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Voracious
Doctor Trevor Adams is a genius by all accounts. His ethics, however, leave a bit to be desired. When the Aphrodite Aesthetic Reconstruction Clinic hires him to create a genetic weight-loss treatment, Doctor Adams uses a synthetic retro virus to transport pygmy shrew DNA into clients willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to be able to eat whatever they want without gaining a pound.
Pygmy Shrews have metabolisms so fast they don’t store fat cells and have to eat every two hours, twice their body-weight in food every day, or they will die. When they are hungry, they will attack and consume prey more than twice their size. They have fangs tipped with a red iron ore, saliva that contains a paralyzing neurotoxin, are the size of a quarter, and are considered to be some of the most vicious animals on earth. When Doctor Adams’s clients begin burning more calories than they can possibly consume, he is afraid he has made one terrible mistake.
Pygmy Shrews have metabolisms so fast they don’t store fat cells and have to eat every two hours, twice their body-weight in food every day, or they will die. When they are hungry, they will attack and consume prey more than twice their size. They have fangs tipped with a red iron ore, saliva that contains a paralyzing neurotoxin, are the size of a quarter, and are considered to be some of the most vicious animals on earth. When Doctor Adams’s clients begin burning more calories than they can possibly consume, he is afraid he has made one terrible mistake.
133 pages, Hardcover
First published February 20, 2013
73 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
About the author
Wrath James White
127 books1,159 followersWrath James White is a badass motherfucker who writes baddasss books for other badass motherfuckers. He is a J.F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a Bram Stoker Award nominee with over two dozen books in print.
Wrath is the author of RABBIT HUNT, THE BUG COLLECTOR, and such extreme horror classics as THE RESURRECTIONIST (now a major motion picture titled "Come Back To Me") SUCCULENT PREY, it's sequel PREY DRIVE, 400 DAYS OF OPPRESSION, and many others.
To follow his Substack, purchase books, get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books, merchandise, and more, go to:
https://linktr.ee/wrathjameswhite
Wrath is the author of RABBIT HUNT, THE BUG COLLECTOR, and such extreme horror classics as THE RESURRECTIONIST (now a major motion picture titled "Come Back To Me") SUCCULENT PREY, it's sequel PREY DRIVE, 400 DAYS OF OPPRESSION, and many others.
To follow his Substack, purchase books, get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books, merchandise, and more, go to:
https://linktr.ee/wrathjameswhite
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
September 10, 2025
3.5 stars. Man creates virus…virus destroys man. Sound familiar? The premise here was actually really unique and, coming from a science background, was interesting. The entire story jumped all over the place to a ton of characters, either infected or directly impacted by this virus that helps people lose weight. It sort of felt like a run-on of similar circumstances for the entirety of the book, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. We don’t have a lead character, either, so the story had some issues finding its baseline throughout. Lots of gore, babies being eaten, and all sorts of nasty shenanigans. I didn’t dislike much here, aside from the ending, which fell flat for me. I also wish that there were less characters and more time developing a handful of them, as they were connected to one another. Just needed a little more simplification and it would have made a good experience a great one.
February 16, 2025
VORACIOUS [2024] By Wrath James White
My Review 5.0 Stars
This splendid selection from the works of WJW was recommended for a Buddy Read (Splatterpunk Horror Book Club) by my Goodreads friend in all things gory, Monika. I had just read a couple of his novels back-to-back recently (“The Bug Collector” and “Rabbit Hunt”) so I agreed immediately. I found “Voracious” to be compulsively readable, a genuine “page-turner”, and could have easily finished the novella in one sitting. I had to chain myself up like the Wolfman prior to the Full Moon, but I successfully restrained myself from reading it straight through, passing “Go” and collecting immediate gratification.
I used the date this novella was re-released in 2024 by Wrath James White-Cemetery Dance Publications. “Voracious” was originally released in 2013 over a decade ago. I laud his reprint from his earlier works to facilitate availability to his fan base. Cemetery Dance had this to say about WJW:
“Wrath is a warrior. He comes at you on the written page with the intent to overpower you, yet he rarely overwhelms. This carnage has purpose…Wrath is a philosopher, and he loves to flaunt his technique and series of limitless ethics in each of his tales. He has wit and intelligence and utter ruthlessness…”.
He published his first book in 2002. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to read the infamous “Poisoning Eros” co-authored with Monica J. O’Rourke. However, this was very early in my budding infatuation with the horror subgenre of Extreme Horror/Splatterpunk. I did become intrigued by what I understood at the time to be his signature work “The Resurrectionist”. It was a compelling read with an ingenious plotline that kept me riveted.
It was not until much later on that I discovered WJW as having an impressive publication record, which included collaborative works with the likes of Edward Lee and J.F. Gonzalez. His fellow masters in the realm of hardcore horror lauded the talent of WJW. I happened to run across an illustrative quote which may underscore the point. Edward Lee is widely recognized as the “King of Horror” but has proclaimed that “Wrath James White is the premiere author of hard-horror horror. Period.”
It was at this juncture that I learned of his collaborative works with Edward Lee and J.F. Gonzalez. I tried without success to find digital copies available and for perhaps the first time felt the consternation that many others feel. Thus, I comforted myself with the knowledge that many of his works are readily available.
