Madhouse Promenade

by Lyn Moore

This dark, sometimes funny, fantasy version of Crazy, Stupid, Love features a story about Ian, who must face his internal demons by living with the physical reincarnation of the Seven Deadly Sins.



Ian is on the fence about living. In his 30's, life hasn't panned out as he expected.After a failed attempt to take his own life, Ian finds himself living with strangers who claim to be Spirits. It doesn't take him long to discover who exactly those Spirits are.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

218 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2024

Reviews

[Maddie Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 3⭐️
Setting: 3⭐️
Plot: 3⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 4⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 3.5⭐️

A super solid debut. I enjoyed the setting and concept so much. Both lent to a meaningful but comedic exploration of mental health, shame, depression, loss, and purpose. The protagonist is frustratingly relatable, and some of the band of side characters were refreshing and interesting. I wish we'd had more pages to explore each of the seven deadly sins personified, as a few were pretty ambiguous and mercurial even by the end.

Plot, pacing, and style had a lot of polish, especially for a debut. The climax hit, and the emotional investment and payoff were high. I think there could have been tears and a more memorable lasting impact if there had been a shocking twist or reveal at the right moment, and if we had more insight and backstory into all of the significant characters. There was definitely elbow room here to stretch out a bit more.

Overall, I had a great time, and much of the intention was realized. There's really nothing I would change or eliminate. It just needed more. Can't wait to see what Lyn Moore writes next.

[Kaven Hirning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute treasure.
It’s legitimately the most unique and authentic piece I’ve read in ages.
There is wit, sorrow, and heart woven in every single chapter from start to finish.
A remarkable prose meets an absolute original plot that has you both laughing out loud and sobbing uncontrollably.


Seriously. Lyn is kind of a genius here.
And as a debut?

I am frothing at the mouth for what comes next!

[Stev Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god…tackling such a heavy topic is hard; doing it through a fantasy novel, while staying tasteful, is even harder. Addiction, sexual shame, and suicide are handled beautifully, in a funny and binge-able novel. Kinda like reading the most well developed supernatural episode ever.

[Calandra Bogza · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ I loved this book. The difficult topics that were discussed were written so thoughtfully and beautifully. I enjoyed every single character and their own unique circumstances (well except Gio but he was meant to suck). Amazing way to start 2025!

[Michelle Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars*
A story about loss, self-realization, & growth. A reminder that it's okay to ask for help & not being too proud to accept it.

[Bookishentropy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of the bat, this book was very heavy. There are various mentions of suicide and death and I kind of struggled with the pacing of it all. Hoewever, things started to make more sense towards the 1/3 of the book. I enjoyed the different relationships with the diverses sins. I also cannot stress this enough : chapter 17 was necessary and one of the highlight of the story. It gave meaning to Lust. My main critic is that I thought the ending was rushed. I wanted Ian to "learn his lesson" less quickly and explore the bonds he has with the sins. I liked the message of how asking for help is important but I craved more than what I got. It was still very enjoyable though and I am glad I read it.

Side note : very impressed with Moore’s writing style!

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic book. Short and sweet. Great if you want something that makes you think a little but not so much it keeps you up at night. Wholesome and enjoyable. Will be recommending to friends as a love short book

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book surprising. Reading is my escape so I often shy away from heavy topics. This was such a unique take on rehabilitation, life, and relationships that I found myself escaping despite the heaviness of some of the content. At times intentionally uncomfortable and other times beautifully emotive, this book dissects the human condition in a fresh and clever way, particularly from a debut author. I look forward to reading more from Lyn Moore.

[yxebookdragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! I found Lyn Moore on TikTok and really love his videos and content! I've found our tastes in books are very similar so when he said he wrote a book I knew I had to check it out!

I really loved the concept! It was a fun twist on the seven deadly sins. Ian attempts to commit suicide and the seven deadly sins help him through the stages of grief and his recovery.

I thought that was really well done and I loved the seven deadly sins characters. Ian is a bit unlikable but I know that's done on purpose for his character arc.

