HOT MUSKET is an old-school sleaze book about a group of young, partner swapping friends who go on a yearly hike into the Utah mountains, hoping to get away from civilization and do some dirty deeds in nature! They have no idea that an old man with an antique musket is waiting in the woods for them!
Inspired by the kind of reading material that you could only find at newsstands and adult bookshops back in the '70s, HOT MUSKET is a modern take on retro sensibilities. Written by JUDITH SONNET, author of such horror books as SUMMER NEVER ENDS, LOW BLASPHEMY, and MAGICK.
DNF at 29%. I just could not click with this story. The first quarter of the book was just random, scattered thoughts and situations, with no real context or path forward. And every chapter jumped between a different character, which I really have a hard time with. The whole thing, at least as far as I got, had a fair amount of sexual references and such, but, again, none of it felt like it was there for any good reason. Almost as if the author just wrote a bunch of sexual content and tried to structure a story around it, which never works well. I did, however, enjoy the quality of Sonnet’s writing here. Unfortunately, it did not match the content. Maybe the story progressed into a better flow further in, but I just couldn’t go the distance.
If you're looking for an erotic horror novella, this is the read for you! I loved this so much and am excited to see Judith venturing into the erotic side of things. Though I feel like she dabbles in most of her extreme this is sex forward. Erotic first and foremost. Despite being written in current times this definitely gives off vintage 70s/80s horror vibes. Slasher in the woods with college kids who like to get up to a lot of *cough* fun activities as a group.
I'm currently also reading a very dense true crime at the moment so when it was time to pick up another read I wasn't into the mood for anything too long or serious and this really hit the mark for short and sweet. There isn't anything by Judith I've read that I haven't enjoyed and this was no exception. Highly recommend this read and hope she writes more like this!
What a blast! It IS way more of an erotica novella than it is a brutal slasher but it is still both and I enjoyed the climax or, I guess, the MANY climaxes. I feel the concept of the antagonist was a bit underutilized but I wouldn't say I mind that since it sets out to make you hot and horny and it succeeds. There are plenty of spicy scenes, an orgy, primarily lesbian but there's still plenty of bi and straight moments. The characters are pretty distinguished and developed for a novella, as well. I would say that I think it ended a bit too fast, it probably could've dragged out for another 100 pages of the hot sex and people fighting for their lives but I understand Sonnet's intent of keeping it lighter and not such a dark, demented tale. It was fun though and a quick read! I'd recommend it if you're looking for something to get you hot but also still get some of that slasher horror sprinkled in. Definitely not what I was expecting since, in my mind, Sonnet is known for her ultra twisted material and this is a lot easier to digest. I love to see that range! I will be reading more of her work in the future.
If the idea of a 1980's splatter film with really spicy content but set in the present day sounds like something you might be interested in, then look no further, you hit the jackpot.
We all know Sonnet for her amazing skills in the Splatterpunt/extreme horror community. We can now add erotic horror to her list of accolades. The spice in this book (which is a lot, 'cause, y'know, erotica), was *chefs kiss*. It was better written than half the spicy romance books I read, and that's a lot. Add in a crazy old man who kills people just because? Well, sign me up! This book was short and full of amazing writing and I can't wait to see Sonnet dip into this genre again. Until then, I'll be reading the rest of her horror books because I can never get enough of her books. If you like spice and horror, you'll love this.
Judith Sonnet has written plenty of horror books throughout the years and in different sub-genres. She's a writer who can easily adapt to any suggested sub-genre and pull off something amazing with it. Hot Musket is her first attempt at an erotic horror story. Erotic Horror isn't exactly my thing, but I don't mind it every now and again.
A group of college students go to the woods every year to have an orgy, but this will be their last time out in the wilderness together, so they're hoping to make the most of it. Unfortunately, a killer is on the loose and if they're not careful, a violent and overly grotesque bloodbath might interrupt their stay.
Hot Musket is very much an old-school sleaze, horror novella with more sex than actual violence. It's a fun and fairly written story with some very interesting descriptions of sex and pleasure. This book reminds me a lot of a Richard Laymon novel, just without the r*pe. It's a fun story with a likable cast of characters, but I must admit I wasn't keen on the finale.
