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Psych Ward Blues
When the world ended ... we were left to fend for ourselves. Trapped in a mental health clinic, we watched from our window as everything around us fell to pieces. This is not a zombie apocalypse. It's not a nuclear holocaust either. And it's no plague ... but it's something worse. Something we couldn't have predicted.
If this is the Rapture ... then it isn't at all like what the Bible described.
We were all lied to.
The afterlife is no place of peace and rest.
Heaven is no paradise.
We are watching the world as it tears itself apart ... and we are terrified of what is going to happen to us after we die.
Judith Sonnet presents a dark vision of apocalyptic and psychological horror. PSYCH WARD BLUES also contains additional splatterpunk horror stories!
WARNING
This book contains graphic content.
“PSYCH WARD BLUES by Judith Sonnet will take you by surprise. The violence is extreme, the action intense, and the emotions raw and honest. Apocalyptic horror with heart. What more could you possibly ask for?” Gord Rollo, author of Jigsaw Man.
If this is the Rapture ... then it isn't at all like what the Bible described.
We were all lied to.
The afterlife is no place of peace and rest.
Heaven is no paradise.
We are watching the world as it tears itself apart ... and we are terrified of what is going to happen to us after we die.
Judith Sonnet presents a dark vision of apocalyptic and psychological horror. PSYCH WARD BLUES also contains additional splatterpunk horror stories!
WARNING
This book contains graphic content.
“PSYCH WARD BLUES by Judith Sonnet will take you by surprise. The violence is extreme, the action intense, and the emotions raw and honest. Apocalyptic horror with heart. What more could you possibly ask for?” Gord Rollo, author of Jigsaw Man.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2023
120 people are currently reading
621 people want to read
About the author
Judith Sonnet
89 books1,325 followersUsed to write extreme horror but now I write WEIRD horror and I'm having a blast with it! Check out OUR SARNATH on November 22nd!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
February 10, 2025
Did a reread on this recently and still a 5 star collection. One of the best short story collections I've read.
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It's rare that I like every single short story in a short story collection but I absolutely did. Each was diffrent and great in its own way. Some did scare me more then others but the one that stood out the most was "Psych Ward Blues". It hooked me from the start, while it was absolutely horrifying it had a lot of depth and the last pages of author's note definitely gave it more of that depth.
I havnt gone trough my favorites of this year yet but this is high on that list and possible my number 1 favorite. But need to sit with it for a while. But definitely on the top 5.
--
It's rare that I like every single short story in a short story collection but I absolutely did. Each was diffrent and great in its own way. Some did scare me more then others but the one that stood out the most was "Psych Ward Blues". It hooked me from the start, while it was absolutely horrifying it had a lot of depth and the last pages of author's note definitely gave it more of that depth.
I havnt gone trough my favorites of this year yet but this is high on that list and possible my number 1 favorite. But need to sit with it for a while. But definitely on the top 5.
April 15, 2025
Great collection of short stories with the longest, most in-depth and emotional being Psych Ward Blues that is an exploration through mental health. You can tell it comes from the heart of Judith Sonnet. The other stories cross many genres some not so extreme. It’s a great variety of stories showing Sonnets writing versatility. It’s well worth the read.
October 25, 2023
A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
Psych Ward Blues by Judith Sonnet
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
- On a secluded stretch of highway, a roadside billboard directs a vacationing family to an “exit on your next”. Hungry and tired, the family takes a chance and enters a demented diner called The Last Hamburger Restaurant In The World.
- A man is accused of wrong doings based on strange sounds emanating from his barn. However, when local law enforcement is called, the peculiar sounds coming from the farmhouse are more perverted and disturbing than expected. Which leads to the question…”Watcha got in the barn, Horace?”
- After a traumatizing experience, Chester Abernathy attempts a drug overdose. Rushed to the hospital and eventually admitted to the fifth-floor psych ward, a support group is formed to deal with their traumatic memories. Unbeknownst to the therapy members, random acts of extreme violence have been erupting on the streets and is only a matter of time before the apocalyptic chaos reaches their safe haven.
And so this review begins…I wanted to focus on the story Psych Ward Blues because it’s one heck of a heavy hitter. By that I mean the novella sized story contains many layers of unsettling dark and violent undercurrents of authenticity. Depression, anxiety, trauma, neglect and PTSD. These real world symptoms are cleverly blended with extreme fiction and wrapped with disturbing biblical visions of Heaven and Hell. Not only does Judith Sonnet violate the reader with madness and cruelty, but the Rapture provided by this talented author ensures there’s no safe place to hide.
I love how this story is told through various styles of mediums. Heart felt narratives, frightening interludes and of course the unforgettable written word of purgatory all flow together nicely. Gotta also mention the great Forward written by the one and only Shane McKenzie. All of these components are the glue that hold this orgy of pleasure and pain together. Not to mention, “yes…Jesus..loves me…” is creepy as fuck to me now. Damn you Judith Sonnet!
God’s holiness implies that he is set apart from wickedness and can have no part in it…or can he? Bottom line, this is an important book to our genre. It’s one of those reads that everyone will walk away with something different. Hate, Love or Degloved, this is a must read. With the powers of Clive Barker vested in me, I now pronounce Psych Ward Blues a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ must read Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
Psych Ward Blues by Judith Sonnet
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
- On a secluded stretch of highway, a roadside billboard directs a vacationing family to an “exit on your next”. Hungry and tired, the family takes a chance and enters a demented diner called The Last Hamburger Restaurant In The World.
- A man is accused of wrong doings based on strange sounds emanating from his barn. However, when local law enforcement is called, the peculiar sounds coming from the farmhouse are more perverted and disturbing than expected. Which leads to the question…”Watcha got in the barn, Horace?”
- After a traumatizing experience, Chester Abernathy attempts a drug overdose. Rushed to the hospital and eventually admitted to the fifth-floor psych ward, a support group is formed to deal with their traumatic memories. Unbeknownst to the therapy members, random acts of extreme violence have been erupting on the streets and is only a matter of time before the apocalyptic chaos reaches their safe haven.
And so this review begins…I wanted to focus on the story Psych Ward Blues because it’s one heck of a heavy hitter. By that I mean the novella sized story contains many layers of unsettling dark and violent undercurrents of authenticity. Depression, anxiety, trauma, neglect and PTSD. These real world symptoms are cleverly blended with extreme fiction and wrapped with disturbing biblical visions of Heaven and Hell. Not only does Judith Sonnet violate the reader with madness and cruelty, but the Rapture provided by this talented author ensures there’s no safe place to hide.