WJW has an interesting background which for the most part I knew about, but many of his generous and admirable contributions were a mild surprise and made me feel even stronger about purchasing more of his novels. Wrath James White Co-Founded the Splatterpunk Awards which debuted in 2018 and has honored numerous older writers. He was also awarded the J.F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2024.
A few readers may have noted the content of my Status Updates for “Voracious”. I was absolutely blown away by the plot. Naturally I felt compelled to “Google” the topic of “Pygmy Shrews” and was both shocked and struck with such compassion for these creatures. I understand that this hybrid novella of science fiction and hardcore horror took a few creative liberties with the characteristics of the Pygmy Shrew. That said, it was atrociously accurate including the neurotoxin in the saliva, and the aggressiveness in attacking animals much larger in size. Gene therapy is likely the new frontier in the relentless search of the aging rich and beautiful men and women in our society who want to either arrest time or to turn back the clock. There are so many fantastical results in a score of arenas that it no longer shocks me to hear about what sounds like impossible feats accomplished by scientific geniuses.
WJW’s “Voracious” is incredibly original and a brilliant premise for a novella of horror that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I must agree with one of my favorite authors in this genre, the late great Jack Ketchum.
“If Wrath doesn’t make you cringe, then you must be riding in the wrong end of a hearse” ---Jack Ketchum
ORIGINAL, OUTSTANDING, OVER-THE-TOP GORE AND SO MUCH MORE FROM WJW
My Review 5.0 Stars
This splendid selection from the works of WJW was recommended for a Buddy Read (Splatterpunk Horror Book Club) by my Goodreads friend in all things gory, Monika. I had just read a couple of his novels back-to-back recently (“The Bug Collector” and “Rabbit Hunt”) so I agreed immediately. I found “Voracious” to be compulsively readable, a genuine “page-turner”, and could have easily finished the novella in one sitting. I had to chain myself up like the Wolfman prior to the Full Moon, but I successfully restrained myself from reading it straight through, passing “Go” and collecting immediate gratification.
I used the date this novella was re-released in 2024 by Wrath James White-Cemetery Dance Publications. “Voracious” was originally released in 2013 over a decade ago. I laud his reprint from his earlier works to facilitate availability to his fan base. Cemetery Dance had this to say about WJW:
“Wrath is a warrior. He comes at you on the written page with the intent to overpower you, yet he rarely overwhelms. This carnage has purpose…Wrath is a philosopher, and he loves to flaunt his technique and series of limitless ethics in each of his tales. He has wit and intelligence and utter ruthlessness…”.
He published his first book in 2002. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to read the infamous “Poisoning Eros” co-authored with Monica J. O’Rourke. However, this was very early in my budding infatuation with the horror subgenre of Extreme Horror/Splatterpunk. I did become intrigued by what I understood at the time to be his signature work “The Resurrectionist”. It was a compelling read with an ingenious plotline that kept me riveted.
It was not until much later on that I discovered WJW as having an impressive publication record, which included collaborative works with the likes of Edward Lee and J.F. Gonzalez. His fellow masters in the realm of hardcore horror lauded the talent of WJW. I happened to run across an illustrative quote which may underscore the point. Edward Lee is widely recognized as the “King of Horror” but has proclaimed that “Wrath James White is the premiere author of hard-horror horror. Period.”
It was at this juncture that I learned of his collaborative works with Edward Lee and J.F. Gonzalez. I tried without success to find digital copies available and for perhaps the first time felt the consternation that many others feel. Thus, I comforted myself with the knowledge that many of his works are readily available.
WJW has an interesting background which for the most part I knew about, but many of his generous and admirable contributions were a mild surprise and made me feel even stronger about purchasing more of his novels. Wrath James White Co-Founded the Splatterpunk Awards which debuted in 2018 and has honored numerous older writers. He was also awarded the J.F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2024.
A few readers may have noted the content of my Status Updates for “Voracious”. I was absolutely blown away by the plot. Naturally I felt compelled to “Google” the topic of “Pygmy Shrews” and was both shocked and struck with such compassion for these creatures. I understand that this hybrid novella of science fiction and hardcore horror took a few creative liberties with the characteristics of the Pygmy Shrew. That said, it was atrociously accurate including the neurotoxin in the saliva, and the aggressiveness in attacking animals much larger in size. Gene therapy is likely the new frontier in the relentless search of the aging rich and beautiful men and women in our society who want to either arrest time or to turn back the clock. There are so many fantastical results in a score of arenas that it no longer shocks me to hear about what sounds like impossible feats accomplished by scientific geniuses.
WJW’s “Voracious” is incredibly original and a brilliant premise for a novella of horror that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I must agree with one of my favorite authors in this genre, the late great Jack Ketchum.
“If Wrath doesn’t make you cringe, then you must be riding in the wrong end of a hearse” ---Jack Ketchum
ORIGINAL, OUTSTANDING, OVER-THE-TOP GORE AND SO MUCH MORE FROM WJW
August 16, 2024
I've been in the mood for something exceedingly violent and vile lately and I've bumped a few Splatterpunks and extreme horror titles to the top of the TBR to scratch that itch and so far nothing has quite been the type of vile and visceral I was looking for, including this one.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some of the commentary the author made with this book, and it had several gruesome scenes as well as a LOT of violence. It's low commitment, quick, zombie adjacent read so I enjoyed that a lot too.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some of the commentary the author made with this book, and it had several gruesome scenes as well as a LOT of violence. It's low commitment, quick, zombie adjacent read so I enjoyed that a lot too.
