Pup

by Damien Casey

When a werewolf decides to take up residence in Perry, Ohio, Jen Maroni unwillingly has to deal with it. On top of this problem; she now has to deal with a demon living in her house, a misogynistic Jesus freak, Satan cooking in her house, and a whole lot of bloodshed.

Unknown Binding

Published January 6, 2021

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pup is not a werewolf novel, it's a werewolf-novel - a wild and unpredictable hybrid beast that appears normal, like a cute horror-comedy, only to shapeshift into something raw and uncontrollable at a moment's notice. Imparting wisdom and absurdity in equal measure. It's a great and bizarro showdown of epic proportions between forces that couldn't give a shit about who gets caught in the middle. This kind of wild experimentation is what I love about indie horror, and there's really no one I can compare Damien to. Unless Clive Barker and Carlton Mellick hung out and did some bath salts with Chuck Palaniuk while he was smoking a joint made from Bible pages.

[Becks! · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐'s

[Dion Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was a lot of fun, It has a werewolf, a wrestling loving demon, a religious zealot, and more, It's like Ash vs the Evil Dead had a baby with Supernatural, its gory, its funny, the story is unique and well written.
I highly recommend this book

[Sarah Huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was such a unique take on werewolves. I knew it was going to be an excellent read from the very first page. It was funny at times too. The way the story is presented had me absolutely hooked. I loved the style, it was a bit pulp like and I admire anyone who can pull that off and write it so very well.
You're missing a treat if you don't read this book.

[Tabathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a ride! It had me laughing and loving satan 🤣 and I think booger dick will be my new insult to people! Awesome book and o highly recommend checking it out 😁

[Sabrina Voerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wild, start to finish. It takes a familiar subject and spins it entirely into unfamiliar and fresh territory.
There was no way to predict where this story would take me. From the pits of hell to a mundane grocery store, it wove through different territory and did so with smooth execution.
I really loved Jen and Max - their relationship was outright hilarious and somewhat sweet in that platonic sort of way. Every character had a wit and charm about them, except Jason, which was to be expected.
The villains were exactly that; villainous. Some are worse than others, not exactly in ways you would expect them to be either.
This was a really fun book, chock-full of witty banter, laced with horrifically gory scenes with nothing held back.

[Coy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pup brings out everything that's great in Casey's writing and imagination. This werewolf novel is a blast, and the storytelling is unique. The characters come alive, they have depth and texture, and the dialogue feels genuine. Jen is a fantastic character.

When it's funny, it's hilarious. When it's violent, it's disturbing. When it's scary, it gets under your skin. There are portions of the book that read like a prose poem, pouring out so beautifully and fluidly in a stream of consciousness. That love of craft really impressed me.

If you're a fan of werewolf movies, the references throughout will be a joy, too. I'm a huge fan of Gary Brandner's Howling novels, and I read every werewolf novel I can find. Pup stands with the best of a fantastic subgenre.

[Derek Hutchins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know what I was expecting but this was not it. I feel the werewolf subgenre is worn and cliched, but this story manages to breathe fresh air into it. The story starts off with a woman being interviewed about a supposed werewolf encounter she had. I’m very into cryptozoology so I was hooked. What follows is an epic collection of pastiches that work together to form a cohesive narrative. They include chapters where the form is played with, a La House of Leaves, and even grander schemes of God and the Devil discussing the werewolf situation. Damien Casey has a great sense of humour and I felt like the way the characters talked was very real. Very much enjoyed!

[C.J. Sampera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally just finished reading Pup and I need to write this right now while it’s still fresh in my mind because Holy Howling Werewolves! We are not in Kansas anymore...

Pup is like Damien Casey took every classic werewolf movie, Kevin Smith’s Dogma, and Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, along with a couple of very detailed action figures from the 90’s, threw them into a blender and then poured the ooze from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles over its mangled contents, giving birth to the most beautiful Frankenstein’s monster of a werewolf story that you could possibly imagine! Actually I take that back, no one but Damien could imagine something this wild and original. I want to watch this as a movie right now!

Pup is hilarious, heart rending at times, and action packed throughout. It’s also chock full of absolutely horrifying and awe-inspiring imagery from beginning to end. Every character has depth and shining moments, even the ones you’ll love to hate. I can honestly say, I saw NONE of that coming and loved every bit of it.

What a wild ride. I can’t wait to dive in to the next one by Damien!

Five fanged stars for Pup!!!

[Joe Ortlieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a typical werewolf story go somewhere else. If you're looking for a werewolf story that gets smacked on the ass, flipped upside down and thrown in a blender then you're at the right place. Pup is as unique as it is crazy, but in that good kind of crazy. Crazy like only Damien can do. With his one of a kind storytelling you will get sucked in chewed up and spit out. So kick back and enjoy pup.