I love how this story is told through various styles of mediums. Heart felt narratives, frightening interludes and of course the unforgettable written word of purgatory all flow together nicely. Gotta also mention the great Forward written by the one and only Shane McKenzie. All of these components are the glue that hold this orgy of pleasure and pain together. Not to mention, “yes…Jesus..loves me…” is creepy as fuck to me now. Damn you Judith Sonnet!
God’s holiness implies that he is set apart from wickedness and can have no part in it…or can he? Bottom line, this is an important book to our genre. It’s one of those reads that everyone will walk away with something different. Hate, Love or Degloved, this is a must read. With the powers of Clive Barker vested in me, I now pronounce Psych Ward Blues a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ must read Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
October 9, 2023
Judith’s writing keeps getting better and better!!!! In this one we meet Chester who ends up in a psych ward after battling his mental health issues. He then meets a cast of characters when the rapture begins and the world is ending and everyone is stuck in this psych ward. The character development in this one is flawless. Chester is hands down one of my favorite characters of Judith’s. This one does get batshit insane and has a lot of commentary on religion and the afterlife but I was into it. Being someone who is constantly battling my own mental health, this one absolutely spoke to me.
November 13, 2023
Bibliophilia Templum Review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/11/13/psych-ward-blues/
Psych Ward Blues by Judith Sonnet is a dark, impactful, and wrenching collection comprised of seven short stories and the title novella. Also included is “Oh Thank Heaven!” by Shane McKenzie, a fabulous foreword to the novella; “My Best Failure,” a deep and moving afterword for the novella; and a separate afterword with notes on all the stories. While a lot of emphasis is placed on the title story, the book as a whole is an incredible reading experience for those with the intestinal and emotional fortitude.
The short stories are an unexpected and eclectic collection of tales. Not all of them are extreme, and the variety of subgenres shows Judith got range! My favorite was “Ichthians,” an extreme cosmic horror story with a respectful and well-done homage to the works of Lovecraft (truth be told, it’s what I sometimes wish Lovecraft stories were). But at a close second, I also really enjoyed the not-extreme folkhorror “Stiltz” (which follows “Ichthians”). And the contrast is impressive.
Of course, the title novella, “Psych Ward Blues,” is the main feature (though it comes at the end). This story is brazen, raw, and pulls no punches. The abject real-world horrors are impactfully in your face. The apocalyptic horror is brutal and blasphemous and brilliant. The combination creates a gut-wrenching, nerve-shattering kind of extreme speculative horror bordering on Splatterpunk that consumes your mind and triggers deep, primal fears. It’s an incredible story but not for the faint of heart. Pro tip: For the ultimate reading experience, be sure to read both Shane McKenzie’s foreword (it’s hilarious and twisted) and Judith’s afterword (it’s deeply personal and revealing).
The collection as a whole is a brilliant and powerful presentation of horror literature. Fans of extreme horror and Splatterpunk will love this reading experience. And if you are new to Judith Sonnet’s work, this is an excellent place to begin.
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/11/13/psych-ward-blues/
Psych Ward Blues by Judith Sonnet is a dark, impactful, and wrenching collection comprised of seven short stories and the title novella. Also included is “Oh Thank Heaven!” by Shane McKenzie, a fabulous foreword to the novella; “My Best Failure,” a deep and moving afterword for the novella; and a separate afterword with notes on all the stories. While a lot of emphasis is placed on the title story, the book as a whole is an incredible reading experience for those with the intestinal and emotional fortitude.
The short stories are an unexpected and eclectic collection of tales. Not all of them are extreme, and the variety of subgenres shows Judith got range! My favorite was “Ichthians,” an extreme cosmic horror story with a respectful and well-done homage to the works of Lovecraft (truth be told, it’s what I sometimes wish Lovecraft stories were). But at a close second, I also really enjoyed the not-extreme folkhorror “Stiltz” (which follows “Ichthians”). And the contrast is impressive.
Of course, the title novella, “Psych Ward Blues,” is the main feature (though it comes at the end). This story is brazen, raw, and pulls no punches. The abject real-world horrors are impactfully in your face. The apocalyptic horror is brutal and blasphemous and brilliant. The combination creates a gut-wrenching, nerve-shattering kind of extreme speculative horror bordering on Splatterpunk that consumes your mind and triggers deep, primal fears. It’s an incredible story but not for the faint of heart. Pro tip: For the ultimate reading experience, be sure to read both Shane McKenzie’s foreword (it’s hilarious and twisted) and Judith’s afterword (it’s deeply personal and revealing).
The collection as a whole is a brilliant and powerful presentation of horror literature. Fans of extreme horror and Splatterpunk will love this reading experience. And if you are new to Judith Sonnet’s work, this is an excellent place to begin.
May 8, 2025
Have I read all the @fulltimehorrorjunkie books yet? No. Am I close? Yes, but also, she also has 9327023 of them, so I’m pretty sure I’ll never run out. Now that I’ve gotten through a large chunk of them, I can start reading the ones she talks about all the time that somehow keep getting buried in my TBR. Psych Ward Blues was one of those, and it’s one of her most cinematic books to date. You are reading the words, but when I think back to parts…I’m watching the movie in all its end-of-days glory. 🤯
Quick Synopsis:
The rapture is here…finally! But it’s not at all the way we were told it would be. There’s no zombies or souls ascending, leaving behind empty clothes…it’s…well it’s pretty fucked. (But the kinds fucked we like.) Except for Chester and the fellow patients/workers in the psych ward. They’re trapped on the inside from the horrors on the outside, but their “safety” won’t last for long.
One of the joys of a “Sonnet” is if you want good, far-from-clean fun & violence; you know she’s got you. Once in a while tho, she throws you a curveball that makes you go hmm. 🤔 If the world ends…what would happen if…and what if what we were told was there was…and what if heaven/hell were actually…. 🤔 This was one of those curveball stories that I thoroughly enjoyed; loved all the imagery and the dark tone throughout and how things like the Armageddon, the afterlife, and angels were portrayed. However I didn’t like how existential it made me. 🫥 Like I def needed a palate cleanser after this one cuz it got me thinking a little too much & that’s NEVER a good thing. So go read this book & remember that Jesus loves you. 💔
Quick Synopsis:
The rapture is here…finally! But it’s not at all the way we were told it would be. There’s no zombies or souls ascending, leaving behind empty clothes…it’s…well it’s pretty fucked. (But the kinds fucked we like.) Except for Chester and the fellow patients/workers in the psych ward. They’re trapped on the inside from the horrors on the outside, but their “safety” won’t last for long.
