Unworld

by J.R. Curtis

Fleeing an abusive relationship, Ellie Carson suddenly finds herself in The Unworld; a peculiar in-between, mimicking our reality. A place with infinite entrances for those who aren’t looking. A strange realm filled with forgotten things, people, and beings that shouldn’t exist. The underside of the cross-stitching of time, never seen and all binding.
The way out is always shifting, and may not exist at all.
With help from others among the lost, Ellie begins the treacherous journey out of the realm between worlds. At their heels, a lunatic known only as The Junkman, leads an army of lost souls in pursuit of Ellie and her small party of misfits, to fulfill their own sinister goals.

Genres: Horror

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a horror book could be said to be liminal, Unworld definitely qualifies. (Liminal is defined as occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.) It definitely put me in mind of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Don't get me wrong, they are two very different books, but Unworld definitely has that vibe. It's full of empty, eerie, vaguely unsettling landscapes with a very cool story at the core. Give this one a try if you like adventurous, eerie horror fantasy. 4.5 stars

[Beatrix Starling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unworld is a fascinating concept of people falling through the cracks of reality.
It is a place where the laws of our usual existence do not apply. Up is down and there is here - a warped subreality where survival is tricky and escape is hindered by other travellers who may not be fully sane.

I love alternative realities so i did enjoy the book. I listened on audio and i wonder if i had been better off reading my kindle version - while the narrator was good, i felt that her voice did not convey the horror elements just as well and i missed out on the darkness of it.
And while it wasn't as atmospheric as i wanted and the weirdness wasn't fully felt, the story was really good and i enjoyed it.
I'll probably reread on my kindle at some point, and i will definitely recommend the book to anyone looking alternative realities stories.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Ellie Carson had always been afraid. Ever since she was a little girl, standing before the bus on the first day of school.”

J.R. Curtis has an incredible way of writing stories; he creates characters that get under your skin and burrow into your mind and heart. Ellie was one of those creations; and I was holding hope and dread for her in equal amounts as she navigated the Unworld.

This fantastic tale follows Ellie as she drops out of existence into a dark and dangerous underworld full of strange creatures and the people humanity has rejected or forgotten about.

Every moment of this story reflects the author’s inventive imagination in crafting a unique story that will appeal to a variety of audiences: adventure, science fiction, horror, etc.

[Linda Mcintire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good. The only downside was that it left me wanting more.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall but found it dragged a bit after the first half, and I think I like the concept of the book more than how it ended up being executed.

The book is centered around a twilight realm where the lost and forgotten end up, with our protagonist, Ellie, being a domestic abuse victim who falls there after an altercation with her abuser The surreal vibe of the Unworld makes for some good horror moments, though it doesn't get quite as weird as I would have liked.

A couple of the "circles" of the Unworld aren't very fleshed out, which makes the pacing feel a bit uneven. The spooky mall feels like the segment that got the most love in the writing process, and was my favorite part. I like the feel of an empty mall as a liminal space, and that chapter also slows things down for a bit to allow for a few human moments where Ellie bonds with her traveling companions. After that segment, the next circles and the events that happen there don't feel quite as effective in comparison.

I think the most effective horror in the book is actually the stuff that isn't supernatural in nature, which I also wish was expanded a bit more. Ellie's abusive husband is only present before the main action of the book occurs, and while her abuse informs her character and helps contrast her growth later in the story, it doesn't really come up again after the first half of the book.

Similarly, the segment dedicated to the main antagonist's former life and what led to his descent into the Unworld deals with the very human issue of homophobia in a small rural town. While I may be biased as a gay reader, I found that to be the most effective and chilling chapter, and was a little disappointed that by the end of the book, the Junkman feels like a generically omnicidal lunatic. While there's an overarching theme of the Unworld being a place for those who have been forgotten by society, I didn't find that it really landed in the end, partially because the Junkman's motives feel muddled.

Again, I did like the book overall, but wish a couple of the ideas in it were a bit better executed. There are some really good moments, but I found it dragged down by uneven pacing and some clunky phrasing that could have used a second editing pass (along with a few typos here and there).

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unworld is my current favorite book written by J.R. Curtis! It drew me in from the very beginning, and I was so surprised by it because I'm usually a smutty romance/romantasy reader lol. So let's get into it!

1. I love J.R.'s writing style. It's easy to read without being sophomoric. He goes into the perfect amount of detail to give you a good mental visual, without boring you about the description of grass for half a page. His character development (especially in this book) is SOOO satisfying. Which I know is a weird word to use for that, but it just is lol.

2. This plot was AMAZING. It's easily one of the most original books I've read all year! There are some fun, real-world tie-ins that I actually screamed about when they were revealed. This book made me feel so many emotions! There was some horror, some sci-fi, some mystery, a lot of adventure, and then you throw in a revenge plot from someone you weren't expecting one from and... It just won me over.😂

3. The ending was so heartwarming (plus nostalgic, iykyk). I didn't expect it to end that way. It definitely kept me guessing!

All in all, 5/5 stars! I can't wait to get a physical copy and annotate the Hell out of it!

A couple of my favorite quotes:
✨️"Predators prey on weak animals, but we are not weak."
✨️"You're afraid, just like everyone that follows you. You're just the loudest."
✨️"I am brave, and I’m afraid. Those are two different things."

[BookzBookzBookz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unwired is one of those books where you want to read it, because the concept sounds totally amazing, but as you read you wanna put it back on the shelf at least two to three times. I developed a love-hate relationship with this book, but I finished it. I'm glad I did.

