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Through the Eyes of Desperation: The Red Version
ALL BETS ARE OFF
Red has tried to keep his nose clean but the sins of his past still haunt him. They’ve forced him back into the darkness—toward a life he’d hoped to leave behind. Now he has just four days to make things right.
The scam seemed safe enough at first, but now Red is six figures in debt, and there's more than just money at stake. There's making things right with the daughter he turned his back on. There's greasing the palms of the disturbed criminals holding his geriatric mother as collateral. There's being able to face himself in the mirror.
Everyone in the city's underbelly knows there’s only one way to obtain such a large sum on short notice...
Shadows is an underground casino where nightmares are born and dreams go to die. Where humiliation, drugs, and violence are as much a part of the games as cards and dice. When Red enters a world where money isn’t the most coveted prize, will he earn enough to solve his problems, or suffer the ultimate loss?
This volume contains 17 interior illustrations.
This book contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.
Red has tried to keep his nose clean but the sins of his past still haunt him. They’ve forced him back into the darkness—toward a life he’d hoped to leave behind. Now he has just four days to make things right.
The scam seemed safe enough at first, but now Red is six figures in debt, and there's more than just money at stake. There's making things right with the daughter he turned his back on. There's greasing the palms of the disturbed criminals holding his geriatric mother as collateral. There's being able to face himself in the mirror.
Everyone in the city's underbelly knows there’s only one way to obtain such a large sum on short notice...
Shadows is an underground casino where nightmares are born and dreams go to die. Where humiliation, drugs, and violence are as much a part of the games as cards and dice. When Red enters a world where money isn’t the most coveted prize, will he earn enough to solve his problems, or suffer the ultimate loss?
This volume contains 17 interior illustrations.
This book contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.
322 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2024
66 people are currently reading
1913 people want to read
About the author
Aron Beauregard
86 books3,375 followersAron Beauregard was born and raised in Central Falls, Rhode Island. He's been writing horror since the 6th grade and has now released over 25 books. An avid supporter of horror art and illustration, Aron has made it his standard to hire illustrators for every book that he puts out under his brand AB Horror.
His writing is dark and without boundaries. Known for creating a stir, his work has gone viral on several occasions. He's won the Splatterpunk Award twice after garnering four total nominations. As an independent artist, Beauregard's book "Playground" has achieved #1 Bestseller status under the category of horror on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Additionally, his work has been translated to multiple languages.
To get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books and merchandise, film news, and so much more, visit his website:
www.ABHorror.com
To subscribe to his free newsletter, join the AB Horror Maggot Mailing List at:
https://aronbeauregard.substack.com/
His writing is dark and without boundaries. Known for creating a stir, his work has gone viral on several occasions. He's won the Splatterpunk Award twice after garnering four total nominations. As an independent artist, Beauregard's book "Playground" has achieved #1 Bestseller status under the category of horror on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Additionally, his work has been translated to multiple languages.
To get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books and merchandise, film news, and so much more, visit his website:
www.ABHorror.com
To subscribe to his free newsletter, join the AB Horror Maggot Mailing List at:
https://aronbeauregard.substack.com/
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
December 3, 2025
Height stacks, and hard payments, This book was everything I hoped it would be!
This book lived up to the hype, it was as violent and and disturbing as it was creative, invisible, didn’t skimp on great character work.
Red is the traditional down. Isla can never seem to get out of the gutter kind of gambling drug addict that has been seen in many stories before. Yet, his predicament might be familiar, but the way he deals about it feels very real, deals about it for better or worse feels like the choices real person would make.
I was really impressed that there was a study upgrade of disturbing creative things to happen in this casino and ways to bet. I feared that it would get old after a while, but the changes from one game to the next everything fresh.
And at the end, there was a unique Little style choice of choosing your own ending. Of course I still read both endings (how could anyone not?) and despite the way, it didn’t disrupt the flow of the story when I’ve been the one and didn’t and started the next. It really created a way you choose to win kind of story (even if the same can’t be said for the characters)
I’m so happy I read this book and I’m definitely gonna read the other version and far more books from this author!