One of the joys of a “Sonnet” is if you want good, far-from-clean fun & violence; you know she’s got you. Once in a while tho, she throws you a curveball that makes you go hmm. 🤔 If the world ends…what would happen if…and what if what we were told was there was…and what if heaven/hell were actually…. 🤔 This was one of those curveball stories that I thoroughly enjoyed; loved all the imagery and the dark tone throughout and how things like the Armageddon, the afterlife, and angels were portrayed. However I didn’t like how existential it made me. 🫥 Like I def needed a palate cleanser after this one cuz it got me thinking a little too much & that’s NEVER a good thing. So go read this book & remember that Jesus loves you. 💔
January 31, 2024
i really really really wanted to love this one. I've heard so many good things about Judith as an author and was excited to finally give her work a go. this book felt very disorganized to me with the short stories in the beginning and constant interludes during the meat of the story. the gore was there, the world building perfected, and the main characters as well. i just felt myself getting bored through out the book and that hardly ever happens in this genre.
April 28, 2024
Not yet been disappointed by Sonnet. I would have enjoyed full length novels of a couple of the short stories included here.
The title story itself could definitely use more length. I'd honestly read at least a couple Left Behind-ish extreme horror books. But at the same time that ending was very satisfying.
The title story itself could definitely use more length. I'd honestly read at least a couple Left Behind-ish extreme horror books. But at the same time that ending was very satisfying.
December 8, 2023
Amazing.
Holy shit. I was enthralled with the short stories before the main event, and man was it worth the wait. The psych ward experience (pre-apocalypse) was very much how my relationships were with my fellow grippy sock vacay friends. This was very cathartic for me. Absolutely amazing.
Holy shit. I was enthralled with the short stories before the main event, and man was it worth the wait. The psych ward experience (pre-apocalypse) was very much how my relationships were with my fellow grippy sock vacay friends. This was very cathartic for me. Absolutely amazing.
November 28, 2023
I feel like I say all Sonnet books are my favourite books haha
But this one might actually be in my top five fav! I’m a sad queer girl, and this one just made me have so many feels for my rainbow siblings and community🖤
I also just love the idea of god being this horrible vicious monster and angels torturing people. Just.. you’re brilliant. Forever! Ha
But this one might actually be in my top five fav! I’m a sad queer girl, and this one just made me have so many feels for my rainbow siblings and community🖤
I also just love the idea of god being this horrible vicious monster and angels torturing people. Just.. you’re brilliant. Forever! Ha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2024
Judith Sonnet's work is always an absolute delight to read, but while I've read a few of her novels and novellas, I haven't read many of her short stories. So where else but to start with 'Psych Ward Blues'? I'm excited to read this collection, especially the titular story.
Young'un:
Binkley is a young but big cop who's big to anger, hell he covered up the murder of a wanted pedophile, so when he hears the outrageous story of a mysterious creature hiding in an old man's barn, he's about to make the biggest mistake of his life.
Judith Sonnet has written an interesting take on the Sasquatch myth with a story that is erotic, humorous, and most of all disturbing. The ending is wonderfully frightening and brutal. 8/10
Love Letter Slasher:
Kennedy has hosted school parties for a while, but tonight's will make it one to remember. A creepy student has his eyes on Kennedy and she's only just learned he has a disturbing hyper fixation on the young woman. Today he might finally have a shot with her, but with a forged love letter and a psycho waiting nearby, this romantic rendezvous may end in disaster.
This is a fun and gruesome little story with plenty of tension. It's a killer who goes around assumably sending out fake love letters to get his victims in the same spot, at the same time. This is a slasher that leaves the whys and hows up to the reader to decide, which only makes this story far more sinister and mysterious. 8/10
Ichthians:
It's dark times for America and the invading Europeans are blaming the Indians for their bad luck. But The Priestess knows that something far deadlier is taking hold of the country and that every man, woman, and child alive is in dreadful danger. The Ichthians who look up to an ancient and deadly god have hired The Priestess to call him, but she doesn't realize they have something far more terrifying in mind.
I adore Lovecraftian horror and this has it in spades. It's a gruesome, terrifying, and bloody story that is depraved, demonic, and incredibly violent. The ending of this story is bleak and you feel nothing but pity for the poor Priestess by the time it's over. 10/10
Stiltz:
Bethany has never treated her imaginative brother the best, but they get along nonetheless. However staying at their grandparents has been quite the creepy stay and tonight their grandmother has a story to tell them of a mysterious man nicknamed 'Stiltz' who mysteriously disappeared one day, only to come back one night to give her a scare a few years later. Bethany doesn't believe in such tall tales of course... or does she?
Judith has written a brilliant ghost story that is delightfully atmospheric and haunting. This story is all about atmosphere rather than gore and violence. It's a chilling tale that ends on a creepy note that would make even adults scream out in fear. 10/10
The Last Hamburger Restaurant in The World:
Chance has been driving him and his family for a while now and they're all dreadfully hungry. So when they stop at The Last Hamburger Restaurant in The World, it seems their prayers have been answered. But something is very wrong with this restaurant and nobody else but Chance can see the horrible and bizarre sights unfolding around him.
Judith has written a gruesome and horrifying story that has you guessing until the end if something is psychologically wrong with Chance, as nobody else sees the terrifying events unfold. The ending is bizarre and outlandish but still manages to be horrifying. 10/10
Chaser:
Tulsa is an online sensation, she's made countless essay videos spawning a dedicated fanbase. Unfortunately, as a trans woman, she's faced a great many creeps and liars in her time and has decided to keep herself safe. But when an intruder arrives with a deadly demon, she's about to be exposed to the dark reality of obsessive people online and just how far they're willing to go.
