
There was an aspect of the storyline that I found fascinating, and I wished that the author had gone into it. It was the origins of the beehive-headed woman. I wanted to know where this thing came from and why it was in the wilderness of California. I did like that if the person the monster was attacking killed it and ate the honey, that person was granted their heart’s desire. But there was a caveat that even the person was unaware of, highlighted in the last half of the book.
The end of What Doesn’t Kill You wasn’t a happy ending. Without giving away spoilers, that’s all I can say about it.
October 11, 2023
Emma was able to leave the small town of Seven Sisters twenty years ago. The town has fallen into ruin due to changes in the economy and the changes to the freeways. Emma left and became a successful internet innovator. The key to her success was a gift she received. Now she has brought the giver of that particular gift to the remaining residents of Seven Sister.
Brosky builds his story on the reasons people have for leaving the town, stay, or why they are torn between those options. The building up through the story and dealing with the possibilities of the gift and the eventual understanding of the consequences is about those decisions we make. Do we take the easy road for ourselves, do we consider the others who will be impacted by our decision, and what are the eventual consequences?
This is the second book from Brosky I have reviewed. He follows his style of using supernatural elements, or elements of the unknown to create antagonists who reflect many aspects of our own personalities. What Doesn’t Kill You is also a continuation of his look at how each of us approach the idea of having a second chance at life. He asks the question of what you might be willing to do when after you are told what you could have if you are willing to do something that might be particularly leaning against your standards of living.
What Doesn’t Kill You is a wonderful read for those who like the horror we create for ourselves based on the decisions we make for our lives. Brosky takes that horror element out of our psychological and allows it to roam around the small town, which could also be taken as a metaphor for our own realm of influence. He then adds the additional layer of how the decisions for our personal lives affect others and how our choices may not be the choices for others.
I found What Doesn’t Kill You became a read that had me pulled forward to find out the twist that was being hinted at from early in the book. I enjoyed the build with the changes in point of view to allow the story to unfold at a pace that wasn’t pushing the encounters to the forefront, but the consequences and how others were being impacted.
I recommend What Doesn’t Kill You for horror readers who like the small-town isolation (complicated by the storm) where the protagonists are unable to flee and must face the encounters of the creature and determine what they are capable of.
What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky is a dark tale about one woman’s belief in what she knows what is best for others. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for review.
You can read the complete review at Guild Master Gaming, http://guildmastergaming.blogspot.com...
Brosky builds his story on the reasons people have for leaving the town, stay, or why they are torn between those options. The building up through the story and dealing with the possibilities of the gift and the eventual understanding of the consequences is about those decisions we make. Do we take the easy road for ourselves, do we consider the others who will be impacted by our decision, and what are the eventual consequences?
This is the second book from Brosky I have reviewed. He follows his style of using supernatural elements, or elements of the unknown to create antagonists who reflect many aspects of our own personalities. What Doesn’t Kill You is also a continuation of his look at how each of us approach the idea of having a second chance at life. He asks the question of what you might be willing to do when after you are told what you could have if you are willing to do something that might be particularly leaning against your standards of living.
What Doesn’t Kill You is a wonderful read for those who like the horror we create for ourselves based on the decisions we make for our lives. Brosky takes that horror element out of our psychological and allows it to roam around the small town, which could also be taken as a metaphor for our own realm of influence. He then adds the additional layer of how the decisions for our personal lives affect others and how our choices may not be the choices for others.
I found What Doesn’t Kill You became a read that had me pulled forward to find out the twist that was being hinted at from early in the book. I enjoyed the build with the changes in point of view to allow the story to unfold at a pace that wasn’t pushing the encounters to the forefront, but the consequences and how others were being impacted.
I recommend What Doesn’t Kill You for horror readers who like the small-town isolation (complicated by the storm) where the protagonists are unable to flee and must face the encounters of the creature and determine what they are capable of.
What Doesn’t Kill You by Ken Brosky is a dark tale about one woman’s belief in what she knows what is best for others. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for review.
You can read the complete review at Guild Master Gaming, http://guildmastergaming.blogspot.com...
September 7, 2023
Cover: No.
What a pleasant surprise! I’ll admit I have a soft spot for horror stories, especially if they’re of the small town kind—longtime King fan here, I’m biased—but What Doesn’t Kill You doesn’t really need any extra help to shine.
The main arc is quite simple, but the execution? Flawless. I often said I’m not that much into coming of age stories and/or YA vibes, as I can’t relate to young characters anymore. However, I try to be impartial when one of them catches my eye, and this time I had no issues in diving right in.