May 13, 2024
Pick this book up if you’re looking for a gore soaked, rage fueled, viral splatterfest!
A new weight loss cure is available; dna modification piggybacked on a virus is injected into the recipient and immediately they begin to lose weight. The only thing is that their hunger becomes insatiable and there may be some physical side effects as well.
I enjoyed this story for the most part, it was intense, vicious, and shocking. The ending felt like a bit of a let down, it was so abrupt.
The evolution of the clinic’s clients was definitely fascinating to read. You get to experience the beginning of the end of their humanity as they transform into voracious monstrous cannibals.
A new weight loss cure is available; dna modification piggybacked on a virus is injected into the recipient and immediately they begin to lose weight. The only thing is that their hunger becomes insatiable and there may be some physical side effects as well.
I enjoyed this story for the most part, it was intense, vicious, and shocking. The ending felt like a bit of a let down, it was so abrupt.
The evolution of the clinic’s clients was definitely fascinating to read. You get to experience the beginning of the end of their humanity as they transform into voracious monstrous cannibals.
March 27, 2024
Ebersol gazed lovingly upon Lelani’s once-beautiful countenance, now ravaged by starvation and soaked in the blood of his murdered coworkers. There was something sad in her expression, something desperate and agonized. He could only imagine what she was feeling as her body burned more calories than she could ever possibly consume, driven mad with a hunger she could never assuage. A tear spilled from the corner of his eye when she bared her red-tipped fangs, snarling.
July 16, 2024
The magical skinny injection everyone wants has come true! Only 500,000 dollars and its all yours! No side effects and fast acting! Lose up to 20 pounds in one day!
Fastpaced. Vivid graphic horror scenes, great plotline, great ending. Would love to hear how this would play out longterm.
Fastpaced. Vivid graphic horror scenes, great plotline, great ending. Would love to hear how this would play out longterm.
April 12, 2025
A fast food zombie-type apocalypse that starts to spread across the world, real, real fast.
Lots of blood, mutilation and gore that you would come to expect from the master that is WJW.
With humans once again looking for a quick fix to achieve perfection, things are soon to surely spiral out of control...right to the very end.
An action-packed piece of pure escapism.
Rating: 3.4 voraciously bright stars of enjoyable nonsense.
Lots of blood, mutilation and gore that you would come to expect from the master that is WJW.
With humans once again looking for a quick fix to achieve perfection, things are soon to surely spiral out of control...right to the very end.
An action-packed piece of pure escapism.
Rating: 3.4 voraciously bright stars of enjoyable nonsense.
April 8, 2025
ok so hear me out...you know that part in Frankenhooker when Jeffrey takes crack & invents ✨S U P E R✨ crack & then that group of prostitutes take it & they all simultaneously start exploding???
yeah, this reminds me of that but make it super ozempic & people are turning cannibalistic.
this was my first book by Wrath James White & i definitely plan to read more in the future. a short, fun, gory novella.
🪦rip prince charles you deserved better.
yeah, this reminds me of that but make it super ozempic & people are turning cannibalistic.
this was my first book by Wrath James White & i definitely plan to read more in the future. a short, fun, gory novella.
🪦rip prince charles you deserved better.
May 14, 2024
Glad to finally see this classic WJW book back in print. This was a fun blood soaked story.
September 12, 2024
I loved the premise. Doctor creates the cure to obesity by injecting patients with Pygmy shrew DNA- effectively making patients able to lose weight, as well as eat whatever they want without gaining weight. However, all the characters soon learn a lesson- be careful what you wish for.
We follow several characters here- mainly the individuals involved in creating and administering the treatment, and the patients who received the treatment. This was pretty gnarly, and a creative spin on societal beauty standards and just how far one will go to meet those standards, and what lines people will cross for success.
The only thing I didn’t like is my 1 “trigger”- animal cruelty 😄 thankfully it was brief and not excessive! I can read about violence against humans all day, but I draw the line at our fur friends 🤣
We follow several characters here- mainly the individuals involved in creating and administering the treatment, and the patients who received the treatment. This was pretty gnarly, and a creative spin on societal beauty standards and just how far one will go to meet those standards, and what lines people will cross for success.
The only thing I didn’t like is my 1 “trigger”- animal cruelty 😄 thankfully it was brief and not excessive! I can read about violence against humans all day, but I draw the line at our fur friends 🤣
May 11, 2024
Dr Trevor Adams is a smarty pants! He works at a clinic that specializes in weight loss. Clients pay thousands of dollars for a procedure that isn't fully accepted. Well, the procedure works....but has very awful side effects. And the hungry never stops....
Wow! This was delicious! Throughout the book you get POVs from the clients point of view....but we see the savage part of them and is it ever done beautifully! The writing was excellent as always with a Wrath book! From chapter 1, the blood starts to flow and it is beautiful! My favourite thing is when an author describes in detail the insides of people. I highly recommend this!
Wow! This was delicious! Throughout the book you get POVs from the clients point of view....but we see the savage part of them and is it ever done beautifully! The writing was excellent as always with a Wrath book! From chapter 1, the blood starts to flow and it is beautiful! My favourite thing is when an author describes in detail the insides of people. I highly recommend this!
May 17, 2024
My first book by Wrath James White & I am not disappointed.