Judith has written a terrifying story that honestly makes you think. It's a story that tackles the harsh reality behind what trans people go through online and the struggle of being a woman when you have incels constantly trying to get into your pants. The premise is tackled with a supernatural touch and an ending that has you rooting for the protagonist. It's a little outlandish towards the climax, but overall it's a story that gives you plenty to think about. 9/10
A Little Extra Time:
Sandy has seen many distressed folks throughout the years, she works at a diner, and across the street is a police station. So many individuals let go or are about to turn themselves to the authorities enter the diner so she knows the look. But when a stranger comes in Sandy's in for the shock of her life.
This is a simple but effective tale, that's very hard to go much into without spoiling anything so I won't. All I can say is that it's a story that very much works because of its ending. 8/10
Psych Ward Blues:
Only Christians believed the rapture would come but when it did, even they couldn't believe the horrifying events that unfolded. The world is coming to an end and only a few patients on a psychiatric ward know the truth. Heaven is a place of evil and cruelty, ruled over by a God who lies and deceives. There's no peace for anyone, only suffering.
Judith Sonnet has written a mindblowing story that is not only terribly bleak and hopeless but also very depressing. Don't pick this one up if you're easily triggered or looking for an easy read, this is a horrifying story with mentions of religious cruelty, homophobia, transphobia, racism, suicide, SA, and so on. This is a brutal story that even the author had a hard time writing and I can see why because this is Judith (bless her heart) writing down all her pain and sorrows into a depressing novella and she's executed it flawlessly. This isn't an easy read, but it's one of the best horror stories I've ever read, It resonated with me, because I was a patient at a psychiatric ward myself for 6 months, so reading this was a little like going back in time for me. I loved this novella, despite how painful it is, because it gives you plenty to think about. 10/10
Overall: 73/80
Young'un:
Binkley is a young but big cop who's big to anger, hell he covered up the murder of a wanted pedophile, so when he hears the outrageous story of a mysterious creature hiding in an old man's barn, he's about to make the biggest mistake of his life.
Judith Sonnet has written an interesting take on the Sasquatch myth with a story that is erotic, humorous, and most of all disturbing. The ending is wonderfully frightening and brutal. 8/10
Love Letter Slasher:
Kennedy has hosted school parties for a while, but tonight's will make it one to remember. A creepy student has his eyes on Kennedy and she's only just learned he has a disturbing hyper fixation on the young woman. Today he might finally have a shot with her, but with a forged love letter and a psycho waiting nearby, this romantic rendezvous may end in disaster.
This is a fun and gruesome little story with plenty of tension. It's a killer who goes around assumably sending out fake love letters to get his victims in the same spot, at the same time. This is a slasher that leaves the whys and hows up to the reader to decide, which only makes this story far more sinister and mysterious. 8/10
Ichthians:
It's dark times for America and the invading Europeans are blaming the Indians for their bad luck. But The Priestess knows that something far deadlier is taking hold of the country and that every man, woman, and child alive is in dreadful danger. The Ichthians who look up to an ancient and deadly god have hired The Priestess to call him, but she doesn't realize they have something far more terrifying in mind.
I adore Lovecraftian horror and this has it in spades. It's a gruesome, terrifying, and bloody story that is depraved, demonic, and incredibly violent. The ending of this story is bleak and you feel nothing but pity for the poor Priestess by the time it's over. 10/10
Stiltz:
Bethany has never treated her imaginative brother the best, but they get along nonetheless. However staying at their grandparents has been quite the creepy stay and tonight their grandmother has a story to tell them of a mysterious man nicknamed 'Stiltz' who mysteriously disappeared one day, only to come back one night to give her a scare a few years later. Bethany doesn't believe in such tall tales of course... or does she?
Judith has written a brilliant ghost story that is delightfully atmospheric and haunting. This story is all about atmosphere rather than gore and violence. It's a chilling tale that ends on a creepy note that would make even adults scream out in fear. 10/10
The Last Hamburger Restaurant in The World:
Chance has been driving him and his family for a while now and they're all dreadfully hungry. So when they stop at The Last Hamburger Restaurant in The World, it seems their prayers have been answered. But something is very wrong with this restaurant and nobody else but Chance can see the horrible and bizarre sights unfolding around him.
Judith has written a gruesome and horrifying story that has you guessing until the end if something is psychologically wrong with Chance, as nobody else sees the terrifying events unfold. The ending is bizarre and outlandish but still manages to be horrifying. 10/10
Chaser:
Tulsa is an online sensation, she's made countless essay videos spawning a dedicated fanbase. Unfortunately, as a trans woman, she's faced a great many creeps and liars in her time and has decided to keep herself safe. But when an intruder arrives with a deadly demon, she's about to be exposed to the dark reality of obsessive people online and just how far they're willing to go.
Judith has written a terrifying story that honestly makes you think. It's a story that tackles the harsh reality behind what trans people go through online and the struggle of being a woman when you have incels constantly trying to get into your pants. The premise is tackled with a supernatural touch and an ending that has you rooting for the protagonist. It's a little outlandish towards the climax, but overall it's a story that gives you plenty to think about. 9/10
A Little Extra Time:
Sandy has seen many distressed folks throughout the years, she works at a diner, and across the street is a police station. So many individuals let go or are about to turn themselves to the authorities enter the diner so she knows the look. But when a stranger comes in Sandy's in for the shock of her life.
This is a simple but effective tale, that's very hard to go much into without spoiling anything so I won't. All I can say is that it's a story that very much works because of its ending. 8/10
Psych Ward Blues:
Only Christians believed the rapture would come but when it did, even they couldn't believe the horrifying events that unfolded. The world is coming to an end and only a few patients on a psychiatric ward know the truth. Heaven is a place of evil and cruelty, ruled over by a God who lies and deceives. There's no peace for anyone, only suffering.
Judith Sonnet has written a mindblowing story that is not only terribly bleak and hopeless but also very depressing. Don't pick this one up if you're easily triggered or looking for an easy read, this is a horrifying story with mentions of religious cruelty, homophobia, transphobia, racism, suicide, SA, and so on. This is a brutal story that even the author had a hard time writing and I can see why because this is Judith (bless her heart) writing down all her pain and sorrows into a depressing novella and she's executed it flawlessly. This isn't an easy read, but it's one of the best horror stories I've ever read, It resonated with me, because I was a patient at a psychiatric ward myself for 6 months, so reading this was a little like going back in time for me. I loved this novella, despite how painful it is, because it gives you plenty to think about. 10/10
Overall: 73/80
October 26, 2023
Humanity in the Psych Ward
The short stories are all good. The focus is on the novella. The version of The Rapture is horrific, unsettling and totally original. The gore and depravity are accounted for. It’s the story of the characters in the psych ward that make this book great. Showing the humanity of people with mental illness makes this more than a splatter tale. Writing about a subject that is so hard to put to words and give understanding to is above and beyond a simple tale of horror. That subject being a horror in itself. I commend Judith Sonnet for her courage and highly recommend this book!