This book lived up to the hype, it was as violent and and disturbing as it was creative, invisible, didn’t skimp on great character work.
Red is the traditional down. Isla can never seem to get out of the gutter kind of gambling drug addict that has been seen in many stories before. Yet, his predicament might be familiar, but the way he deals about it feels very real, deals about it for better or worse feels like the choices real person would make.
I was really impressed that there was a study upgrade of disturbing creative things to happen in this casino and ways to bet. I feared that it would get old after a while, but the changes from one game to the next everything fresh.
And at the end, there was a unique Little style choice of choosing your own ending. Of course I still read both endings (how could anyone not?) and despite the way, it didn’t disrupt the flow of the story when I’ve been the one and didn’t and started the next. It really created a way you choose to win kind of story (even if the same can’t be said for the characters)
I’m so happy I read this book and I’m definitely gonna read the other version and far more books from this author!
March 9, 2024
Roses are red
And so is this guy.
Will he make it out alive
Or will he die?
This one should have you very excited, people, because there is a LOT happening here, and Aron is getting better with each new release. When you team him up with another author on the road to greatness, namely Mr. Volpe, they create a special kind of magic – bloody, brutal and gory, of course – that is original and ultimately impressive.
The main character is Red, who is a gambling addict who is down on his luck and unwillingly finds himself at an underground casino called Shadows, because it is the only way he can solve his problems. Here, the only commodity he has is his body, and survival becomes less likely with each game he plays.
And you, the reader, gets pulled into the ending on a gamble, because it is up to you and the choice you make to decide his fate.
I have sympathy for gambling addicts, though I do not understand it. It is not that I am immune to addiction – I was a smoker for 25 years and know very well how difficult it is to resist the temptation – but it is hard for me to create the kind of optimism it must take to convince yourself that your luck is about to turn on a losing streak.
As a child, I was kept away from gambling, for the most part. I was probably eight or nine years old when a bunch of kids was visiting someone whose mother liked to play the horses. So she opened her purse, took out all her coins and handed it out to us, telling us to pick a number and that would be the horse we are betting on. I had three cents, so I bet on number 3. Turns out it was the favorite and the horse won.
And I think that would have been a pivotal moment in my life that could have gotten me hooked. But even at that age I knew it was nothing but dumb luck, and that risking something valuable on something that was 100% beyond my control was just silly.
Fast forward to my thirties, when the internet opened the world and gambling became so much easier and accessible. I was watching a lot of World Series of Poker on ESPN and decided I wanted to learn the skills of those people. After all, they said it wasn’t just dumb luck and listening to the commentators, I started to see that this is actually a game of the mind more than luck, though luck could still destroy all the odds.
I went to a site where I got some free chips and started playing, reading up on tips and learning to read my opponents. On the internet, where you can’t see their faces or actions, you had to learn their patterns of how they bet, when they bet, how fast they bet, etc. It also taught me to try and be consistent. Try to take the same amount of time placing my bet, try to keep the math the same (for example, if you raise two and a half time the big blind with your initial bet, do that with good and bad hands) and look for the patterns of my opponents.
Like the old Kenny Rogers song:
“Know when to hold ‘em
Know when to fold ’em.”
After more than eleven thousand hands, I felt I was ready to actually start gambling with real money. Of course, there are some things you have to relearn, because most people bet a little differently when there is actual money at stake, so my first fifty bucks was gone after a month. But I kept at it, keeping to the small tournaments, and after a few months I was not only breaking even, but actually making a profit some days. I did this daily, and started to win a few tournaments, my biggest prize being a seat in a big tournament where the prize money went into the thousands (big deal for me).
And then my country passed a law against this type of gambling, the official reason being a bunch of bullshit about gambling addiction, but the sites they could control were still licensed to continue.
This was the next pivotal moment, having played almost every day for most of a year, where I had to make a choice between walking away or continuing on more shady, not quite legal rooms on the net. And the choice was not that hard – I walked away.
Which brings me back to the original statement I made: While I don’t understand it, I have sympathy for those who struggle with this addiction. However, with a very crass, abnormally sadistic kind of mentality, a case could be made that the approach of Shadows may be the very motivation some people need to walk away.