I found the book easy to start and get into but the books pacing felt a bit off to me. I found myself not always staying engaged. I think it's because I'm more of a plot based ready and there wasn't a lot of plot it was a lot of character building and dialogue.

I just had a hard time connecting to the main character but I did enjoy it and finished and would read another book in the future!

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a heavy topic to tackle, but I think that it was done really well. Ian's self-loathing, sexual shame, and inability to ask for help came across as believable to me, and I loved that he had the "seven" deadly sins there trying to help him come to terms with a lot of things. This is one of those stories that makes you sit back and reflect on your own life, so you don't take for granted what you have. And that epilogue made me chuckle.

Definitely check those trigger warnings, but otherwise I would definitely recommend it.

[Andrea (andreareadsalot) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF on ebook at 20%. It was pitched as “dark, sometimes funny, fantasy version of Crazy, Stupid, Love” and I am just not getting those vibes.

Very dark. Very character driven. Nothing funny about this book. It focuses on a man who attempted suicide and is struggling to live. I found the MMC unlikable and the concept more grim than expected with the blurb.

Overall Rating: 1/5

TW: suicide, alcohol, infidelity

[Kiara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose with a cover this morbid I expected more. (Obviously judging a book by a cover is bad) I also felt like I was waiting for something profound to knock me off my ass or some major twist that just failed to be delivered. I do love the premise of what this book was. It kept me engaged, but could have been longer. Also giving them human names confused me so much.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have many mixed feelings about this book. The protagonist (Ian) is so easy to dislike; but I feel as though that was the point. Upon reading the afterword, I agree that Chapter 17 seems out of place. I wanted more details about the relationships between the Spirits, but I understand the vagueness in their character building. The climax and redemption of Ian and Pearce’s confession are rewarding, but it was not a book I “couldn’t put down.” I love Lyn’s social media presence and I certainly hope he continues to write stories. So much potential.

[Olivia Daming · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75. I went into this completely unsure on the concept. But I left weepy and emotional and thinking about all the things I take for granted. This is a book where you have to check the trigger warnings. But I truly just loved these characters and how they are all forced to come to terms with who they are inside when nobody is looking.

[Alec Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. The dark introduction pulled me in, but about 50 pages in the story softened. Almost cartoonish. What started as an intriguing plot, became predictable and flat. The writing had its moments, but overall, it left me indifferent. Decent, but forgettable.

[maite · Rating 2 out of 5]

crazy, stupid, love retelling where???? definitely not what i was expecting coming into the book, but it wasn’t bad. author did a good job at discussing heavy themes but just didn’t hit that mark for me.

[cami]

dnf

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this.

when the author mentioned his book and crazy, stupid, love in the same sentence i knew i would fucking like this.

it was such a great read. a serious topic to write about but was written so well and had the perfect touch of humour to it. even for such a short book i felt like i got so attached to the characters that i could just stay and read more about them.

👏👏

[Delanee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible

[Morgan Williams-Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this book heavy? Yes. But Lyn handles sexual shame, addiction, and self-loathing in such a uniquely authentic way through his fantasy debut. This book is incredibly heartwarming, witty, and tasteful in its approach, and reads like it was written by a well established author.

Fantastic, I cannot wait for what he’ll write next.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Lynmoore through his reaction videos and immediately was enamored with his funny quips, editing style and commentary of books along their movie counterparts. When he announced his debut novel preorder, I didn’t think the book would be something I was interested in, but once he mentioned it being “a redemption story with the help of the 7 deadly sins”, I instantly ordered it.

The writing style reads very much to me, like Lynmoore’s cadence in how he speaks. Perhaps that’s because I know the author’s voice, but unexpectedly it didn’t help with the flow of the book. It took me a long time to get through this 200 page book. I started it, wasn’t engaged with the storytelling and didn’t feel compelled to pick it up for a month. (Granted, it was the winter holiday season and I wasn’t reading anything besides recipe instructions!) Once we were introduced to the sins/spirits, I was able to make my way through the book rather quickly, but the first 50 pages were definitely a struggle.