The short stories are all good. The focus is on the novella. The version of The Rapture is horrific, unsettling and totally original. The gore and depravity are accounted for. It’s the story of the characters in the psych ward that make this book great. Showing the humanity of people with mental illness makes this more than a splatter tale. Writing about a subject that is so hard to put to words and give understanding to is above and beyond a simple tale of horror. That subject being a horror in itself. I commend Judith Sonnet for her courage and highly recommend this book!
June 19, 2024
Just because it’s different…
This book is different to a lot of the books I’ve read. I enjoy horror, dark gross disturbing horror, short stories. This had everything I expected to like and yet I didn’t like that much of it. I enjoyed some short stories sure but the main story was just beyond incoherent rambling nonsense. I was beyond bored and this book actually caused a reading slump that went on for over a month. I finally finished it just to end with a super disappointing ending.
Check out Judith’s other work, this should’ve been a DNF
This book is different to a lot of the books I’ve read. I enjoy horror, dark gross disturbing horror, short stories. This had everything I expected to like and yet I didn’t like that much of it. I enjoyed some short stories sure but the main story was just beyond incoherent rambling nonsense. I was beyond bored and this book actually caused a reading slump that went on for over a month. I finally finished it just to end with a super disappointing ending.
Check out Judith’s other work, this should’ve been a DNF
October 6, 2023
Judith once again succeeds in combining gore and emotion. There's not a bad story in this book. I especially loved Ichtians and Love Letter Slasher.
The titular novella, Psych Ward Blues, introduces us to diverse, well-developed characters, and throws them into the middle of a terrifying apocalypse. It's visceral, disgusting, hopeful, scary, sad and beautiful all at once
The titular novella, Psych Ward Blues, introduces us to diverse, well-developed characters, and throws them into the middle of a terrifying apocalypse. It's visceral, disgusting, hopeful, scary, sad and beautiful all at once
November 7, 2023
Can't Say Enough
I feel like this is the most honest book I've ever read. In any genre. This book will speak to many. It definitely spoke to me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I feel like this is the most honest book I've ever read. In any genre. This book will speak to many. It definitely spoke to me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 1, 2024
Absolutely phenomenal, important, inspired, brilliance that fires on all cylinders..plus cylinders you never knew existed! 👏👏👏
February 14, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! The way the stories are told, the real feelings and issues described mix with horror and gore that Judith does well!
March 10, 2024
INCREDIBLE! This novella really resonated with me.
October 7, 2023
𝑵𝒐𝒘, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒊𝒈. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑, 𝒘𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈.
One of my absolute favorite splatter authors has laid herself bare in this stunning collection of post-apocalyptic horror. She has been very open about her mental health struggles, and you can feel the searing heat of that pain in these stories, especially the main title. She has also been very open about religious trauma and has explored that in other books, such as 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒔, but what she does here is panic inducing.
I want to focus my review on the main story, which is told by psych ward resident Chester. He is joined by a diverse cast of misfits that you will instantly relate to. While Chester and his fellow residents are kept safe in the psych ward, The Rapture happens, and it's nothing like The Bible describes. I immediately thought of the later seasons of 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 that show God as indifferent, leaving the world and its inhabitants to fend for themselves. But Judith takes this concept a step further and creates a completely different mythology for God and Satan, one that will have even hardcore believers questioning everything they ever thought they knew about good and evil.
I'm completely in awe of this woman. While recovering from a severe mental health crisis, she created these powerful stories that are straight up gut punches. Trauma affects us all differently, and it's clear for Judith, she has to create. I hope she's creating stories like these for a long, long time. Thank you so much to the author for my early copy. This collection will publish in paperback, hardback, and Kindle October 21, 2023.
One of my absolute favorite splatter authors has laid herself bare in this stunning collection of post-apocalyptic horror. She has been very open about her mental health struggles, and you can feel the searing heat of that pain in these stories, especially the main title. She has also been very open about religious trauma and has explored that in other books, such as 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒔, but what she does here is panic inducing.
I want to focus my review on the main story, which is told by psych ward resident Chester. He is joined by a diverse cast of misfits that you will instantly relate to. While Chester and his fellow residents are kept safe in the psych ward, The Rapture happens, and it's nothing like The Bible describes. I immediately thought of the later seasons of 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 that show God as indifferent, leaving the world and its inhabitants to fend for themselves. But Judith takes this concept a step further and creates a completely different mythology for God and Satan, one that will have even hardcore believers questioning everything they ever thought they knew about good and evil.
I'm completely in awe of this woman. While recovering from a severe mental health crisis, she created these powerful stories that are straight up gut punches. Trauma affects us all differently, and it's clear for Judith, she has to create. I hope she's creating stories like these for a long, long time. Thank you so much to the author for my early copy. This collection will publish in paperback, hardback, and Kindle October 21, 2023.
June 25, 2024
4.5 Stars
Sonnet, known for her controversial splatter punk novels, hones her short story skills in Psych Ward Blues, a collection of various horror shorts ranging from redneck creature horror, Lovecraftian, eldritch dread, and religious terror. All of which showcase her incredible talent in the independent horror scene.
Aside from “Ichthians” (which is well written, but borders a bit too close the extreme side of the genre for my particular taste) every one of the stories in this collection are amongst Sonnet’s best. “Young Un”, the opening story takes the cryptid legend of Sasquatch and turns in into something totally original. “Stilz” reads like a McCammon short, and “Last Hamburger Restaurant at the End of the World” could be straight from a Stephen King publication, if King was back to his coke snorting ways. However, it is the title novella that truly exemplifies just how strong of an author Sonnet is.
Taking her own experiences and melding it with a sick and twisted version of the Heaven we all have been taught about, “Psych Ward Blues” is sure nightmare fuel. I may not agree with the views the story tries to extol, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t thoroughly enjoy every minute of it. It’s dark, disturbing, and spits in the face of conventional theology. Yet, despite its bleak subject matter, it has heart and meaning as the characters Sonnet writes feel realistic as well as fully realized. But then again, that should surprise exactly nobody who has read more than one Sonnet book; her character development remains one of the best in the business.