Extreme rehab?
Aron and Dan wrote two very different stories in the same universe and, though they overlap during the same timeline, the endings are unique to the stories. I must admit, I had a favorite ending (between both books) which I am not going to share, but the fact that it ends in a gamble is quite ingenious, as you can’t blame the authors for your choices.
May lady luck be with you.
Quite extreme, so fuck trigger warnings, if you need them you probably can’t handle this author.
5 stars!
And so is this guy.
Will he make it out alive
Or will he die?
This one should have you very excited, people, because there is a LOT happening here, and Aron is getting better with each new release. When you team him up with another author on the road to greatness, namely Mr. Volpe, they create a special kind of magic – bloody, brutal and gory, of course – that is original and ultimately impressive.
The main character is Red, who is a gambling addict who is down on his luck and unwillingly finds himself at an underground casino called Shadows, because it is the only way he can solve his problems. Here, the only commodity he has is his body, and survival becomes less likely with each game he plays.
And you, the reader, gets pulled into the ending on a gamble, because it is up to you and the choice you make to decide his fate.
I have sympathy for gambling addicts, though I do not understand it. It is not that I am immune to addiction – I was a smoker for 25 years and know very well how difficult it is to resist the temptation – but it is hard for me to create the kind of optimism it must take to convince yourself that your luck is about to turn on a losing streak.
As a child, I was kept away from gambling, for the most part. I was probably eight or nine years old when a bunch of kids was visiting someone whose mother liked to play the horses. So she opened her purse, took out all her coins and handed it out to us, telling us to pick a number and that would be the horse we are betting on. I had three cents, so I bet on number 3. Turns out it was the favorite and the horse won.
And I think that would have been a pivotal moment in my life that could have gotten me hooked. But even at that age I knew it was nothing but dumb luck, and that risking something valuable on something that was 100% beyond my control was just silly.
Fast forward to my thirties, when the internet opened the world and gambling became so much easier and accessible. I was watching a lot of World Series of Poker on ESPN and decided I wanted to learn the skills of those people. After all, they said it wasn’t just dumb luck and listening to the commentators, I started to see that this is actually a game of the mind more than luck, though luck could still destroy all the odds.
I went to a site where I got some free chips and started playing, reading up on tips and learning to read my opponents. On the internet, where you can’t see their faces or actions, you had to learn their patterns of how they bet, when they bet, how fast they bet, etc. It also taught me to try and be consistent. Try to take the same amount of time placing my bet, try to keep the math the same (for example, if you raise two and a half time the big blind with your initial bet, do that with good and bad hands) and look for the patterns of my opponents.
Like the old Kenny Rogers song:
“Know when to hold ‘em
Know when to fold ’em.”
After more than eleven thousand hands, I felt I was ready to actually start gambling with real money. Of course, there are some things you have to relearn, because most people bet a little differently when there is actual money at stake, so my first fifty bucks was gone after a month. But I kept at it, keeping to the small tournaments, and after a few months I was not only breaking even, but actually making a profit some days. I did this daily, and started to win a few tournaments, my biggest prize being a seat in a big tournament where the prize money went into the thousands (big deal for me).
And then my country passed a law against this type of gambling, the official reason being a bunch of bullshit about gambling addiction, but the sites they could control were still licensed to continue.
This was the next pivotal moment, having played almost every day for most of a year, where I had to make a choice between walking away or continuing on more shady, not quite legal rooms on the net. And the choice was not that hard – I walked away.
Which brings me back to the original statement I made: While I don’t understand it, I have sympathy for those who struggle with this addiction. However, with a very crass, abnormally sadistic kind of mentality, a case could be made that the approach of Shadows may be the very motivation some people need to walk away.
Extreme rehab?
Aron and Dan wrote two very different stories in the same universe and, though they overlap during the same timeline, the endings are unique to the stories. I must admit, I had a favorite ending (between both books) which I am not going to share, but the fact that it ends in a gamble is quite ingenious, as you can’t blame the authors for your choices.
May lady luck be with you.