I highlighted several phrases & agree at the heart of it, this is a redemption story. Overall, I think it just didn’t hit the emotional nerve I was anticipating but it’s earned its spot on my bookshelf. 3 stars feels right.

[Brenda Trudell · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Lust, Pride, Envy...these are not our names. They are what your kind have chosen to call us. Labels for the worst of our capacity that overlook the root of our ability. We are not evil; we just have the capacity to be. Are humans so different?"

Awesome debut!

The found family dynamic was the soul of the story, and I loved every moment of it. Each character had their own unique traits, with their strengths and flaws coming together to form a bond that felt real and earned.

[Liza N · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️Excellent Storytelling.
⭐️ Loved the character Arc evolves
⭐️ Loved the deadly sins characters, especially Envy and Lust lololololol sloth seems like a sweetheart 💗

[Jason Kelsall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I follow the author on social media, so when they announced this book it was a no brainier. The description also sounded different and intriguing.

Unfortunately, this fell flat for me. Although an interesting idea, I just kept putting it down. There wasn’t a flow and nothing kept me gripped to keep going. I also felt it was very disjointed as a story, but I am a fantasy ready to be honest, so I’m all for details and a solid storyline. This was only 200 or so pages but it felt way longer.

Each character has 3 names, so it can get really confusing when reading and we’re yo-yoing between names so frequently, even in the same sentence multiple times.

I really didn’t like the main character. The spirits are trying to help and all he does is moan, whinge, put his nose up at everything and judge - this isn’t a man, this is a spoilt attention seeking brat and child. Maybe I’m not empathetic, but I would have washed my hands with him. The light at the end of the tunnel moment didn’t feel natural - he was insufferable for months and then all of a sudden he’s angel reborn the last day. I understand it may have been written this way on purpose, but there was no gradual improvement. I didn’t like him at the start and I still wasn’t a fan of him at the end. Also, the pining Ian had for Desire aka Envy aka Evelyn was team too much - I understand she’s desirable, but he just came off desperate and clingy, like a child.

I’ve looked at the other reviews and maybe I’m too emotionally detached to like this book, because the reviews are great. However, for me it’s 2 stars. I’m rating the book, not the author.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to pick up Madhouse Promenade because I love Lyn Moore’s videos. While I didn’t love Madhouse Promenade as much as I wanted to, I still enjoyed it.

Madhouse Promenade follows Ian after a failed suicide attempt when he’s placed in a rehabilitation program. Fortunately, or unfortunately, for Ian, those in charge of his rehabilitation are none other than the physical reincarnation of the seven deadly sins.

Moore himself describes Madhouse Promenade as a fantastical Crazy, Stupid Love. Ian interacts with the seven deadly sins to overcome his failings, shame, and addiction.

For me, Madhouse Promenade at its core is a story about mental health and healing. I know the saying ‘it takes a village’ usually refers to raising children, but I think it fits this story well.

The reason I rated it three stars instead of four is because I had a hard time staying engaged with the story. As of writing this review, I couldn’t tell you what exactly hindered my engagement. So, this could be a ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ issue.

Overall, Madhouse Promenade is an interesting debut that tackles the topics of shame, addiction, and mental health.

[kassbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

For a debut novel, Lyn Moore was able to tackle a difficult topic with grace and beautiful prose. Using the seven deadly sins to explore suicide, sexual shame, self actualization, and growth, was a unique take and one I enjoyed. The pacing of this book was unsteady, making it difficult to be able to fully invest myself into the writing. There were many beautiful quotes throughout this book and great pieces of advice littered within the pages. I wish this book was longer, as the ending felt rushed and there could have been more time to explore different themes relayed throughout the book. Overall, for a debut this work was excellent and I cannot wait to see what else Lyn Moore puts out.

[Giselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

I follow Lyn on tiktok and immediately wanted to support him when I saw he was releasing this book. I think his writing, for a first book, is really engaging and I think he has a lot of potential.

While I enjoyed this, I didn't find myself compelled to keep picking it back up. Whether that was me being busy, or the pacing felt slow, I just wasn't engaged fully with Ian's story - I also found him mostly insufferable. I did enjoy the ending and the messaging behind this.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Words cannot describe how much I LOVED this book. I’m aware that people found the mc annoying, but his actions felt so human to me. Like yes, he’s going to lash out and relapse. But that’s just a reminder that we with mental issues will sometimes fall back on our recovery, that healing isn’t always steady. And besides, who the hell could easily adjust to demons telling you how to improve your life without your input?

And no matter how anyone else wants to say, chapter 17 was needed. It helped show how Lust was truly able to help with his unresolved feelings about his wife’s infidelity and repulsion towards sex. It’s meant to be uncomfortable (and I say that knowing I skimmed through most of the nsfw scene).

The only critiques I have about this book is how Gluttony wasn’t mentioned after a certain point. Wrath’s appearance wasn’t made until the epilogue and Sloth was barely brought up. But I think it makes sense in a way—that Ian’s issues mostly revolved about certain sins and that’s why the others were brought up the most. You can see this with Pride, how he was always somehow mentioned, always in the background. The reason being that Ian had gotten to that darkest point of his life because of his own Pride.

Though also, all the sins are behind some of the worst humanity has to offer. That being said, it makes me wonder why Greed’s story ended the way it did. I’m not complaining but I just wonder the thought process about it.

I was sad to see that Ian didn’t end up moving in with the others in the end and went to go live with his parents. In my mind, Ian goes to visit them often :))

[Leesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

“We are not evil; we just have the capacity to be.”

Never did I think a book with only just over 200 pages to it would have me feeling so many things.

For such a short book, it handle some really tough topics seamlessly for me (please check your trigger warnings) i.e. suicide, addiction, sexual shame, rehabilitation. Moore description of this book is spot on, it truly felt as if I was reading the fantastical version of ‘Crazy, Stupid Love’ with a dark humour twist to it.

This has to be the most unique and authentic book and storyline I have read in quite some time. It is nice to see that there are still stories untold that have never been written before.

The only thing I wished for… WAS MORE PAGES! I wish I had more time to watch Ian interact with each of the spirits of the seven deadly sins. Watching how Moore gave another perspective to how we as humans have demonised these sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, wrath, gluttony and sloth) and how Moore gave new light to them for example, lust could easily be seen as passion.

All in all this book was so well thought out with brilliant moments of dark humour that had me laughing almost always. This book at the end of the day is a true showcase of human nature, self-realisation and growth.

A reminder that it’s okay to ask for help and to not be to proud to accept it.

Well done Lynn Moore. A debut novel no less!

[Jheneille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't stop thinking about it?

Let's not even pretend, I hated Ian. And like yea, I get that was the point? He's a coward, he's prideful, he doesn't want to accept his wrong doings much, he's so judgemental like truly a loser I'm sorry to say. The way he treated his family? Abhorrent. And they loved him anyway. But his life was shit so I guess you can't really blame the guy for being a bitter self conscious loser? The start of the story was also pretty slow but something about the way Lyn Moore writes, I just couldn't fucking stop thinking about this damn story. I wanted it to be longer. I wanted more lore. Pride is every girl's wet dream dare I say. He did what a lot of other Novella authors can't do well which is make a story feel full and not rushed. Most stories I read 200 pages or less try to put way too much into far too little pages. Nothing feels well developed but as Lyn would say, it had a beginning, middle and end. It had sentences and periods and an entire character arc to boot. Yea I still hated Ian near the end but just a little less. I absolutely adored the sins. I adored that Pride, Envy and Lust were also (and most importantly) introduced to us first as Dignity, Desire and Passion. I'm so glad I read this and I can't wait to read more of his works!