Psych Ward Blues sat on my Kindle for months and I fully regret that I didn’t read this one sooner.
Sonnet, known for her controversial splatter punk novels, hones her short story skills in Psych Ward Blues, a collection of various horror shorts ranging from redneck creature horror, Lovecraftian, eldritch dread, and religious terror. All of which showcase her incredible talent in the independent horror scene.
Aside from “Ichthians” (which is well written, but borders a bit too close the extreme side of the genre for my particular taste) every one of the stories in this collection are amongst Sonnet’s best. “Young Un”, the opening story takes the cryptid legend of Sasquatch and turns in into something totally original. “Stilz” reads like a McCammon short, and “Last Hamburger Restaurant at the End of the World” could be straight from a Stephen King publication, if King was back to his coke snorting ways. However, it is the title novella that truly exemplifies just how strong of an author Sonnet is.
Taking her own experiences and melding it with a sick and twisted version of the Heaven we all have been taught about, “Psych Ward Blues” is sure nightmare fuel. I may not agree with the views the story tries to extol, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t thoroughly enjoy every minute of it. It’s dark, disturbing, and spits in the face of conventional theology. Yet, despite its bleak subject matter, it has heart and meaning as the characters Sonnet writes feel realistic as well as fully realized. But then again, that should surprise exactly nobody who has read more than one Sonnet book; her character development remains one of the best in the business.
Psych Ward Blues sat on my Kindle for months and I fully regret that I didn’t read this one sooner.
October 16, 2024
For many readers, trigger warnings don’t come in the form of gore and bloodshed. Instead, trigger warnings come in the form of mental illness and suicide.
If you’re the latter, you’ll want to proceed with caution when reading Psych Ward Blues by Judith Sonnet.
What’s the book about? Simple. The rapture is occurring and patients at a psych ward are stuck in there, distant from the outside ward, and are forced to make sense of the rapture with limited resources. And they do all this while surviving.
But this book is more than that. It centers on several people in the psych ward, tells their unique stories, and gives their problems an outlet. This book covers suicide, self-mutilation, self-harm, homophobia, transphobia, racism, religious trauma, sexual abuse, incest, and so much more.
There are a couple of reasons why I took off a star. At first, I didn’t know how I felt about the main character Chester. While I empathized with him, he seemed one-dimensional in a Holden Caulfield kind of way. But as Chester is forced to survive in the apocalypse, you begin to root him on.
I should mention I love how the book ended. I obviously won’t give away the ending, but it was a very realistic ending and not a twist or anything cheesy.
I also took off a point because I didn’t realize this was a short story collection and I was sooo confused at first. Sonnet does make a note of that in the synopsis, but I wish the title was “Psych Ward Blues and Other Stories.” I also understand why Sonnet didn’t do this because short story collections don’t typically sell well (though I see this changing).
That said, I love all the stories in this collection. It really shows the diversity in Sonnet’s writing and it makes me excited to read more of her upcoming work.
If you’re the latter, you’ll want to proceed with caution when reading Psych Ward Blues by Judith Sonnet.
What’s the book about? Simple. The rapture is occurring and patients at a psych ward are stuck in there, distant from the outside ward, and are forced to make sense of the rapture with limited resources. And they do all this while surviving.
But this book is more than that. It centers on several people in the psych ward, tells their unique stories, and gives their problems an outlet. This book covers suicide, self-mutilation, self-harm, homophobia, transphobia, racism, religious trauma, sexual abuse, incest, and so much more.
There are a couple of reasons why I took off a star. At first, I didn’t know how I felt about the main character Chester. While I empathized with him, he seemed one-dimensional in a Holden Caulfield kind of way. But as Chester is forced to survive in the apocalypse, you begin to root him on.
I should mention I love how the book ended. I obviously won’t give away the ending, but it was a very realistic ending and not a twist or anything cheesy.
I also took off a point because I didn’t realize this was a short story collection and I was sooo confused at first. Sonnet does make a note of that in the synopsis, but I wish the title was “Psych Ward Blues and Other Stories.” I also understand why Sonnet didn’t do this because short story collections don’t typically sell well (though I see this changing).
That said, I love all the stories in this collection. It really shows the diversity in Sonnet’s writing and it makes me excited to read more of her upcoming work.
November 9, 2023
Psych Ward Blues (2023) is a post-appocalitic horror novella by Judith Sonnet exploring issues of bigotry and mental health in a frank manner. At its heart, an exploration of social issues and the impact of traumatic events on one's personal experience, Sonnet crafts a powerful narrative that lingers with the reader.
Judith Sonnet writes dark fiction that addresses topical issues. Writing about mental health is tricky, especially in horror. It is easy to repeat negative stereotypes associated with ill mental health and reinforce potentially harmful connotations. Sonnet crafts compassionate, complex characters with their own struggles to highlight mental health complexity and its impact on individuals. By doing so, the novella becomes a compassionate and understanding reflection on mental health.
Psych Ward Blues also works as a post-apocalyptic horror tale and body-horror narrative. The violence is graphic and descriptive and intended to shock. There is also excellent body horror in this work. Within this, Sonnet manages two narrative tenses. Throughout the text, there are sections that detail the decline of humanity and discusses the afterlife in horror. Sonnet writes gore effectively and is in her element in these sequences. The imagery offered is extreme and unappolegetically Splatter.
Overall, Psych Ward Blues (2023) is extreme horror with a heart. Sonnet combines graphic and violent sequences with topical issues to entertain and provoke thought. The novella is, at times, uncomfortable, and disturbing. But this is what makes her work memorable. Sonnet entertains while drawing attention to social issues.
Judith Sonnet writes dark fiction that addresses topical issues. Writing about mental health is tricky, especially in horror. It is easy to repeat negative stereotypes associated with ill mental health and reinforce potentially harmful connotations. Sonnet crafts compassionate, complex characters with their own struggles to highlight mental health complexity and its impact on individuals. By doing so, the novella becomes a compassionate and understanding reflection on mental health.