Quite extreme, so fuck trigger warnings, if you need them you probably can’t handle this author.
5 stars!
July 31, 2024
I will never look at a casino the same way again.
June 7, 2024
This is my second book by this author, and I’m starting to feel like he just really hates vaginas.
March 6, 2024
3.5 stars A solid extreme/splatter punk horror book,
I only gagged twice haha
Overall I really enjoyed Red as a character, through I would have appreciated a little more examination of how replacing one addiction such as heroin for another addiction such as gambling have similar negative effects on ones life.
I also would have liked more time in his back story to explain the desperation that lead to the drug and gambling addiction, though it's not hard to infer- and there is the benefit of jumping right into the casino
I enjoyed aspects of the casino, though I don't get how the humiliation/degradation/sexual abuse profited the house in any way... Probably would have made more sense if there was someone betting on the patrons or selling videos of what they were doing.
I'm fine with the idea of a torture casino... but they should still be out to make money not just brutalize people on the lower floor
I really enjoyed the option of two alternate endings.... even if I did lose the coin flip
I only gagged twice haha
Overall I really enjoyed Red as a character, through I would have appreciated a little more examination of how replacing one addiction such as heroin for another addiction such as gambling have similar negative effects on ones life.
I also would have liked more time in his back story to explain the desperation that lead to the drug and gambling addiction, though it's not hard to infer- and there is the benefit of jumping right into the casino
I enjoyed aspects of the casino, though I don't get how the humiliation/degradation/sexual abuse profited the house in any way... Probably would have made more sense if there was someone betting on the patrons or selling videos of what they were doing.
I'm fine with the idea of a torture casino... but they should still be out to make money not just brutalize people on the lower floor
I really enjoyed the option of two alternate endings.... even if I did lose the coin flip
April 2, 2024
It was fantastic. Aron Beauregard and Daniel Volpe are the absolute best team. Reading both of the books I feel like I already been in this casino. Wow. Five stars without a doubt.
July 27, 2024
A crazy grotesque book not for the squeamish! An interesting story overall, certainly not a casino I'd recommend gambling in!! I enjoyed Red as a character and it was clear that he was paying heavily for his past mistakes. I look forward to reading the Black version to see how it stacks up, 3.5* rounded up.
April 18, 2025
I had to pick this one up as soon as I finished Volpe’s Black Version. I was HOOKED. The concept of this story, the layout and execution was flawlessly done and highly enjoyable although cringy and vomit inducing at many moments IYKYK😅🤢
Through the Eyes of Desperation: The Red Version follows Red. Red is a recovering drug addict who’s lost his daughter, Dessi and is desperate to find her. His ex, Brittany took their daughter whenever she left him and he hasn’t seen her since. Brittany is a junkie prostitute so who knows where Dessi could be at this point. Not only is he worried for his daughter’s well being but he’s also fighting to keep his mother alive. His gambling debt has ate him alive and his mother might lose her life thanks to him.
Red soon finds himself at The Shadows where Black Widow is featured just like in Volpe’s version. Once inside he begins playing games to find his daughter and hopefully stay alive. The games are BRUTAL AF and beyond atrocious. It’s best to not eat before or after once getting to the Mystery Parlay section. Trust me on this. 😅
😵💫🤮
Just like in The Black Version readers are presented with two alternate endings with the flip of the coin; red or black. The Red Version is definitely the preferred ending for me. The black ending was just really depressing but I wasn’t surprised by the outcome one bit.
Highly recommend checking this one out after reading the black version first. I think it makes more sense to read in this order tbh. Everything interconnects and really made it out to be the best experience.
Through the Eyes of Desperation: The Red Version follows Red. Red is a recovering drug addict who’s lost his daughter, Dessi and is desperate to find her. His ex, Brittany took their daughter whenever she left him and he hasn’t seen her since. Brittany is a junkie prostitute so who knows where Dessi could be at this point. Not only is he worried for his daughter’s well being but he’s also fighting to keep his mother alive. His gambling debt has ate him alive and his mother might lose her life thanks to him.