Many times, we feel unseen, invisible by the world. So transparent, we could easily vanish and the world wouldn't even notice. That was Ellie. She manages to fall into the in-between. A world behind the world, where no one sees, but those unseen. In this world, there are creatures, people and situation that can either sustain you, or tear you apart. And then there's The Junkman.

Unworld is a decent read, and really doesn't lag, but it's just so very weird. It's a place that nightmares begin, so I shoulda been enthralled. Sadly, it was quite repetitive. I found myself falling into a lull that put me to sleep more. It took me quite some time to finish it, because of that hum. Not saying this book is boring or slow- it could simply have been me and my frame of mind. I did like it; it just didn't always keep me hooked.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You J. R. Curtis

This author brings the novel to life with is descriptive writing style. The journey reminded me of Richard Bach"s Book Johnathan Living Seagull meets Dantes Inferno by Dante Alighieri.

The main character falls into the in between world (behind the veil). Each person has a talisman/ relic that connects them to the real world. If the talisman is lost then the person can not return to the world of the living. This becomes a rescue mission of sorts thru many different levels. Each level contains more obstacles and perils. Read to find out who the protagonist meets on her path to get back to the real world. I really loved the twist at the end. Highly Recommend this 5 🌟 to anyone that is going thru hell you all might get through it before the Devil even knows your there.

Dark Fantasy/ Speculative Fiction
Graphic Novel / Gore


Possible Triggers

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those reads where you don't know where the story is going until you reach the end and then everything makes sense and you're like "Ahhh I get it!".
 
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator's performance trying to match intonation and voices to situations and characters' personalities.
 
This is a sad story in a way and a powerful inner developmental journey which is reflected by the actual journey in the underworld where crazy and bizarre s**t happens and not anyone is trustworthy.
 
I have to say that it took me a bit to get into it as I didn't understand the direction and meaning, but once I let my need for rationalisation go, I appreciated the originality and the meaning underneath. On top of it, the ending was very satisfying which is always a bonus.
 
If you want to experience some weirdness and just go on a bizarre adventure, try this read!
 
Thanks to the author for a code and this is my honest opinion.

[Sammi Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unworld by J.R. Curtis is a story of lost damaged souls. As you read you will soon find yourself among these lost souls, thrust into a time bending, ever changing dimensional realm. Which seemingly is impossible and unreal, yet the dangers prove to be very real. You will find yourself sympathetic for the severely emotional deranged misguided Junkman but also rooting against him as you racing along side Ellie and the others. One of which is a missing/lost historical figure from the 1930’s. Will they find a way out or forever be lost and then forgotten just like everything else in the Unworld?! What will become of them?

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like nothing else I have read by J. R. Curtis, showing that he has a talent for many horror genres. The story unfolded brilliantly, with two characters that, while so different on the surface, both had heartbreaking experiences in their lives. I really liked how the story was told in present time with glimpses of the past, letting you get to know more about the characters and how they came to be in Unworld and how they became who they were once there. The ending moved me to tears and elevated a really good book into something truly special.

[Danielle Yeager · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing I love about J.R. Curtis is that he writes many different subgenres, And he does it well! I've read and loved his western horror, Bloodletting, his sci-fi horror, They Take Your Skin, and his anthology, Echoes of a Fever Dream. No surprise... I love his newest, Unworld!

It's an immersive, world-building tale about grief and healing and an action-packed quest full of interesting characters and fantastical creatures! Meet the Junkman!

[Erin Sterett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unworld takes you to what I would describe as an in between. Not in this world, or the next, but stuck in the middle. When the starts, Ellie is trying to flee from an abusive relationship, but she quickly finds her self in a different place. Will she be able to make her way out of the ever changing place? This story is eerie, dark, and has a good amount of horror elements. I really enjoyed the characters and the overall idea of the book.

I’d give it 4.5 out of 5!

[Elissa Hess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot. I think this was my first steampunk read in a while. I could imagine a different cover for this read, which could tie better to the content. While some scenes needed more development and depth, and at times the plot felt rushed, this book provided a somehow soothing scenario of what might have happened to Amelia Earhart; it was great to "see" her in such a fictional setting.

[Ali O · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has an interesting and deep storyline!
The story takes place in a different realm/reality (Unworld). The book is well written, very unique and creative, and has suspense and tense moments. There’s also some bits of personal discovery with the characters.
Thank you to J.R. Curtis for an audible copy of this story.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

satisfying ending

This was a fun, well written read with creative use of a certain historical figure. Certainly some creatively creepy monsters, and an antagonist you even occcasionally feel bad for. Will definitely read more by this author.

[Aaron Eichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting story. Do you ever wonder what happens to things that get misplaced and lost? Well it appears that it goes to this reality. I enjoyed the idea of lost things and people, and I like how the author added people in history who were lost. Great work.

[Janelle Halstead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just not my cup of tea. A different alternative world is entered and they have to survive. I didn’t find this very interesting but finished the book anyway. I won’t say more to spoil it. Others seemed to have loved it so definitely think you should take a chance if the storyline appeals to you.

[Linda Ralich · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride!

Truly imaginative premise that grabs the reader early and holds tight until the very end. Can honestly say I wanted more, and highly recommend this book.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, original, compelling story that kept me up past my bedtime!

[M. Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

It was like taking a walk through another dimension. I didn't want the story to end because the book was so good!

[Christopher Dahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a terrifying but curious world this book takes you to! So many surprises of all kinds along the way.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the description, I thought I knew where it was going. Boy was I wrong! Mr. Curtis threw in plenty of little surprises to keep me guessing. I love a good scare, but this book goes beyond that- with a beautiful story of friendship, grief, and resiliency.