Psych Ward Blues also works as a post-apocalyptic horror tale and body-horror narrative. The violence is graphic and descriptive and intended to shock. There is also excellent body horror in this work. Within this, Sonnet manages two narrative tenses. Throughout the text, there are sections that detail the decline of humanity and discusses the afterlife in horror. Sonnet writes gore effectively and is in her element in these sequences. The imagery offered is extreme and unappolegetically Splatter.
Overall, Psych Ward Blues (2023) is extreme horror with a heart. Sonnet combines graphic and violent sequences with topical issues to entertain and provoke thought. The novella is, at times, uncomfortable, and disturbing. But this is what makes her work memorable. Sonnet entertains while drawing attention to social issues.
May 16, 2024
5/5 for this story collection by Judith Sonnet. Psych Ward Blues shows Judith versatility as a writer, and contains everything from the subtle to the extreme. This is a dark and emotionally charged book that tackles themes of self-harm, trauma, and depression, among other difficult subjects. I actually waited about a month to read it, just to be sure I was ready. Once i started, I couldn't set it down.
A small taste of what to expect from these pages...
"Young 'Un" is a rural horror story about a police deputy investigating a potential child abduction but discovering far more than he bargained for.
"Ichthians" is a great, violent tale about a cult religious ritual.
For fans of creepy folklore you can't go wrong with the story "Stiltz."
"The Last Hamburger Restaurant in the World" is a fun gross-out, and "Chaser" is a demon story that tackles the issues of abusive online trolling, transphobia, and false allyship.
The heart and soul of the book is the title novella. Written mostly in a confessional epistolary style, "Psych Ward Blues" details the heartwrenching story of a gay man's experience in a mental hospital following the murder of his boyfriend. It's during his stay in the psych ward that the world comes to a violent end.
I won't detail anymore other that to say that some books are mirrors in which we see reflections of our own experience, while others are windows through which we see the experiences of others. For those of us who have never spent time in a mental hospital, this book is a window.
I read this book on Kindle unlimited, but if you choose to buy it, it's worth every penny.
A small taste of what to expect from these pages...
"Young 'Un" is a rural horror story about a police deputy investigating a potential child abduction but discovering far more than he bargained for.
"Ichthians" is a great, violent tale about a cult religious ritual.
For fans of creepy folklore you can't go wrong with the story "Stiltz."
"The Last Hamburger Restaurant in the World" is a fun gross-out, and "Chaser" is a demon story that tackles the issues of abusive online trolling, transphobia, and false allyship.
The heart and soul of the book is the title novella. Written mostly in a confessional epistolary style, "Psych Ward Blues" details the heartwrenching story of a gay man's experience in a mental hospital following the murder of his boyfriend. It's during his stay in the psych ward that the world comes to a violent end.
I won't detail anymore other that to say that some books are mirrors in which we see reflections of our own experience, while others are windows through which we see the experiences of others. For those of us who have never spent time in a mental hospital, this book is a window.
I read this book on Kindle unlimited, but if you choose to buy it, it's worth every penny.
August 24, 2024
A very good read!
I really enjoyed reading all of these stories! Especially “Ichthians” and “The Last Hamburger Restaurant in the World.” “Chaser” and “A Little Extra Time” were also good stories. The novella, though, was the best of them all. “Psych Ward Blues” was a superb story with a good mix of characters. It was hard to read the last part, with all the hate and homophobia the character Bruno was spewing. But as I read it, I was thinking of, ‘This is WHY we need to keep fighting back against homophobia and hatred for the LGBTQ community! Those people think they are killing in the name of God! Their self-righteousness gets out of control!’
The very last part of the book after the novella was also hard to read because I really felt for the author. I have been in that position too, though I was never in a psych ward. It night have helped. Nevertheless, the author was very brave to write this and share this. This quote resonated with me: “It’s hard keeping people when you are at the lowest point of your life, but it’s easy to connect when everyone around you is suffering in equal measure.” And you know what? I am happy that I failed too.
I don’t know the author personally, but knowing this part about her life, having read this, I truly hope that these days, she is happy, has a ton of friends and is doing well with her life. And if I could say something to her, it’s this: “Thank you for writing this book. It is truly unforgettable.”
I really enjoyed reading all of these stories! Especially “Ichthians” and “The Last Hamburger Restaurant in the World.” “Chaser” and “A Little Extra Time” were also good stories. The novella, though, was the best of them all. “Psych Ward Blues” was a superb story with a good mix of characters. It was hard to read the last part, with all the hate and homophobia the character Bruno was spewing. But as I read it, I was thinking of, ‘This is WHY we need to keep fighting back against homophobia and hatred for the LGBTQ community! Those people think they are killing in the name of God! Their self-righteousness gets out of control!’
The very last part of the book after the novella was also hard to read because I really felt for the author. I have been in that position too, though I was never in a psych ward. It night have helped. Nevertheless, the author was very brave to write this and share this. This quote resonated with me: “It’s hard keeping people when you are at the lowest point of your life, but it’s easy to connect when everyone around you is suffering in equal measure.” And you know what? I am happy that I failed too.
I don’t know the author personally, but knowing this part about her life, having read this, I truly hope that these days, she is happy, has a ton of friends and is doing well with her life. And if I could say something to her, it’s this: “Thank you for writing this book. It is truly unforgettable.”
November 26, 2024
The patients are taking over the asylum
Psych Ward Blues is a collection of chilling stories, that all come to a head and end with the title novella - all about one patient’s experiences of The Rapture as viewed from a psych ward as it is happening; a very clever premise, that I enjoyed immensely.
As with the other two short story collections that I’ve read recently, Judith is a highly accomplished writer. She knows just which buttons to push, and how hard, and here, offers up several different types of terror - all designed to strike fear into your heart and make you question the world you think you know.
A couple of the stories end a little abruptly, and feel a little bit like witnessing a short snapshot of other people’s lives without any context, but the author does a good job of explaining why they end the way they do in her afterword and because she, herself, describes this book as probably her most personal, it seems a little unfair to criticise. I just like my stories to have more of a conclusion, and am a big fan of the old school thought that stories should have a beginning, a middle, and an appropriate end.
Psych Ward Blues, the title story, is particularly good and even within a few short pages, you very quickly soon develop an affinity with the characters - which only makes their individual fates ever more tragic.
With this collection, there is no denying that Judith is a strong writer and if nothing else, it makes me want to read something a bit longer by her if only to see what she is capable of in a much larger sand pit.
