Outcast

by Giancarlo Vanzzini

In the suffocating darkness of a high school hallway, Johnny finds himself face-to-face with Billy, his tormentor, whose menacing presence threatens to crush Johnny's spirit. But as the brutality escalates, an unexplained power awakens within Johnny, painting grotesque images of retribution in his mind. As Johnny's rage surges, he must confront the terrifying force that has awakened inside him, a sinister and insatiable darkness that feeds on his fear and desire for revenge.

Genres: LGBT

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[fanboyriot · Rating 4 out of 5]

♡ Creepy Town
♡ Super Weird Teacher
♡ Riverdale/Eye Witness Vibes

This lowkey gave off the first few seasons of Riverdale if it was mashed together with Eye Witness. It was dark and kinda of depressing to read but there was a lingering sense of horror that kept you guessing.

The plot was a bit confusing to me while I liked the setting and some of the characters it was a bit difficult to understand what was happening. The ending kinda left me wondering what was going to happen next, a slightly open for interpretation ending but not necessarily a bad one. Just a bit depressing. With multiple point of views everything seemed to work out well, usually if there are more than three it gets confusing but this seemed to be written out rather well and balanced each persons point of view out really nicely.

Overall, this was an entertaining read with some queer horror/mystery vibes that covers some darker themes. I am definitely interested for more to come with this series. Also just look how gorgeous this cover is!

A big thank you to Book Sprouts, Windmill Publishing, and the author for this eARC in exchange for a review!

Spice Level: n/a
Angst Level: 💧💧💧💧 (4/5)
POV: A Mix of First and Third Person with Switching Point of Views
Release Date: 01, October 2024
Rep: LGBTQIA+ (Main and Side Characters)

⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic:Bullying, Violence, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate:Sexual assault, Hate crime, and Toxic friendship
Minor:Death, Grief, and Gaslighting

[Julia Dobyns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know the alternate universe that this story takes place in along with learning about the characters. The monster is scary and the villain is diabolical. I felt for the two main characters with their troubles and romance.

The scary moments were scary and I loved the twist at the end, makes me thirsty for more! It makes me glad to know that this is planned to be a series, I'm patiently waiting in the closet for the sequel!

I kind of wished that some parts were a little longer, but maybe that's because I'm used to long chapters like from Stephen King. There were also some contingencies that I noticed, like how Brandon started off with a mustang and then suddenly he's driving a chevy. Maybe that's part of the story, I can't say for sure. It would also be nice to have more variety with the tags like: cosmic horror, mystery, shadows, monsters, ect. There's a lot of tags for the lgbtq+ community and this story is SO MUCH more than that!

That about sums up my thoughts. All in all, a story I would continue to read with future installments!
-Cheers Mates!<3.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emmett Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giancarlo Vanzzini weaves a dark and unsettling tale of obsession, revenge, and supernatural horror set in the fictional town of Westfield Valley. The story revolves around the twisted relationship between two high school students, Johnny and Billy, whose animosity and repressed desires erupt in a devastating paranormal cataclysm that destroys the town.

Vanzzini employs a fragmented, nonlinear narrative that jumps between different characters' perspectives and slips back and forth in time. While initially disorienting, this approach effectively builds tension and a creeping sense of dread as the pieces of the disturbing puzzle gradually fall into place. Interspersed excerpts from police reports, news articles, and personal correspondence create a sense of realism and provide welcome context.

The author excels at crafting vivid, psychologically rich internal monologues that immerse the reader in the characters' increasingly unhinged mental states. Johnny and Billy are portrayed as deeply troubled young men grappling with past trauma, repressed sexuality, and obsessive tendencies. As the story progresses and their dark impulses are unleashed, the novella takes on an increasingly nihilistic and transgressive tone.

Vanzzini's prose is atmospheric and often poetic, with striking visual metaphors and a keen ear for dialogue. However, the writing occasionally veers into melodrama and certain sections can feel overwritten compared to the novella's more understated moments.

The supernatural elements are woven into the story in a tantalizingly ambiguous way, leaving much open to interpretation. The malevolent entity Ms. Wolfe serves as a catalyst and possible manifestation of Johnny and Billy's psychic anguish, but her true nature and connection to the characters remain mysterious.

While the story's subject matter is undeniably dark and some may find the violence and sexuality gratuitous, Vanzzini handles these mature themes with a raw intensity that suits the characters' extreme psychological states. This is not a tale for the faint of heart.

Thought-provoking and profoundly unsettling, "Outcast" marks a bold and promising debut. Vanzzini has crafted a hypnotic and uncompromising novella that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Those who appreciate challenging and transgressive horror will find much to admire, but readers sensitive to graphic content should approach with caution.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling surprise

I read this book solely off the cover alone, no story synopsis or summary. I thought it was going to be some high school bully romance. Boy I was so wrong. But I think that led me to enjoy the book more. There was a mystery unfolding from the first chapter, and I couldn't pull myself away from it. I loved the imagery of the book as well, and how each character's imagery was tied to their personality, their life, their way of thinking. I am craving more of this mystery. 😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️

[Joshua Ong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there were more chapters on Johnny but the emails and documents about him sufficed. It was a gripping book, it took me a couple days to finish. I like how students aren’t homophobic towards Billy and Brandon.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is in the hallway when his bully appears and he is scared. It is not going to go the way he expected when a strange power fills him. What is this power? Will he use it against the bully? How will it affect his life? See how he gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review

[Precociousp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giancarlo Vanzzini’s Outcast speaks to a generation of queer and straight teens alike, capturing the raw, often harsh reality of high school. It’s not always filled with good times; sometimes we’re forced to face difficult decisions that shape who we become. Johnny and Billy, the central characters, feel all too real—like the high school friends we knew who were stuck in toxic relationships that bled into every aspect of their lives. The trauma they endure and how it affects their romance is handled with authenticity and care, making their journey both heartbreaking and relatable.

The setting is equally chilling. Vanzzini crafts a world that feels like a darker, more twisted version of Riverdale or Goosebumps. It’s as if the town itself becomes a reflection of someone’s spiraling mental health, creating a backdrop that heightens the story’s sense of dread. This combination of psychological tension and paranormal elements makes the book all the more immersive.

What sets Vanzzini apart is his writing. He’s able to craft deeply unsettling, complex narratives that leave you uncomfortable, yet utterly captivated. You can’t help but keep turning the pages, even as the story takes darker and darker turns. There’s something inherently dangerous about a sexually repressed teenage boys with too much time on their hands, and Vanzzini explores that dynamic masterfully.

While the novel excels in many areas, there are moments where the pacing can feel a bit slow or overwhelming. Some readers might find the level of discomfort a little much at times, but this tension is also part of what makes the book so compelling.

I commend Vanzzini for taking a bold step into young adult paranormal fiction—a genre that many have tried, but few have succeeded in mastering. Outcast feels fresh, and the final twist will stay with readers long after they’ve finished. Fans of dark, psychological YA with a paranormal twist will find themselves hooked, and I’m hopeful this is just the beginning of a series that has much more to offer.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giancarlo Vanzzini does a fantastic job in writing this horror novel, it had that element that I was hoping for and was engaged with what was happening. The concept worked and I thought it was suspenseful and had a great premise that worked in this genre. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the way they were written and was invested in what was happening to them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Urszula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting characters and relationships among them. Strong characters and relationships among them. Not easy ones. Plot full of action twists and turns.
What next?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andrew Buttery · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was an extremely disjointed novel that introduced plot elements that had no resolution and made no sense it the context of the story (what any of these subplots had to do with the earthquake bafgle me) the characters were underdeveloped and just plain unlikeable.
If I could give a half star I would