It was a cannabalistic gore fest from start to finish.
A medical treatment to make people skinny gone wrong. While the treatment works, it also makes you voracious. For whatever you can get your hands on. (Including yourself it seems).
I loved all the bloody, gory descriptions he gave. The talk of entrails, biting into organs, every bit of it was superb. It’s just what I look for in my extreme horror.
It was a quick read (I read it in less than a day), and I highly recommend if you love a good messed up cannibal book. (Who doesn’t? Cannibals are a favorite!)
It was a cannabalistic gore fest from start to finish.
A medical treatment to make people skinny gone wrong. While the treatment works, it also makes you voracious. For whatever you can get your hands on. (Including yourself it seems).
I loved all the bloody, gory descriptions he gave. The talk of entrails, biting into organs, every bit of it was superb. It’s just what I look for in my extreme horror.
It was a quick read (I read it in less than a day), and I highly recommend if you love a good messed up cannibal book. (Who doesn’t? Cannibals are a favorite!)
Want to read
January 19, 2016This copy is signed by Wrath James White.
September 9, 2025
Comparing a gaping wound to a vagina is an interesting play, my guy.
May 22, 2024
Fun B-movie gorefest
Wrath James White sure does bring the gore, in this lightning-paced bloodbath about the dangers of greed, impossible beauty standards, and cross-species genetic experimentation. Packed with set-piece after set-piece and a litany of cannibalistic violence, it's a vicious, bloodthirsty tale that doesn't take itself too seriously and races along without pausing to breathe.
Recommended if you want something quick and nasty!
Wrath James White sure does bring the gore, in this lightning-paced bloodbath about the dangers of greed, impossible beauty standards, and cross-species genetic experimentation. Packed with set-piece after set-piece and a litany of cannibalistic violence, it's a vicious, bloodthirsty tale that doesn't take itself too seriously and races along without pausing to breathe.
Recommended if you want something quick and nasty!
May 4, 2025
Wrath James White makes your stomach turn and keeps you turning the pages because you’re hungry for more of his writing
March 2, 2013
Voracious by Wrath James White
Aphrodite Aesthetic Reconstruction Clinic has capitalized on the pressure society puts on itself to be thin and beautiful, by reaching a weight loss solution through genetic engineering. An artificial retrovirus called Repoxygen is inserted into the blood stream, which allows DNA to transfer genetic traits from one host to another. Since this animal has the fastest metabolism of any animal on the planet, they chose DNA from the Pygmy Shrew. This seemed a great option for the weight loss program to be a huge success. Unfortunately there were unexpected traits of the Shrew passed on as well. The species eats twice their own body weight everyday and are the most vicious animal on the planet because they are always hungry. Human beings begin to experience the joys of weight loss and self-image satisfaction, however, the huge success is short lived. Once the virus is in full effect, the morphing of physical characteristics of a Shrew begins to appear. The thick black razor sharp claws, longer, sharper teeth that contain a neurotoxin, and perhaps worst of all, a raging nonstop appetite.
Voracious by Wrath James White is an "experiment gone wrong" story. This is a do not mess with nature, and be careful what you wish for tale. It's made up of brutal, isolated incidents that tie together nicely and form an integrated story that will leave the reader cringing. It will present characteristics of the human soul that we’d rather ignore and pretend don't exist. Selfishness, greed, and vanity are combined to cause a catastrophic event of apocalyptic proportions. Being a former Kickboxer, Martial Arts trainer, and distance runner, no doubt Wrath James White centered this story around his own athletic vision and experience, then attached it to the commercialization of the current human need to be the ideal specimen. White has constructed a story of the (sole Or soul?) consuming hunger of our world to look their best no matter what it takes, and no matter what the outcome. At the end the reader will walk away with a lesson well learned.
Aphrodite Aesthetic Reconstruction Clinic has capitalized on the pressure society puts on itself to be thin and beautiful, by reaching a weight loss solution through genetic engineering. An artificial retrovirus called Repoxygen is inserted into the blood stream, which allows DNA to transfer genetic traits from one host to another. Since this animal has the fastest metabolism of any animal on the planet, they chose DNA from the Pygmy Shrew. This seemed a great option for the weight loss program to be a huge success. Unfortunately there were unexpected traits of the Shrew passed on as well. The species eats twice their own body weight everyday and are the most vicious animal on the planet because they are always hungry. Human beings begin to experience the joys of weight loss and self-image satisfaction, however, the huge success is short lived. Once the virus is in full effect, the morphing of physical characteristics of a Shrew begins to appear. The thick black razor sharp claws, longer, sharper teeth that contain a neurotoxin, and perhaps worst of all, a raging nonstop appetite.
Voracious by Wrath James White is an "experiment gone wrong" story. This is a do not mess with nature, and be careful what you wish for tale. It's made up of brutal, isolated incidents that tie together nicely and form an integrated story that will leave the reader cringing. It will present characteristics of the human soul that we’d rather ignore and pretend don't exist. Selfishness, greed, and vanity are combined to cause a catastrophic event of apocalyptic proportions. Being a former Kickboxer, Martial Arts trainer, and distance runner, no doubt Wrath James White centered this story around his own athletic vision and experience, then attached it to the commercialization of the current human need to be the ideal specimen. White has constructed a story of the (sole Or soul?) consuming hunger of our world to look their best no matter what it takes, and no matter what the outcome. At the end the reader will walk away with a lesson well learned.