Well-done on the pacing, too. Horror packs a meaner punch when it’s pervasive and with a slow built rather than getting (the lit equivalent of) a shovel to the face right away. Sometimes the shovel is cool, eh. It’s just that it needs to fit the story you want to tell. Kudos to Broski for this narrative choice.
Nothing to nitpick on length, grammar, or flow. There’s a surgical precision on each aspect, and I can’t help it, I’m amazed. My inner editor would love to witness Broski’s writing process, no lie. It also helps that he’s an editor, too, I guess. XD
So, What Doesn’t Kill You, any flaws? Well, yes. Too many povs. I know I’m stricter than most when it comes to point of views, but my mantra is, one is more than enough and two is one too many. Here we have a bunch of them. Don’t get me wrong, it’s well-executed and I have no complaints about the technicalities; my only issue is about the amount of them. On the other hand. I have to say that the second pov switch, while peculiar, adds flavor.
4 stars on GR
What a pleasant surprise! I’ll admit I have a soft spot for horror stories, especially if they’re of the small town kind—longtime King fan here, I’m biased—but What Doesn’t Kill You doesn’t really need any extra help to shine.
The main arc is quite simple, but the execution? Flawless. I often said I’m not that much into coming of age stories and/or YA vibes, as I can’t relate to young characters anymore. However, I try to be impartial when one of them catches my eye, and this time I had no issues in diving right in.
Well-done on the pacing, too. Horror packs a meaner punch when it’s pervasive and with a slow built rather than getting (the lit equivalent of) a shovel to the face right away. Sometimes the shovel is cool, eh. It’s just that it needs to fit the story you want to tell. Kudos to Broski for this narrative choice.
Nothing to nitpick on length, grammar, or flow. There’s a surgical precision on each aspect, and I can’t help it, I’m amazed. My inner editor would love to witness Broski’s writing process, no lie. It also helps that he’s an editor, too, I guess. XD
So, What Doesn’t Kill You, any flaws? Well, yes. Too many povs. I know I’m stricter than most when it comes to point of views, but my mantra is, one is more than enough and two is one too many. Here we have a bunch of them. Don’t get me wrong, it’s well-executed and I have no complaints about the technicalities; my only issue is about the amount of them. On the other hand. I have to say that the second pov switch, while peculiar, adds flavor.
4 stars on GR
September 5, 2023
I want to start out by saying that I really didn't appreciate the way the author wrote about women and addicts in this book. It came across very demeaning. I mean at the very start we have a man talking negatively about women. At another point we have a male saying she was the type of woman who deserved to be hit. It didn't sit well with me. I also didn't enjoy the constant refrain of how the addicts would never recover because they would just relapse and how they didn't deserve to live. I also didn't like how an entire chapter was focused on like 15 year olds sexuality.These things really took away the enjoyment of this story for me.
The author paints a really good creature feature story if you can ignore all of these issues. We have a small town that is barely surviving, a snow storm that isolates them, a mysterious woman who brings a "gift" and then a creature that starts attacking the town. I would have enjoyed a little more understanding of the creature's purpose and why things were happening the way they did. I think overall it is a quick spooky season read. If you enjoy monsters this is an interesting take for sure. I just think that some elements needed to be fleshed out a little more to understand things.
The author paints a really good creature feature story if you can ignore all of these issues. We have a small town that is barely surviving, a snow storm that isolates them, a mysterious woman who brings a "gift" and then a creature that starts attacking the town. I would have enjoyed a little more understanding of the creature's purpose and why things were happening the way they did. I think overall it is a quick spooky season read. If you enjoy monsters this is an interesting take for sure. I just think that some elements needed to be fleshed out a little more to understand things.
June 8, 2023
This was a fast paced story with a fairly large cast of characters and a very unique antagonist. I would shelve this one as a "Creature Feature" horror subgenre. It was very entertaining and for the most part it read very smoothly. I enjoyed the various characters and felt that the amount of backstory supplied for the characters was nearly perfect; enough to feel like I understood them, but not so much as to slow down the narrative. I did struggle a bit with the chapters that the author wrote in 2nd person. I understand that it was a conscious decision and added to the "otherness" of those specific chapters, but ultimately it did pull me out of the story and caused me to have to re read some sections. Overall a fun read that I will confidently recommend to others.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for providing me with an ARC of this title free of charge. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for providing me with an ARC of this title free of charge. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
July 7, 2023
The "buzz" is that there is no future in the town of Seven Sisters and no one seems to care. Until Emma, a former resident, returns home after achieving great success from a mysterious and primal entity. An entity that she believes can save the residents of the town so long as they accept it. But is the entity the town's savior or its executioner?