Overall: It's a very fun novella that loses itself at the end. 7/10
We were about to embark on our yearly hike . . . which was always the highlight of my summer.
OK, first things first: although Judith Sonnet's quick novella "Hot Musket" isn't the first book that has made me think this is necessary it is by far the most, well, abundant in terms of sexual content that I've ever read. And that's including reading the articles (ahem) and "Letters to the Editor" (ahem, the return of ahem) of various adult-themed magazines (hint: not finance). So yes, Virginia, I am adding a new genre to my goodreads catalogue, namely, "erotica". However, I must confess that my "concept" if you will of what constitutes erotica vs. all-out, no holds barred sexual content (read: pretty hardcore pr0n) is ever-so-slightly different. Could be growing up in the Bible Belt influenced me more than I want to admit… Everyone deserves to have their dreams come true.
I'm not saying I mind that "topic" per se and for the most part, it was all handled rather tastefully (arguably literally and metaphorically). In fact, Sonnet's book starts off with a rather well-formulated set-up for not only what I considered to be adequately formed and sympathetic characters - a group of friends finishing their last year of college in Salt Lake City, all more or less connected by some degree to the film-making department - but also the scenario for the rampant animalistic sex we're about to witness. Yes, they had a plan in place! And up to this point, it really didn't discourage me from reading away my Sunday afternoon. Baseball . . . baseball . . . baseball . . .
However, where Sonnet's book quickly becomes something out of the very worst horror films ever made is the same process for our antagonist, namely, the self-monikered "Patriot" who apparently has been rampaging and serial killing his way unmolested through the Colorado mountains for gods know how long (at least as long as it's taken to gather up 25 victims!). It is with no small degree of surprise that no one ever mentions this as if people disappearing in the area is just a given so what the heck, right guys? But hey, while we're waiting to die, let's all get naked and start up with our annual trip through the Kama Sutra? Oh, can I borrow your lube for a second… even though none of us seem interested in using the condoms we brought… But what are a few STDs among pals, amirite? Would ya look what we’ve got here!
Again, if you wanted to just take this book as a fun frolic in the outdoors trying things you've only fantasized about, then this is a great wee story. Sexual freedom that would make flower children from the 60s blush and hide! However, why is this guy going around just popping out of the bushes shooting people dead? The only motivation we seem to be given is he likes shooting his antique rifles from the 18th and 19th centuries. Why he shoots them at people then, well, I dunno! There's not exactly a really thorough look at what drove him to do so, particularly once we realize he's got his little house of horrors set up just off the normal pathways that the general public like to hike to their hearts content! And for a practiced serial killer, he really doesn't seem to know his business all that well. I mean, "hey, I hit you in the head really hard, you should be dead!!" is not exactly a scientifically proven way to determine that your victims are deceased now is it? I don’t think any of us will be okay for a long time.
Further adding to my disappointment, there is no build up nor surprise at all in these attacks. Sonnet wields foreshadowing like a caveman using a big rock to smash open a particularly troublesome walnut. No subtlety, no real tension just bang (and yes, that's a sex pun, too)! The final scenes themselves are almost laughably bad and predictable as well, with an epilogue added that just feels more like an excuse to check off the 100th orgasm in the book vs. bringing any real closure or sense to this entire endeavour. The utter lack of any kind of finality, either through police presence or at very least a gathering of the deceased feels cheap at best. These characters, this story deserved more. I just—I just do this for—for sport!
So, again, the author did accomplish what she herself said was her target, namely, structuring the tale "after the golden age pornos of the 70s and early 80s." I don't and didn't mind any of the pornographic bits at all, and to paraphrase Maximus, "aren't you not incredibly turned on?", well, the answer would be yes. There were some very, very sexy and hot scenes. So kudos on that part. However, in terms of the horror angle, well, saying that "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" had more actual, effective horror in it is, well, saying something. The set-up for doing better in that regard was there just waiting to be expanded upon, but ultimately we're left with a few literal holes in the cast along with one really sad chase scene and little else. So an unsatisfying 2 1/2 stars.