Red soon finds himself at The Shadows where Black Widow is featured just like in Volpe’s version. Once inside he begins playing games to find his daughter and hopefully stay alive. The games are BRUTAL AF and beyond atrocious. It’s best to not eat before or after once getting to the Mystery Parlay section. Trust me on this. 😅
😵💫🤮
Just like in The Black Version readers are presented with two alternate endings with the flip of the coin; red or black. The Red Version is definitely the preferred ending for me. The black ending was just really depressing but I wasn’t surprised by the outcome one bit.
Highly recommend checking this one out after reading the black version first. I think it makes more sense to read in this order tbh. Everything interconnects and really made it out to be the best experience.
April 28, 2024
I am so glad that I read Sew Sorry before this as it gave a deeper look into this sad and tragic universe, with that being said holy mother of God was this a dark and depraved book full of gore and brutality, all I know is I shall now forever avoid any establishment named Shadows, just incase. I really enjoyed the coin flip ending and found that it was a fun choice. This is an extreme horror book and subsequently has most every trigger, I loved it and can't wait to read the black version.
March 30, 2025
My God this was an intense read. The Shadows is a hell of a place to go to to gamble your life away. The torture and depravity is off the charts. Another sickening story from Aron.
January 25, 2024
Holy fuck. What a journey. Shadows might be worse than Hell. This underground casino is filled with terror and horrors beyond your imagination. The reworking of traditional casino games was super fucking dope to read. This was a gory, sometimes gag inducing adventure. Red is such a likable character who just had some shit luck and made a few mistakes in life. I was rooting for him from the start.
The concept of this novel is fucking genius. You get to a point in the book when have to flip a coin to decide your ending. I got the black ending and I’m not going to divulge the outcome that fate chose for me and Red so you’ll have to find out for yourself or see where fate takes you…
Another insane book by AB. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. Finished it in two sittings.
Can’t wait to read Daniel Volpe’s black version which is told from the POV of the casino manager.
The concept of this novel is fucking genius. You get to a point in the book when have to flip a coin to decide your ending. I got the black ending and I’m not going to divulge the outcome that fate chose for me and Red so you’ll have to find out for yourself or see where fate takes you…
Another insane book by AB. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. Finished it in two sittings.
Can’t wait to read Daniel Volpe’s black version which is told from the POV of the casino manager.
April 17, 2024
Awesome illustrations, loved how the ending was a flip of the coin to decide your path. This is definitely a casino I would never want to come in contact with. I picked the black side and was pretty entertained with how it ended, now makes me wonder what the red side would be like.
March 1, 2024
Listened to the audio book! No plot spoilers here.
This is the first book (& first “splatterpunk”) I’ve read from this author since the premise sounded interesting. I enjoyed that Red wasn’t just a torture doll for the author, and felt like someone who you could understand & root for. He had flaws, was very vocal about them. Not only does he say it, but we are able to see first hand how prevalent the flaws are.
The overarching plot was engaging & the Shadows was interesting to read about. I found myself looking forward (bracing myself) to Red exploring the casino & trying out new bets.
However the “horror” from this book comes completely from extreme gore & violence. As a woman, there were a few times I rolled my eyes at some of the descriptions. How many different ways can you refer to a v*gina?
No, really. I want you to think of all the different nicknames you could give it. Anything you thought of, the author used it. At some point it becomes humorous & distracting — which isn’t a bad thing with the disturbing event(s) that are being described. Also, it felt like the author relied so much on ass & crotch violence that I began to expect it & it lost most of its effect.
Still, the ending was quite unique & unexpected. I was genuinely horrified — when I thought I’d read it all at this point! Will definitely pick up the sister-piece “The Black Experience” to learn more about the Black Widow. I can’t wait to learn more about the Shadows & another interesting character in the series!
Overall: it gives you exactly what you came for, & an enjoyable, disturbing read.
This is the first book (& first “splatterpunk”) I’ve read from this author since the premise sounded interesting. I enjoyed that Red wasn’t just a torture doll for the author, and felt like someone who you could understand & root for. He had flaws, was very vocal about them. Not only does he say it, but we are able to see first hand how prevalent the flaws are.