[K.T. McGivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book and great read especially if you like horror stories that have an old fashion pulp fiction feel to them. The reader knows they're in for a treat from the very first page which reads, "A year ago, Jennifer encountered something, something that has been dismissed by most media outlets as the ravings of a person who's living in great shock. A person who's mind has covered up reality with a fairy tale to make it easier to cope. A person who is lying. Jennifer Maroni believes she killed a werewolf." This is not my usual genre to read but I thought I'd try it out anyway. I was pleasantly surprised! It is an entertaining page turner and one that I highly recommend!

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your typical werewolf story, not by a long shot. Casey loads supernatural intrigue, Adult Swim-style humour, slapstick gore, and experimental writing into a shotgun and discharges it in a brilliant and wild display. It’s a ton of fun.

[Will Wellman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️ to Pup by Damien Casey.

There aren’t nearly enough werewolf books out there, so I was pretty excited to check out Pup. In less than 200 pages, Casey has created a breakneck story that is simultaneously scary, fun, humorous, and action-packed. Imagine if Richard Laymon (minus the problems) wrote a mashup of An American Werewolf in London meets early Bruce Campbell movies meets House of Leaves.

There’s a good amount of characters (including Old Scratch himself) but it never feels like too much. Each character is unique and each offer something to the overall narrative. I really enjoyed the dynamic of Satan getting bored with the whole Hell thing and behaving like a stereotypical teenager on a road trip.

I don’t want to understate how funny the book can be at times. There is a general campy/pulpy vibe throughout the whole thing that really makes the pages fly by. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some genuinely chilling scenes either.

Casey’s writing style won’t be for everyone, it is very stream of consciencouness, but that gives it a unique flavor. With the right narrator, an audiobook version would be a heck of a lot of fun. (Maybe one exists? I should have done my research, but I am a dog so…) The formatting of some pages is played with as well, which just adds to the ascetic Casey was attempting to nail. Spoiler: He did.

If you’re looking for something fun, quick, and interesting and you want to support an up-and-coming horror author, be sure to check out Pup by Damien Casey.

Thank you again to the author for sending me a copy of Pup in exchange for my honest review. Sorry it took me so long to get around to writing it!

[Jeremy Megargee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore werewolves with every fiber of my being, but I always struggle to find books that present lycanthropes in a way that is unique and memorable. Two examples that jump out to me are Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow (my all-time favorite werewolf novel) and Red by Sabrina Voerman.

I can now add Pup by Damien Casey to my list. This book has an incredibly unique premise, and it infuses fresh savage fun into a supernatural beast that often doesn't get the credit it deserves in horror literature. The dark humor bleeds from the page, and you'll be laughing your ass off and having deep visceral reactions in equal measure.

Casey knows his craft, and although this book will crack you up, it'll also disturb the hell out of you. Certain sections are written from the perspective of Gregory Carpenter, the host for a demonic wolf, and these chapters made my blood run cold.

If you want the perfect blend of comedy and carnage, Pup is for you, and Casey will deliver in spades.

[Thomas E. Staples · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wild.

I knew this was going to be a horror comedy before going into it, and it definitely lives up to that, but I wasn't prepared for how grim it gets at times.

Certain characters we experience the story through are... unpleasant, to say the least, but I think that serves as a strength to Casey's writing in that these characters actually have character.

As bonkers as this book is, and trust me, it doesn't get much more bonkers than this, it's not *just* bonkers.

This is a fun werewolf story with some extra spice, good humour, gory set pieces, and laugh-out-loud funny chapter titles which are a sadly dying breed.

Jen is also very cool. I like Jen.

[Wendy Dalrymple]

“Pup” has everything you would expect from a Damien Casey story; comedy, B-movie gore, wrestling references, spicy chicken sammiches. On the surface, Pup is a werewolf grief horror sprinkled with slapstick, but underneath, there’s so much more. This is Casey at his most vulnerable and even poetic at times. This story unfolds from multiple POVs, and entire chapters are written in an experimental stream of conscious style. This book takes a lot of chances but the payoff is big. As usual Casey infuses tons of commentary alongside dialogue that makes me snort laugh. If you’re looking for a unique werewolf tale then be sure to check out PUP.

[Elford Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a werewolf tale, but one that moves in entirely unexpected directions. A dark comedy with a brutal, terrifying beast at its center. He will face off against Jen, a woman just trying to find peace and purpose, and instead finds herself stuck in the middle a millennia-long battle between heaven and hell. A twisted, gory ride from beginning to end.

[Jason Nickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this mostly blind and I'm glad I did. What I got was a story that was a mixed bag of creepy moments, over the top action moments, and snarky character dialog. I also really enjoyed the different writing styles throughout the story as they kept it interesting without hindering the pace of the story.

[Adam Hulse · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Casey brings his unique voice to this horror mash up. It's a werewolf story like no other featuring the larger than life, technicolour characters I've come to expect from this author. Lots of laughs, gore, and a few creepy moments make this one a trippy ride.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are definitely some solid bits in there

[Josh Buyarski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not at all what I was expecting, put it was a fun one.

A great cast of characters in this one!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a unique take on a werewolf story! I absolutely loved it. It was a wild ride, and i definitely picked up some new insults to use on people. Damien casey never disappoints