This is a story about faith, temptation, and survival. It's the Thing meets Halloween. The story's strength comes from its readability, the pages turn very easily and the characters are realistic and relatable. The weakness of the story is that the perspective changes with every chapter and from too many points of view. I often jumbled characters around in my head because I was in four or five other perspectives before returning to the original character. In this way the story benefits from reading large chunks at once and over only a few sessions.
I received this ARC from Timber Ghost Press.
This is a story about faith, temptation, and survival. It's the Thing meets Halloween. The story's strength comes from its readability, the pages turn very easily and the characters are realistic and relatable. The weakness of the story is that the perspective changes with every chapter and from too many points of view. I often jumbled characters around in my head because I was in four or five other perspectives before returning to the original character. In this way the story benefits from reading large chunks at once and over only a few sessions.
I received this ARC from Timber Ghost Press.
September 12, 2023
The beginning of the book introduces a lot of people, who will be part of the story. Did not know then what I thought about it. But from chapter four on, it held my attention till the end.
Not so much gore, but creepy nevertheless.
I tried to figure out how this story would go, but every time there was a twist, letting it go in another direction.
I liked the people, there was not one I disliked.
The story switches many times to the view of another person. So, your attention will be needed all the time.
In the end of it all, good people die and good people survive. But who decides who deserve to die and who will live?
The end is satisfying to me, though it did not explain the source of the very beginning. I tried to figure this out, but it is left to our fantasy.
There were a few inconsistencies. Name switching and even first wearing snowshoes and two pages further the snowshoes were not there.
This could be improved.
A solid 3,5 stars for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Not so much gore, but creepy nevertheless.
I tried to figure out how this story would go, but every time there was a twist, letting it go in another direction.
I liked the people, there was not one I disliked.
The story switches many times to the view of another person. So, your attention will be needed all the time.
In the end of it all, good people die and good people survive. But who decides who deserve to die and who will live?
The end is satisfying to me, though it did not explain the source of the very beginning. I tried to figure this out, but it is left to our fantasy.
There were a few inconsistencies. Name switching and even first wearing snowshoes and two pages further the snowshoes were not there.
This could be improved.
A solid 3,5 stars for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 28, 2023
I have read books by this author before, so when he reached out to me about this book, I didn't even hesitate to say yes.
The book takes place in the town of Seven Sisters and from the very first chapter I was completely drawn in. The town itself is dying. Once the new highway was built, the town started to dwindle more and more every year. The story starts with the arrival of a mysterious woman and her even more mysterious cargo. Valerie Miller is a young woman who desperately wants to get out of this tiny town, but she doesn't want to leave her brother. The strange woman has brought something to the town that will either make or break her will to survive.
This story is one long, crazy ride from start to finish. All the members of the small town will have to fight to survive the night. What will happen once the sun rises in Seven Sisters? Who will survive and who will be sacrificed? Pick up your copy today and see if Val and Danny will survive the night. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
The book takes place in the town of Seven Sisters and from the very first chapter I was completely drawn in. The town itself is dying. Once the new highway was built, the town started to dwindle more and more every year. The story starts with the arrival of a mysterious woman and her even more mysterious cargo. Valerie Miller is a young woman who desperately wants to get out of this tiny town, but she doesn't want to leave her brother. The strange woman has brought something to the town that will either make or break her will to survive.
This story is one long, crazy ride from start to finish. All the members of the small town will have to fight to survive the night. What will happen once the sun rises in Seven Sisters? Who will survive and who will be sacrificed? Pick up your copy today and see if Val and Danny will survive the night. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
November 8, 2024
This is a fast-paced horror read that offers a fast-paced escape into a small-town accosted by a magnificent nightmare of a creature. As the back cover proclaims, it's part creature-feature and part survival story, and Brosky has done a fantastic job bringing it to life. I'm not sure if I loved it quite so much as I loved his earlier novel, but nevertheless, this novel sucked me in and held onto me throughout the story, and I'd absolutely recommend it. If there's a downfall, it's that the work probably has one or two many POVs included--I think I might have gotten more of an emotional impact if I'd had more time to get used to fewer characters--but on the whole, this was a fun, suitably gory read, and just perfect for reading around Halloween.
Absolutely recommended.
Absolutely recommended.
August 10, 2023
I just want to start by saying thank you to BookSirens and Ken Brosky for providing me with an ARC of What Doesn’t Kill You.