The overarching plot was engaging & the Shadows was interesting to read about. I found myself looking forward (bracing myself) to Red exploring the casino & trying out new bets.
However the “horror” from this book comes completely from extreme gore & violence. As a woman, there were a few times I rolled my eyes at some of the descriptions. How many different ways can you refer to a v*gina?
No, really. I want you to think of all the different nicknames you could give it. Anything you thought of, the author used it. At some point it becomes humorous & distracting — which isn’t a bad thing with the disturbing event(s) that are being described. Also, it felt like the author relied so much on ass & crotch violence that I began to expect it & it lost most of its effect.
Still, the ending was quite unique & unexpected. I was genuinely horrified — when I thought I’d read it all at this point! Will definitely pick up the sister-piece “The Black Experience” to learn more about the Black Widow. I can’t wait to learn more about the Shadows & another interesting character in the series!
Overall: it gives you exactly what you came for, & an enjoyable, disturbing read.
January 2, 2025
and that’s a big fat hell no.
August 13, 2024
Wow, wow, wow....Aron has definitely done it again! This book was as vile and depraved as one would expect a Beauregard book to be! There were times in this book where I could feel my face scrunching up in disgust as I'm reading, yet I couldn't put it down...
Red has a gambling problem and he gets himself into some pretty deep trouble with Mad Dog, the guy he was supposed to be placing bets for, which lands him in the underground casino called Shadows.
Red has quite the past, which you find out through the book. Aron does a great job filling in the back story as the present story takes place. This one tied in so great to The Black version by Daniel Volpe, it was awesome to read two different points of view from the same casino.
At the end of the story, there are two endings of which you flip a red and black coin and read the ending the coin flips on. I read the Red ending and boy oh boy...
If you haven't yet read this one, I highly suggest you get on it. If you love gore and depravity, this one has your name on it!
Red has a gambling problem and he gets himself into some pretty deep trouble with Mad Dog, the guy he was supposed to be placing bets for, which lands him in the underground casino called Shadows.
Red has quite the past, which you find out through the book. Aron does a great job filling in the back story as the present story takes place. This one tied in so great to The Black version by Daniel Volpe, it was awesome to read two different points of view from the same casino.
At the end of the story, there are two endings of which you flip a red and black coin and read the ending the coin flips on. I read the Red ending and boy oh boy...
If you haven't yet read this one, I highly suggest you get on it. If you love gore and depravity, this one has your name on it!
May 15, 2024
Anything by Aron Beauregard is a must read! He teamed up once again with Daniel J. Volpe so i had to dive into this!
I honestly think this is one of Aron's best work. The story, the gore, the characters, the games, the depravity, and the unique-ness with how there are two books based on the same story from two different POVs.
I can't praise these books enough! Also, please read the book "Sew Sorry" by the same authors before reading this one, you won't regret it!
4/5
I honestly think this is one of Aron's best work. The story, the gore, the characters, the games, the depravity, and the unique-ness with how there are two books based on the same story from two different POVs.
I can't praise these books enough! Also, please read the book "Sew Sorry" by the same authors before reading this one, you won't regret it!
4/5
April 28, 2024
honestly??? shocked at how much i liked this and how the emotional beats actually managed to land this time around for a beauregard novel. i'm excited to read the black version next!
July 6, 2024
This book tries to have a soul but fails miserably
March 28, 2024
Through the Eyes of Desperation wasn't just another dense story with tons of shock value - this story actually had character depth and a setting that pulls you right into its own version of hell. Red, our main protagonist, got himself into some big trouble. He pocketed money on parlays that ended up winning big, so he's eventually brought to the Shadows, an underground casino, to pay off his debt.
Right off the bat, we see Red's flaws front and center. He's a gambling and drug addict who digs himself a deeper hole when he uses parlay money on a PI to track down his daughter. Yes, Red screws up a lot in this story, but at the end of the day, he's trying to do right in the name of his daughter. So as a reader, I really felt bad for Red and rooted for him to win these... gruesome and disturbing bets that have more to do with chance than skill. And early on in the story, you realize that even Red's chances aren't great. Would he be willing to risk his body for his child, who may or may not even be his?