I love authors who can easily shed their writing personas and swap genres effortlessly. She may be known for her extreme horror titles (ever heard of NO ONE RIDES FOR FREE?) but she can also write sleaze, erotica, quiet horror, and a host of other sub-genres. No matter what she writes, I'll be reading it.
A group of friends are gearing up to embark on their annual trip into the woods to hike, enjoy nature, and just go off the grid for a bit...oh, to participate in some sleazy fun as well. This time, however, there is a new addition to the established group, and tension is high as the others wonder if the new recruit will be repulsed by the extracurricular activities. This trip is special as they are all in the last year of college, and there's a bit of sadness mixed with coming-of-age as they wonder what direction life will take them.
While they are partnering up and frolicking in the woods, a demented old man with an antique musket begins hunting the kids. The addition of the old man managed to make the story funny and horrific at the same time. It gave it just the right element of cheesiness to balance out the sleaze.
This was an endearing, fun read with characters who came off the page (no pun intended!) I hope Judith has more erotic horror planned for the future. Available now in paperback and on KU!
When a group of friends prepare to embark on their annual trip into the woods for what can only be described as a ‘sex festival’, they have some reservations about a new addition to the group, and whether she will be onboard with their planned shenanigans.
This is the first book from Sonnet that goes in this particular direction, and honestly I hope it’s not the last. The smut felt real and devoid of any glitz and glamour….. it was raw and sticky, as things should be. The horror elements weren’t subtle, but there was definitely less of it than I expected tbh, but I’m not mad about it, Judith has plenty of other books to cram that into! It was pacey and graphic, yet had enough meat built into it to not feel superficial. This is a sleazy book, but there was enough background/inner monologue layered into it that the cast felt real enough to get invested into.
It’s not Hemingway, but if you want a Russ Meyer take on that, then this is your chance!
Hot Musket is a wonderfully fun blend of slasher horror and cheesy vintage porn. A group of college friends set out to the woods on their annual hike and celebratory orgy. This year is their final year, as they’re all graduating college, and they find themselves with more than one new body tagging along to the trip.
While not labeled a slasher and no knives in sight, this book really reminded me of some of my favorite old B-movie slasher flicks featuring horny young people idyllically frolicking into danger. This book is packed with plenty of sex with a likable cast of characters. Even when stuff started to hit the fan the book managed to stay campy and I was surprised to find myself laughing at the most ludicrous times. Overall a good trashy sexy good time!
When I heard Judith was gonna write an erotic horror, I was intrigued, especially since my own background has largely been a erotica and erotic horror.
The book was an excellent horror story, but would I define it as Erotic? It had sex in it, but the plot was more focused on the horror aspects. I'd say it was an horror book with sex in it, not necessarily erotic in genre.
This has been on my wish list for a bit now and I finally took the time to enjoy it without distractions. Another brilliant book by Judith. She writes with such finesse even when the book is filled with violence or like this, erotica. She does it with such taste you forget you are reading a book that is inspired by 70s and 80s xrated films. I enjoyed this tremendously.
A fun, silly, very fast-paced book, but I wouldn't call it good... Were the spicy scenes meant to be funny? Either way, they made me laugh. The plot was over and done with so quickly, like 80% of the book is sex, talking about sex, thinking about sex, thinking about movies, walking, then the last 20 pages are around a mad man running around for a bit, then the end. Not much of a story, really!
I totally overlooked this being an erotic horror and I was so extremely confused waiting for the gore… it’s cool though Judith did a great job it’s just not my thing. I wouldn’t have read this if I knew prior it was more of a porn than a gore fest.
Erotic Horror for adults only! This book is basically a porno until you get about 2/3 in walks in a old man with a civil war musket and starts shooting.
I loved this book! Judith is amazing 👏 I was on the fence if I would like this or not. It did not disappoint! It's nice to see her writing in different styles. I'm not a great reviewer, but go read this book!