Let's Make a Deal

by M.M. Delorey

This book contains graphic scenes of extreme violence. Some readers may find offensive, if your sensitive to things of this nature this may not be the book for you.

Journey Watson is bitter. She's also an overweight, divorced, alcoholic. One drunken night she stumbles upon a life changing opportunity. Given the ability to Give and Take, she can now build the life of her dreams. Unfortunately, for those in her wake, it comes at their expense. Leaving behind a trail of horrifying destruction and devastation. Will Journey choose to continue, or will she finally relinquish her ability to take what she wants?

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2024

Reviews

[Yari Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super graphic, but it kept me hooked beginning to end

[Jay Bay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tweaked the stars because the more I sit with it, the more I think this book was actually good. Interesting, too. It’s very much a “everything comes at a cost” lesson, which I can appreciate. It also heavily reinforced one of my personal mottos: know ALL of your worst-case scenarios before you make a decision. Not just the cute little cookie-cutter “worst” case scenario you’ve convinced yourself you can handle. I mean ALL of them. Because if I can look at the absolute worst possible outcome and say, “Yeah… I can live with that,” then baby, I’m moving. Journey was very much operating on that philosophy, and honestly? I get it.

The author really went out of her way to make Journey into this woman everyone describes as absolutely vile, so I was fully prepared to walk into this book with hate already loaded in the chamber. Except… that’s not really what we got. She isn’t just vile for the sake of being vile. There’s a reason she became who she is, and every “gift” she received—save for that very first one—ultimately played a role in shaping her decisions. And that first one? Yeah, no. That was straight-up trauma response because of Ed, who ultimately turned out to be a whole lot of psychological damage for absolutely no damn reason because that man was basically a non-issue by the end.

The only two people I genuinely felt bad for by the end were that very last sacrifice, because that poor person literally did NOTHING EVER, and the very first victim. Unless I missed something—and I really don’t think I did—those two were basically catching strays in a game they never signed up to play. Everybody else? Listen… choices were made. Consequences were subsequently delivered. 🤷🏽‍♀️

And let me tell you something: this book is GROSS. Like, true splatterpunk glory. There were moments where I genuinely thought I was about to throw up listening to it. That first one in particular? Absolutely fucking not. I’m sitting here NOW thinking about it and my stomach is like, “Girl, why would you bring that back up?” 🤢

But did I stop listening?

Absolutely not.

I MUSCLED THROUGH. Because apparently I have something to prove to myself.

Also, I need everyone to appreciate the funniest physical description I have EVER heard: “Looks like two caterpillars trying to fuck on your forehead.”

EXCUSE ME?!

That was an actual spit-take moment. 😂 Whoever came up with that deserves a damn trophy because I will be thinking about that description against my will for the foreseeable future.

Now, the reason this landed at almost two stars instead of one is unfortunately the audiobook.

Because WHAT. WAS. THAT.

An AI reader?

Come on, now.

Don’t do that.

Find somebody. Hire somebody. Read the damn thing yourself. Get your cousin. Get the neighbor. Get the person at the library who reads announcements like they’re auditioning for NPR. ANYBODY.

Because that AI narration was horrible, and listening to splatterpunk through a voice that sounds like it was assembled in a basement by three computers and a prayer did absolutely nothing for the experience.

So yeah. The book itself? Much better than I expected. The themes worked for me, Journey was far more complicated than the “she’s just a horrible person” setup wanted me to believe (and don't get it twisted she was still vile, she just had reasons for it) and the gore delivered exactly what splatterpunk promised it would.

The audiobook, however?

Straight to jail.

And yes, I still finished it.

Because apparently suffering is part of my reading experience now.

[Maree Lang · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. I nearly stopped reading when the guy spat in Journeys glass and she drank it. This passed her alcoholism amongst other things on to someone else. Lucky it was only a short book or I wouldn’t have finished it.

[Katrina Splatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich eat cake and fish
Revenge best served with blood gore
satisfaction gift

[Cheryl Brennan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Splatterpunk, so beware, it is gross. That being said, too quick and didn’t like the ending.

[Carrie Hagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was oddly interesting. Gross. I enjoyed the twist. You get what you want at the cost of others… and a gross, evil debt to pay. Ruthless. Short and quick..

[Caitlyn H · Rating 5 out of 5]

sooo good! This book is a twisted play on "everything comes with a price". do not read if you're squeamish because there is an extended description of body mutilation.

[Hannah Sian-X · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st book I've read by this author and I most definitely be reading more of her work!

Wow.

The ending? CHEFS KISS!