The violence and gore definitely live up to the "splatter" part of splatterpunk horror. We're talking severing limbs, genital mutilation, and a lot of abusive scenes... so this book is definitely not for the faint of heart. I have to hand it to Beauregard for creating this visceral imagery from traditional casino games. It made for a very unique plot and between that and the characters, it kept me invested.
I absolutely loved the last section of the book where the reader gets to decide Red's fate. There is a black ending and a red ending. Based on my coin toss, I got the red ending, which was very satisfactory. I thought about reading the black ending too, but I decided against it. I actually like having it remain a mystery. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's one of the best extreme horror books I've read in a while and can't wait to read Daniel J. Volpe's The Black Version - the focus of that story is on the Shadow's manager.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭? ⚠️ Maybe
Right off the bat, we see Red's flaws front and center. He's a gambling and drug addict who digs himself a deeper hole when he uses parlay money on a PI to track down his daughter. Yes, Red screws up a lot in this story, but at the end of the day, he's trying to do right in the name of his daughter. So as a reader, I really felt bad for Red and rooted for him to win these... gruesome and disturbing bets that have more to do with chance than skill. And early on in the story, you realize that even Red's chances aren't great. Would he be willing to risk his body for his child, who may or may not even be his?
The violence and gore definitely live up to the "splatter" part of splatterpunk horror. We're talking severing limbs, genital mutilation, and a lot of abusive scenes... so this book is definitely not for the faint of heart. I have to hand it to Beauregard for creating this visceral imagery from traditional casino games. It made for a very unique plot and between that and the characters, it kept me invested.
I absolutely loved the last section of the book where the reader gets to decide Red's fate. There is a black ending and a red ending. Based on my coin toss, I got the red ending, which was very satisfactory. I thought about reading the black ending too, but I decided against it. I actually like having it remain a mystery. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's one of the best extreme horror books I've read in a while and can't wait to read Daniel J. Volpe's The Black Version - the focus of that story is on the Shadow's manager.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭? ⚠️ Maybe
January 28, 2025
It took me a few chapters to get completely submerged in the story. After those chapters, I was pulled right into the nightmarish world of Shadows, an underground casino where the games are seriously twisted and the stakes are your life.
Red is such a well written character, grappling with his gambling addiction and making choices that keep you on the edge of your seat. There are times I wanted to jump into the book and rip him a new one and other times, you can’t help but root for him as he faces some truly horrific challenges. Obviously this is a work of fiction but he’s stronger than me. There were many scenarios he went through where I would’ve just given up 😂
I’m a year late to reading this and did purchase the hardcover so I had completely forgotten about the "choose your own ending". Flipping a coin to see how Red’s fate unfolds? Genius! It made the reading experience so much more fun and suspenseful. I loved the thrill of not knowing which ending I’d get, and now I’m dying to check out "The Black Version" to see the other side of the story. (I got the Black ending and haven’t read the Red ending yet as I don’t want to spoil anything)
If you're into extreme horror and can handle some seriously graphic scenes, this book is a must-read. It’s wild, it’s disturbing, and I can't recommend it enough! Seriously, grab a copy and dive in—you won’t regret it!
Red is such a well written character, grappling with his gambling addiction and making choices that keep you on the edge of your seat. There are times I wanted to jump into the book and rip him a new one and other times, you can’t help but root for him as he faces some truly horrific challenges. Obviously this is a work of fiction but he’s stronger than me. There were many scenarios he went through where I would’ve just given up 😂
I’m a year late to reading this and did purchase the hardcover so I had completely forgotten about the "choose your own ending". Flipping a coin to see how Red’s fate unfolds? Genius! It made the reading experience so much more fun and suspenseful. I loved the thrill of not knowing which ending I’d get, and now I’m dying to check out "The Black Version" to see the other side of the story. (I got the Black ending and haven’t read the Red ending yet as I don’t want to spoil anything)
If you're into extreme horror and can handle some seriously graphic scenes, this book is a must-read. It’s wild, it’s disturbing, and I can't recommend it enough! Seriously, grab a copy and dive in—you won’t regret it!