May 9, 2024
Wow what a cover! I'd never realized that weight-loss could turn so grotesque and bloody! Some years ago, I'd read a Jon Athan book that dipped into the extreme side-effects of a weight-loss treatment, to great effect and with some very disturbing visuals; Wrath James White's 'Voracious' came out earlier, it's far more brutal, and far more inventive (no offense, Jon Athan!): it's the kind of horror that, though extreme and gory, manages to sound realistic (it could happen), impactful (there's a lot here about today's social values and the priorities of science), and entertaining without being moralistic. The premise is quite intricate: a doctor working in a weight-loss resort devises a new treatment based on pygmy shrew DNA, without taking into account that the metabolism of these animals keeps them almost constantly hungry. Clients who accept the treatment (actors and celebrities obliged to keep their figure, daughters who need to be skinny to please their mothers, models who feel they're losing their influence) have no idea what they're getting themselves into. Wrath describes the experience of constant hunger without pulling any punches. Pets and babies better stay away - this book is sick!
May 11, 2024
Voracious wets your appetite with an intriguing appetizer of a premise and follows it up with a 7 course meal of bloodshed, bad choices, and a host of bat shit crazy folks that don't question their quest for beauty.
The American horror that is obesity is the focal point here. What would you do, what cost would you pay to lose weight without having to work at it? No diet, no exercise, just pay for this quick procedure and perfection... Or is it?
Body image and our insatiable appetite to consume, literally, are on display, and the consequences are horrific.
The result? Consume to live and live to consume whatever is in front of you without remorse. Rendering flesh from limb as the animal supercedes the moral imperative we're raised to abide by. Cannibalism is the new consumerism.
I, for one, could not consume this fast enough, which nicely paralleled the reality in Voracious.
The American horror that is obesity is the focal point here. What would you do, what cost would you pay to lose weight without having to work at it? No diet, no exercise, just pay for this quick procedure and perfection... Or is it?
Body image and our insatiable appetite to consume, literally, are on display, and the consequences are horrific.
The result? Consume to live and live to consume whatever is in front of you without remorse. Rendering flesh from limb as the animal supercedes the moral imperative we're raised to abide by. Cannibalism is the new consumerism.
I, for one, could not consume this fast enough, which nicely paralleled the reality in Voracious.
June 17, 2024
This is the first book I’ve ever read by wrath and it sure won’t be my last. People that are overweight go to a dr for help. The sr injects them with pygmy shrew DNA. The patients start to lose tons of weight but become seriously hungry, they just can’t stop eating, it gets so bad that they turn to cannibalism. The virus keeps spreading and before you know it tons of people are infected.
This was definitely a good ass book.
This was definitely a good ass book.
June 7, 2024
Imagine COVID but cannibalism.
March 10, 2025
“Voracious”
Wrath James White
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Looking for the latest in diet innovation? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The doctors at the Aphrodite Aesthetic Reconstruction Clinic have got you covered. Clients are paying top dollar to be infected with a retro virus stemming from Pygmy shrew DNA, created by Dr. Trevor Adams. Only the virus is working a little TOO well. Metabolisms skyrocket and ravenous appetites push patients to their limits, threatening starvation and forcing them to eat EVERYTHING in sight.
Wrath twists a medical horror and turns it on its head in a gory and macabre fashion. The medical terminology was thoroughly intriguing and gave substantial background surrounding the book’s events. The cadre of characters propels the story in a variety of ways that are unique to their specific circumstances, and I really enjoyed how some were intertwined. Wrath sews a beautiful and unnerving tapestry of death and depravity that is thrilling yet unsurprising, given his extensive repertoire in the genre.
Hungry? Starving? Have a hankering for something delicious? Sink your teeth into this gem from a bonafide master of horror.
Wrath James White
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Looking for the latest in diet innovation? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The doctors at the Aphrodite Aesthetic Reconstruction Clinic have got you covered. Clients are paying top dollar to be infected with a retro virus stemming from Pygmy shrew DNA, created by Dr. Trevor Adams. Only the virus is working a little TOO well. Metabolisms skyrocket and ravenous appetites push patients to their limits, threatening starvation and forcing them to eat EVERYTHING in sight.
Wrath twists a medical horror and turns it on its head in a gory and macabre fashion. The medical terminology was thoroughly intriguing and gave substantial background surrounding the book’s events. The cadre of characters propels the story in a variety of ways that are unique to their specific circumstances, and I really enjoyed how some were intertwined. Wrath sews a beautiful and unnerving tapestry of death and depravity that is thrilling yet unsurprising, given his extensive repertoire in the genre.
Hungry? Starving? Have a hankering for something delicious? Sink your teeth into this gem from a bonafide master of horror.
October 6, 2016
On the one hand, Wrath James White's Voracious is a thought provoking swipe at society's obsession with looking good - no matter the cost to obtain those looks. It is short, punchy, technically well-written in the flow of the prose sense, and contains a few stomach-churning scenes when the people starved by the weight loss treatment they've received, turn on their loved ones and tear them to pieces. (With none being harder to read than a father with his crying baby ...)
On the other, Voracious is an overly simplistic cautionary tale that is only concerned with ramming home its message, and in the process, completely disregards other aspects normally associated with longer written works: namely, character development. As such, I was effectively numb to what was taking place by the end of the novella, and could not have cared less about any of the people who were (finally) trying to stop the outbreak.