Psych Ward Blues is a collection of chilling stories, that all come to a head and end with the title novella - all about one patient’s experiences of The Rapture as viewed from a psych ward as it is happening; a very clever premise, that I enjoyed immensely.
As with the other two short story collections that I’ve read recently, Judith is a highly accomplished writer. She knows just which buttons to push, and how hard, and here, offers up several different types of terror - all designed to strike fear into your heart and make you question the world you think you know.
A couple of the stories end a little abruptly, and feel a little bit like witnessing a short snapshot of other people’s lives without any context, but the author does a good job of explaining why they end the way they do in her afterword and because she, herself, describes this book as probably her most personal, it seems a little unfair to criticise. I just like my stories to have more of a conclusion, and am a big fan of the old school thought that stories should have a beginning, a middle, and an appropriate end.
Psych Ward Blues, the title story, is particularly good and even within a few short pages, you very quickly soon develop an affinity with the characters - which only makes their individual fates ever more tragic.
With this collection, there is no denying that Judith is a strong writer and if nothing else, it makes me want to read something a bit longer by her if only to see what she is capable of in a much larger sand pit.
January 27, 2024
I want to share my first ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read of the year!!! This book is incredible! I started it in November but I was reading it like a short story collection until I found out the main story comes after those. Firstly, the short stories were so fun and the “Stilz” story still scares me to think about. Actually, had me watching cartoons after!
Let’s get into the main story because omfg. The characters you fall in love with so quickly you end up feeling for them and their stories within a few pages. Chester is the main character and it broke my heart the things he endured threw out the story. I’ve dealt a lot with my own depression and I felt seen for the first time reading a book. Now let’s get to the gore and brutality, the only way I can describe this is fantastical splatterpunk. I mean the imagery portrayed was nothing I’ve ever read before. I couldn’t put it down. It’s was beautifully visceral.
Judith Sonnet is just amazing and please read this book but check all triggers 🫶🏼 if you’re reading this and struggling the world needs you here
Let’s get into the main story because omfg. The characters you fall in love with so quickly you end up feeling for them and their stories within a few pages. Chester is the main character and it broke my heart the things he endured threw out the story. I’ve dealt a lot with my own depression and I felt seen for the first time reading a book. Now let’s get to the gore and brutality, the only way I can describe this is fantastical splatterpunk. I mean the imagery portrayed was nothing I’ve ever read before. I couldn’t put it down. It’s was beautifully visceral.
Judith Sonnet is just amazing and please read this book but check all triggers 🫶🏼 if you’re reading this and struggling the world needs you here
October 29, 2023
You can now read my full review of Psych Ward Blues at: https://georgereadshorror.blogspot.co...
Psych Ward Blues is like a trigger warning tapas. Judith takes everything from the mildly offensive to the utterly sacrilegious, flambés it (because fire is fun) and serves it up in the form of a short story collection. I don't doubt for a second, that there's something to scare everyone. Yes, it's indisputable that Psych Ward Blues will be joining the splatter wall of fame, sitting proudly in the company of Ralston's "Woom," and Volpe's "Talia."
Psych Ward Blues is a short story collection, with the title novella coming at the end. An overarching theme of religion (and bizarrely.. tentacles) runs throughout, and truly implodes when the world literally ends in the novella.
Psych Ward Blues is like a trigger warning tapas. Judith takes everything from the mildly offensive to the utterly sacrilegious, flambés it (because fire is fun) and serves it up in the form of a short story collection. I don't doubt for a second, that there's something to scare everyone. Yes, it's indisputable that Psych Ward Blues will be joining the splatter wall of fame, sitting proudly in the company of Ralston's "Woom," and Volpe's "Talia."
Psych Ward Blues is a short story collection, with the title novella coming at the end. An overarching theme of religion (and bizarrely.. tentacles) runs throughout, and truly implodes when the world literally ends in the novella.
October 9, 2024
YES YES YES FUCKING YES.
This just may be my favorite Sonnet book so far!!!
We start out with some short stories which I will say are all SO FUCKING GOOD. My favorite of the shorts has to be the first one, Young ‘Un. What a way to start a book, absolutely disturbing and disgusting BIG FAN.
But, what I truly want to talk about is the main story Psych Ward Blues. First, the story seems all too real when we are introduced to everyone in the ward. My heart truly felt broken for them AND THEN WE GET INTO THE MEAT AND POTATOES of a vengeful and fake God. I’ve never read a story with such an original and effective idea. This shit was bonkers and I LOVED IT SO MUCH.
I wish I could give this book 100000 stars.
This just may be my favorite Sonnet book so far!!!
We start out with some short stories which I will say are all SO FUCKING GOOD. My favorite of the shorts has to be the first one, Young ‘Un. What a way to start a book, absolutely disturbing and disgusting BIG FAN.
But, what I truly want to talk about is the main story Psych Ward Blues. First, the story seems all too real when we are introduced to everyone in the ward. My heart truly felt broken for them AND THEN WE GET INTO THE MEAT AND POTATOES of a vengeful and fake God. I’ve never read a story with such an original and effective idea. This shit was bonkers and I LOVED IT SO MUCH.
I wish I could give this book 100000 stars.
January 9, 2025
I didn't realise that there were some short stories before Psych Ward Blues itself, so I was very confused about the first couple of dis-jointed chapters that had nothing to do with an apocalypse!
The short stories were all pretty good, there's some great gore and disgusting stuff in them and they are varied so you never know what you'll get. I enjoyed the first one especially, and the one about the witch and the demon cult thing.
Psych Ward Blues itself was a really interesting twist on the post apocalypse theme - it's literally the Rapture! I'm not always a fan of religion being used in horror or media in general, but this was told in such a way that I really enjoyed it. The descriptions of Heaven and God were intense, and the implications were terrifying.
A great read for fans of darker and blood splatter horror.
The short stories were all pretty good, there's some great gore and disgusting stuff in them and they are varied so you never know what you'll get. I enjoyed the first one especially, and the one about the witch and the demon cult thing.
Psych Ward Blues itself was a really interesting twist on the post apocalypse theme - it's literally the Rapture! I'm not always a fan of religion being used in horror or media in general, but this was told in such a way that I really enjoyed it. The descriptions of Heaven and God were intense, and the implications were terrifying.
A great read for fans of darker and blood splatter horror.
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