September 22, 2025
i started this a while ago and never got around to reviewing it ><' dont yell at me
like actually decent enough. i've been reading a lot of manhua lately that reminded me of this series so i went back after reading the black version forever ago and finally decided to read the red version.
interesting and entertaining tension. my biggest gripe with beauregard is that he fleshes out great societal drama but loses himself in the gore and depravity... sigh... sometimes i wish he'd just do a james patterson clive cussler type book and let himself be cheesy. i think i'd enjoy that.
like actually decent enough. i've been reading a lot of manhua lately that reminded me of this series so i went back after reading the black version forever ago and finally decided to read the red version.
interesting and entertaining tension. my biggest gripe with beauregard is that he fleshes out great societal drama but loses himself in the gore and depravity... sigh... sometimes i wish he'd just do a james patterson clive cussler type book and let himself be cheesy. i think i'd enjoy that.
May 23, 2024
OMFG.
What a journey this was.
I was eating chic fil a this morning while reading the first bet while homie was drinking garbage juice. Not me having to throw away my breakfast. 🤣
My question to you guys is SPOILER ALERT do you guys this Dessi was the kid that Red shot in the casino??? IDK MAN I THINK IT WAS AND IF IT WAS IM NOT OKAY.
This is BY FAR my favorite AB book. I loved it so much.
What a journey this was.
I was eating chic fil a this morning while reading the first bet while homie was drinking garbage juice. Not me having to throw away my breakfast. 🤣
My question to you guys is SPOILER ALERT do you guys this Dessi was the kid that Red shot in the casino??? IDK MAN I THINK IT WAS AND IF IT WAS IM NOT OKAY.
This is BY FAR my favorite AB book. I loved it so much.
September 16, 2025
Forget Playground, this is by far the grossest Aron Beauregard book. The unrelenting descriptions of mutilation and torture, especially later in the book, are genuinely tough to get through.
In spite of that, this is a simple but enjoyable read. We get some great villains, really fun horror set pieces, and a really cool gimmick with the two endings. I also like how Aron is willing to make Red such a deeply flawed character. I feel like a lot of horror protagonists end up being kinda boring blank slates, but Aron Beauregard always seems to have fun making them feel at home in his world
In spite of that, this is a simple but enjoyable read. We get some great villains, really fun horror set pieces, and a really cool gimmick with the two endings. I also like how Aron is willing to make Red such a deeply flawed character. I feel like a lot of horror protagonists end up being kinda boring blank slates, but Aron Beauregard always seems to have fun making them feel at home in his world
June 28, 2025
5 stars absolutely brilliant! this would also make a incredible film I think !
I love how you got to pick your own ending too ! I picked red and it did not disappoint. great story great characters , Great Gore and grit! I was so involved in this character and was behind our red the whole way. carnt wait to Read the second book the black version!
I love how you got to pick your own ending too ! I picked red and it did not disappoint. great story great characters , Great Gore and grit! I was so involved in this character and was behind our red the whole way. carnt wait to Read the second book the black version!
August 27, 2024
My first Beauregard book and this one was actually pretty solid. It's about Red, a lonely middle-aged man who gets stuck playing games at a sadistic casino. The violence was over the top, and it made you want to keep reading (listening as I did).
November 5, 2024
This is one of Aaron's books that took me longer to read as I found it to be a slower burn. Still a cool concept and story, I just couldn't get as into it. Don't worry, it still has all the gruesome bits he's known for!!
April 13, 2025
Yep ! I loved this one ! The stakes were high just like Playground and I honestly had a hard time putting this book down … I cared about Red and rooted for him the entire time .. even though he’s kind of a scum bag haha …. I’m excited to read the black version now and sew sorry !
March 22, 2024
As always, Aron does not disappoint!
April 5, 2024
Aron Beauregard does not miss!
November 7, 2024
A twist on the classic, fear of desperation and blackmail. Fundamentally a good story, with a sickening array of games within (which is good).
The choices made by the reader and the character really add to the psychological despair which this story emphasises.
The choices made by the reader and the character really add to the psychological despair which this story emphasises.
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