In short, your mileage is likely to vary, but for me, Voracious managed to be a decent enough read.
3 Splintered Bones for Voracious.
On the other, Voracious is an overly simplistic cautionary tale that is only concerned with ramming home its message, and in the process, completely disregards other aspects normally associated with longer written works: namely, character development. As such, I was effectively numb to what was taking place by the end of the novella, and could not have cared less about any of the people who were (finally) trying to stop the outbreak.
In short, your mileage is likely to vary, but for me, Voracious managed to be a decent enough read.
3 Splintered Bones for Voracious.
August 25, 2017
Lately I've gotten into the habit of reading two books at the same time: a physical book and an eBook on my phone. Basically something to read at any time. Plus naturally the style and content will differ which gives me the option to change things up if I desire. This time while reading VORACIOUS, I was also reading DEPRAVED. I'm not sure which was more intense or graphic or violent.
The story in VORACIOUS starts with Lelani Simms, runway model who was once voted one of the most beautiful women in the world. At the start of the book though, Lelani is famished. Starving beyond belief. She's already emptied her refrigerator and working on the uncooked canned food. As she's eating some canned cat food, her kitten comes into the kitchen. Suffice to say, Lelani can then go back to the canned cat food since there's no one else alive in her apartment that will eat it. The readers are then introduced to several other starving people experiencing similar hunger pains and taking similar atavistic actions to satisfy their hunger, including self-cannibalism. Just before the gore and violence gets too repetitive, we meet the two individuals at the source of the problem. From that point on, the story continues at an even faster pace until the logical end.
Wrath does a great job of writing a tight and engaging story. The first part had me enjoying the violence and intensity of what was happening. Then at the point that I was beginning to wonder "why" and imagine a bunch of zombie or alien infection type of reasons, Wrath gave me a plain simple explanation that made sense. A bit extreme of an explanation but logical enough to feel that my zombie idea was too radical. About the only complaint that I had with the book was that I lost track of some of the side characters. I had to look back to earlier in the book to see who they were again. Fortunately they were all side characters and died quickly so I didn't have to worry about them for long. If you like extreme horror, then you'll enjoy this book.
The story in VORACIOUS starts with Lelani Simms, runway model who was once voted one of the most beautiful women in the world. At the start of the book though, Lelani is famished. Starving beyond belief. She's already emptied her refrigerator and working on the uncooked canned food. As she's eating some canned cat food, her kitten comes into the kitchen. Suffice to say, Lelani can then go back to the canned cat food since there's no one else alive in her apartment that will eat it. The readers are then introduced to several other starving people experiencing similar hunger pains and taking similar atavistic actions to satisfy their hunger, including self-cannibalism. Just before the gore and violence gets too repetitive, we meet the two individuals at the source of the problem. From that point on, the story continues at an even faster pace until the logical end.
Wrath does a great job of writing a tight and engaging story. The first part had me enjoying the violence and intensity of what was happening. Then at the point that I was beginning to wonder "why" and imagine a bunch of zombie or alien infection type of reasons, Wrath gave me a plain simple explanation that made sense. A bit extreme of an explanation but logical enough to feel that my zombie idea was too radical. About the only complaint that I had with the book was that I lost track of some of the side characters. I had to look back to earlier in the book to see who they were again. Fortunately they were all side characters and died quickly so I didn't have to worry about them for long. If you like extreme horror, then you'll enjoy this book.
September 18, 2013
How far would you go to lose weight? Doctor Trevor Adams has created a genetic weight-loss treatment using pygmy DNA. These creature don't store fat and need to eat every two hours. The procedure works a little too well and the patients start to experience extreme side effects. Doctor Adams didn't realize just how much the DNA would mutate the host. They're starving and it doesn't matter what they consume. Their appetite is Voracious.
A blood-filled, flesh-eating, violent read. The best "what if" writer of the fictionalized human condition.
A blood-filled, flesh-eating, violent read. The best "what if" writer of the fictionalized human condition.
December 7, 2013
I loved this book. Wrath James White is one of the best writers out there and this is a great example of the type of writer he is. The story is fast and vicious, kicking off from the start and killing it right until the last page. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with subtle stories, but when you get to read something crazy like this, it's so good.
So instead of me telling you about how great the characters are written, how awesome and believable the premise is, or how this is an amazing social commentary, just go out and get it and find out for yourself.
Do it!
Now!
So instead of me telling you about how great the characters are written, how awesome and believable the premise is, or how this is an amazing social commentary, just go out and get it and find out for yourself.
Do it!
Now!
August 10, 2024
I enjoyed this novella pretty much. In the beginning I was a little irritaded because there was no maincharacter to be found. It turned out that the virus was the main character, really. There were some people we learned more about than others, for sure, and some characters were more important than others. But the most interesting part was how the virus spread and mutated. It got very creative and unexpected there. I loved that.
July 1, 2017
This is a brazenly written story containing cannibalism. This is for people who read extreme horror and are used to graphic tales of taboo subject matter. That being said, the plot and characters are strong... it is not gore for the sake of gore. Gore is just part of the tale.
It is a wonderful addition to the library of extreme horror fans.
It is a wonderful addition to the library of extreme horror fans.
May 12, 2024
In case the Justin Coons commissioned artwork fronting this Cemetery Dance rerelease of Wrath James White's Voracious wasn't explicit enough, this splatterpunk horror novella is, indeed, about cannibalism. I don't expect too many readers, upon eyeing this art, to be confused about this point but, alas, one can never be too sure these days. No doubt, some poor, lost soul will wander blindly into this book, paying Coons's cover art not even a skosh of attention, and swiftly decry what happens in these pages for not being the Amish romance they had wanted or for not being the cozy mystery story featuring a tea-drinking, crime-solving cat they had expected.
So let's be perfectly clear here at the outset. Voracious is 120 pages of deranged cannibalism. Driven mad by hunger, the central characters herein viciously attack and eat their friends, family, and neighbors in gloriously gruesome detail, and it all kicks off quite immediately with little in the way of prelude. Not to put too fine a point on it, but White makes the events that befell the Donner Party sound quaint and wholesome in comparison. This is not a book for those who get sickly reading all the violently gory details alongside their meals. No, this is a book for those horror fans who read such bloody accounts of cannibalism and, yes, auto-cannibalism, alongside a rare, juicy steak and a plate of grilled burgers and find themselves craving the sweet satisfaction of more meat. Those who knowingly nod at "Lady fingers taste like ladyfingers," and ask for seconds.
What raises Voracious beyond a mere detour into the depraved simply for depravity's sake is White's social consciousness. All that cannibalism stuff is surface-level detail, but it's built off the bones of some rich socio-political commentary. Odds are you've heard or read the left-wing catchphrase "Eat the rich," but let's face facts -- the rich are more likely and better equipped to eat us, and therein lies the rub of Voracious, which takes this idea to the extreme.
The cannibals at the center of Voracious? They're (mostly) all rich, vain assholes who have signed up for an experimental, genetically modified weight loss treatment from an elite, multi-millions-plus clinic and rehab center for the elite. Each have been injected with a retrovirus carrying pygmy shrew DNA that guarantees miraculous fat burning results. Of course, the rich scientists that have developed this lack anything at all in the way of foresight beyond dollar signs and everything quickly goes disastrously wrong. You see, pygmy shrews have to eat three times their body weight daily in order to survive, eating every few minutes day and night lest they starve to death within an hour. I'm guessing you can see where all this is going.
Yes, Voracious is a commentary on unrealistic beauty standards and the ways in which we are constantly bombarded with image ideals that fly in the face of, and even help fuel, America's obesity epidemic. But at an even larger level, and perhaps even more importantly, Voracious is, at its core, a précis on how the rich invariably fuck us all with their selfish vanity and will literally destroy the world because of it.
Originally published in 2013, segments of Voracious feel downright prophetic in hindsight. White's commentary on the rich echoes today's struggles against wealthy right-wing fanatics like Elon Musk and his takeover of Twitter in order to turn it into a white supremacist echo chamber, and Trump's continued exercises in destroying democracy, which is, let's face it, literally the only exercise he ever gets. Even this book's late stage critiques on social media, with the commoners clamoring to be infected by this newly emergent cannibalistic fat burner, echoes the COVID-19 stans and mask scofflaws who raided state capitols armed to the teeth demanding they not only be allowed to be infected but that they be allowed to infect others. Yep, Wrath James White saw those fucking clowns coming years before we were all confronted with their self-centered, narrow-minded ignorance and downright stupidity in the midst of our own very real global pandemic.
Sure, Voracious is a cannibal story, but it's really a story about how the rich will destroy us all and the ways in which their greed and narcissism will inevitably bring about the apocalypse. And, of course, America will be right there alongside them, cheering them on in the hopes that we can be just like them one day, if only we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.
So let's be perfectly clear here at the outset. Voracious is 120 pages of deranged cannibalism. Driven mad by hunger, the central characters herein viciously attack and eat their friends, family, and neighbors in gloriously gruesome detail, and it all kicks off quite immediately with little in the way of prelude. Not to put too fine a point on it, but White makes the events that befell the Donner Party sound quaint and wholesome in comparison. This is not a book for those who get sickly reading all the violently gory details alongside their meals. No, this is a book for those horror fans who read such bloody accounts of cannibalism and, yes, auto-cannibalism, alongside a rare, juicy steak and a plate of grilled burgers and find themselves craving the sweet satisfaction of more meat. Those who knowingly nod at "Lady fingers taste like ladyfingers," and ask for seconds.
What raises Voracious beyond a mere detour into the depraved simply for depravity's sake is White's social consciousness. All that cannibalism stuff is surface-level detail, but it's built off the bones of some rich socio-political commentary. Odds are you've heard or read the left-wing catchphrase "Eat the rich," but let's face facts -- the rich are more likely and better equipped to eat us, and therein lies the rub of Voracious, which takes this idea to the extreme.
The cannibals at the center of Voracious? They're (mostly) all rich, vain assholes who have signed up for an experimental, genetically modified weight loss treatment from an elite, multi-millions-plus clinic and rehab center for the elite. Each have been injected with a retrovirus carrying pygmy shrew DNA that guarantees miraculous fat burning results. Of course, the rich scientists that have developed this lack anything at all in the way of foresight beyond dollar signs and everything quickly goes disastrously wrong. You see, pygmy shrews have to eat three times their body weight daily in order to survive, eating every few minutes day and night lest they starve to death within an hour. I'm guessing you can see where all this is going.
Yes, Voracious is a commentary on unrealistic beauty standards and the ways in which we are constantly bombarded with image ideals that fly in the face of, and even help fuel, America's obesity epidemic. But at an even larger level, and perhaps even more importantly, Voracious is, at its core, a précis on how the rich invariably fuck us all with their selfish vanity and will literally destroy the world because of it.
Originally published in 2013, segments of Voracious feel downright prophetic in hindsight. White's commentary on the rich echoes today's struggles against wealthy right-wing fanatics like Elon Musk and his takeover of Twitter in order to turn it into a white supremacist echo chamber, and Trump's continued exercises in destroying democracy, which is, let's face it, literally the only exercise he ever gets. Even this book's late stage critiques on social media, with the commoners clamoring to be infected by this newly emergent cannibalistic fat burner, echoes the COVID-19 stans and mask scofflaws who raided state capitols armed to the teeth demanding they not only be allowed to be infected but that they be allowed to infect others. Yep, Wrath James White saw those fucking clowns coming years before we were all confronted with their self-centered, narrow-minded ignorance and downright stupidity in the midst of our own very real global pandemic.
Sure, Voracious is a cannibal story, but it's really a story about how the rich will destroy us all and the ways in which their greed and narcissism will inevitably bring about the apocalypse. And, of course, America will be right there alongside them, cheering them on in the hopes that we can be just like them one day, if only we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.
June 5, 2024
I love me a bit of WJW, he never disappoints, and this was absolutely no exception to that rule! A quick, brutal, fast-paced read that will eat you up as quickly as you can devour each page! A story highlighting the extreme lengths some people are willing to go for that “body beautiful”. A vicious story of vanity, selfishness and the desperate, debilitating need for, and consequences of, that quick fix. An action-packed, blood-drenched, shocking, deeply dark and disturbing, wildly intense ride, that also gives a whole new and horrific perspective on being “hangry”.
What happens when a genetically modified virus to help with weight loss, mutates and becomes infectious, causing insane degrees of hunger, to the point of absolute desperation? Read Voracious and find out! It'll leave you hungry for more, that's for sure….
Lelani has a raging, relentless hunger, despite eating non-stop. She has a reputation and appearance to keep up, but she is wasting away! She becomes increasingly desperate for food, sustenance, in any way, shape or form, and by any means necessary! She doesn't understand it, it all started after her weight loss treatment, and now it's getting scarily out of control.
Bill is young and successful, and Lelani’s boyfriend. He returns home to find out just how insanely hungry she has become and together they discover the true power of her new found appetite! She is insatiable!
Several more people have received the same treatment and are experiencing the confusing and terrifying side effects that seem to be accompanying it. Innocent bystanders are getting caught up as along with the increase in hunger, and a rapid decrease in weight, the clients are seeing a similar loss of patience and a much shorter fuse on their anger too. No food is safe from their rampant appetites. No thing is safe, as the frustration of losing weight but being constantly, excruciatingly hungry and dying to eat non-stop, takes over and all hell breaks loose. The hunger literally turning them into animals, cannibalistic fiends, with disturbed, broken and desperate psyches, intent on one mission….to feed and be full!
This book hits the ground running, it starts off fucked up and continues on that path throughout, getting more fucked up at every turn. You are immediately drawn into Lelani’s plight, even sympathising with her briefly, before being outright shocked and horrified.This story of genetic engineering, or “gene doping” gone wrong, is addictive, gripping, jaw-dropping, intense and deeply disturbing. I found Brian’s predicament particularly chilling, the fact that he goes on to “help” others and the ensuing knock on effect made my blood run cold. A bloody fantastic feast of depravity!
What happens when a genetically modified virus to help with weight loss, mutates and becomes infectious, causing insane degrees of hunger, to the point of absolute desperation? Read Voracious and find out! It'll leave you hungry for more, that's for sure….
Lelani has a raging, relentless hunger, despite eating non-stop. She has a reputation and appearance to keep up, but she is wasting away! She becomes increasingly desperate for food, sustenance, in any way, shape or form, and by any means necessary! She doesn't understand it, it all started after her weight loss treatment, and now it's getting scarily out of control.
Bill is young and successful, and Lelani’s boyfriend. He returns home to find out just how insanely hungry she has become and together they discover the true power of her new found appetite! She is insatiable!
Several more people have received the same treatment and are experiencing the confusing and terrifying side effects that seem to be accompanying it. Innocent bystanders are getting caught up as along with the increase in hunger, and a rapid decrease in weight, the clients are seeing a similar loss of patience and a much shorter fuse on their anger too. No food is safe from their rampant appetites. No thing is safe, as the frustration of losing weight but being constantly, excruciatingly hungry and dying to eat non-stop, takes over and all hell breaks loose. The hunger literally turning them into animals, cannibalistic fiends, with disturbed, broken and desperate psyches, intent on one mission….to feed and be full!
This book hits the ground running, it starts off fucked up and continues on that path throughout, getting more fucked up at every turn. You are immediately drawn into Lelani’s plight, even sympathising with her briefly, before being outright shocked and horrified.This story of genetic engineering, or “gene doping” gone wrong, is addictive, gripping, jaw-dropping, intense and deeply disturbing. I found Brian’s predicament particularly chilling, the fact that he goes on to “help” others and the ensuing knock on effect made my blood run cold. A bloody fantastic feast of depravity!
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