I was drawn into the small town of Seven Sisters where I followed the events of the townsfolk. This book was so fast paced, I ate this book up in one sitting, this book had my skin crawling, I LOVED it! This book is about the sacrifice and survival of this small town and the people who inhabit it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was drawn into the small town of Seven Sisters where I followed the events of the townsfolk. This book was so fast paced, I ate this book up in one sitting, this book had my skin crawling, I LOVED it! This book is about the sacrifice and survival of this small town and the people who inhabit it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 6, 2023
"What Doesn't Kill You" is an interesting take on the "hive mind" concept, and a fast paced, creature feature, gore fest. It is a book that I really wanted to like, and there is nothing technically wrong with the book. It is a fairly well plotted story with many layers.
Unfortunately, it just fell a bit flat for me with a lack of suspense at times, and a cast of characters that I didn't connect with at all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Unfortunately, it just fell a bit flat for me with a lack of suspense at times, and a cast of characters that I didn't connect with at all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 13, 2023
💙💀😲TOTALLY CAPTIVATING
Town of Seven Sisters:
Leo and Angel were unloading the containers from the freight train.
A woman in white watched him, then spoke to him.
Apparently the red container was hers...
---------------------------
An excellent surprise to discover!
I found this novel mysterious, frightening and totally captivating to read.
Despite the many characters, I found the plot terribly mysterious and I couldn't help but ask myself many questions as I read.
I love this style of novel!
A must read for fans of the genre.
Town of Seven Sisters:
Leo and Angel were unloading the containers from the freight train.
A woman in white watched him, then spoke to him.
Apparently the red container was hers...
---------------------------
An excellent surprise to discover!
I found this novel mysterious, frightening and totally captivating to read.
Despite the many characters, I found the plot terribly mysterious and I couldn't help but ask myself many questions as I read.
I love this style of novel!
A must read for fans of the genre.
June 24, 2023
I just finished WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU. From the beginning of the very first chapter, I was pulled deep into the town of Seven Sisters, where I followed its residents through their adventures, rooting and mourning for them as they met their fates.
This fast-paced tale is one of those books you just can't put down because you need to read a few more pages, maybe one more chapter, to see what happens ... until you reach the end and realize it is waaay past your bedtime.
This fast-paced tale is one of those books you just can't put down because you need to read a few more pages, maybe one more chapter, to see what happens ... until you reach the end and realize it is waaay past your bedtime.
September 10, 2023
"What Doesn’t Kill You is the kind of book that gives you multilayered characters by the bushel and a monster with a mythology that you want to dig in and find out more about. It’s also a viciously paced, horror movie-styled tale with motivations often overriding logic and pushing the story forward."
Read the full review at https://www.getonmydamnlevel.com/blog...
Read the full review at https://www.getonmydamnlevel.com/blog...
August 4, 2023
This is one I didn't expect but I couldn't put it down. I found myself glued to the story to get to the next page. Was a really great modern twist on the monster/survival horror mystery stories and one I will definitely be recommending to my friends/coworkers. Give this story a shot, you won't regret it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 14, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This author really knows how to freak you out!! I could not read this book at night, it would give me nightmares.
Really nicely written, keeps the tension up … well worth the read.
This author does not disappoint.
This author really knows how to freak you out!! I could not read this book at night, it would give me nightmares.
Really nicely written, keeps the tension up … well worth the read.
This author does not disappoint.
August 18, 2023
Not your normal run-of-the-mill monster. This is survival of the species no matter what! I kind of felt sorry for her as it became obvious that she had no control of her actions.
Very descriptive and pretty gruesome in places, so be warned.
I received a free Advance Reader Copy of What Doesn't Kill You through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.
Very descriptive and pretty gruesome in places, so be warned.
I received a free Advance Reader Copy of What Doesn't Kill You through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.
October 10, 2023
This is a well-written horror book using one of my fav tropes: small town, snowed-in, and a monster on the loose. What could possibly go wrong? Everything!
Told thru colorful descriptions and candid real-world dialogue, the plot keeps you guessing, building tension and curiosity as the townsfolk deal with a uniquely creepy monster.
A must read for connoisseurs of weird horror.
Told thru colorful descriptions and candid real-world dialogue, the plot keeps you guessing, building tension and curiosity as the townsfolk deal with a uniquely creepy monster.
A must read for connoisseurs of weird horror.
September 5, 2023
This is a well-crafted story that defies genres. It has everything you could want in a book. It is an action-packed adventure with cool characters, twisty turns, and a thrilling page-turner. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.
5 Star Rating
2 Skull Dread Rating
5 Star Rating
2 Skull Dread Rating
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews