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Cruelty #1-5
Cruelty: Episodes One-Five
On a lonely stretch of deserted Texas highway, Will Longmire breaks down. But he's not alone.
IN the dead of night, Innis Blake hits someone, or something, with her car. The figure shouldn't be getting up. But it is.
An unstoppable force is after Will and Innis. And before the night is over, both strangers will know the face of Cruelty.
Forgiveness is only a few miles down the road, but safety is nowhere in sight.
This is only the beginning...
IN the dead of night, Innis Blake hits someone, or something, with her car. The figure shouldn't be getting up. But it is.
An unstoppable force is after Will and Innis. And before the night is over, both strangers will know the face of Cruelty.
Forgiveness is only a few miles down the road, but safety is nowhere in sight.
This is only the beginning...
- GenresHorror
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
2 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Edward Lorn
63 books2,918 followersEdward Lorn (E. to most) is a reader, writer, and content creator. He's been writing for fun since the age of six, and writing professionally since 2011. He can be found haunting the halls of Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
E. lives in Alabama with his wife and two children. He is currently working on his next novel.
E. lives in Alabama with his wife and two children. He is currently working on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 19, 2014
Full Disclosure: You might think this review is biased because Edward Lorn and I are friends who help each other out with beta reading/editing/proofreading and the like. However, you must also keep in mind that I wouldn't offer to read early drafts of some creepy Internet stranger's work unless I really and truly enjoyed something else I'd read by that person. Early drafts are often pretty shitty. Lorn's aren't. But most are. And I didn't read this book as an early draft. I bought it fair and square from Amazon, and I'm under no obligation to review this book, and Edward Lorn's under no obligation to review any of my work.
Of all the works I've read thus far by Edward Lorn, this is my favorite.
I must also point out that the next installment of this serial was due out in September, and I don't have episode six of Cruelty on my Kindle yet.
My calendar must be broken.
September 9, 2014
A gruesome, bloody delight!
A homicidal doll... a cannibalistic old voodoo mama... limbs torn from their sockets! This book is right up my twisted alley!
The writing is fantastic, the suspense is of the edge of seat variety, and the gore... oh, the horrific gore!
A homicidal doll... a cannibalistic old voodoo mama... limbs torn from their sockets! This book is right up my twisted alley!
The writing is fantastic, the suspense is of the edge of seat variety, and the gore... oh, the horrific gore!
March 4, 2015
A line of trees that goes on forever only partially masks the swirling shadows of a darkness that is not of this world. Nearby, stands Bob's Bait and Fuel - an oasis of safety? Or the stage for a whole different horror show?
Love the idea of time being a pretzel, overlapping, never ending. Forgiveness offers a "piece offering" in the truest sense of the term. A security guard who is 'all words and nose hair', the Midnight Man, and a huge baby doll with a sweet voice and malevolent intentions. A toy that demands and needs playthings for itself.
'Pick, pickpick, pickpickpickpick' . . . . fantastical story, shudder-worthy horror.
Love the idea of time being a pretzel, overlapping, never ending. Forgiveness offers a "piece offering" in the truest sense of the term. A security guard who is 'all words and nose hair', the Midnight Man, and a huge baby doll with a sweet voice and malevolent intentions. A toy that demands and needs playthings for itself.
'Pick, pickpick, pickpickpickpick' . . . . fantastical story, shudder-worthy horror.
October 15, 2015
This was (together with it's remaining parts, e.g. in the form of A Final Act of Cruelty: Episodes Six - Ten) a hell of a ride and so much more than I thought I was in for. I had high hopes for the collected serial novel (10 episodes) and was totally prepared to be impressed. But really, to reference a fantastic band (and I love references); a song from one of the best albums ever: I'm Amazed!
But let's start from the beginning, shall we? A week ago, Edward Lorn offered free review ebook copies of this series and I jumped at the chance. In return, he asked only for "an honest and unbiased review". As you can deduce from my initial somewhat confused paragraph, this will not be a problem for me at all. To express my opinion of this work somewhat coherently might be, however, but let's see how it goes...
When reading a few of Lorn's short stories I did say, at some point, that no matter how good they are, I would love a "full-lenght" novel and with Cruelty in it's collected form this is exactly what you get. I'm not sure what the reading experience would be like if you were to read it as published (except that I'm sure it would be riddled with anxious waiting), but the parts form a whole, which is why this review treats them as a unity (more or less) as well.
What's so special with this book is that all that I love about the authors work is here; the language and narrative are both top, the references, comparisons and expressions all ring true and - the characterization is absolutely brilliant. This time (and I'm sure the longer format contributes some) he surpasses even himself. Not one character is 100 % likable (well, perhaps except Merlo) because they are all flawed in some way but at the same time they are odd, they are special, they have very good sides and, above all else, they are human (well, except those who are not).
Being somewhat immune to "spoilers", I nevertheless skipped the reviews that was apparently giving away too much about the story and that may have left room for the impact I was in for... starting out, I really did not know what to expect and I was content with that the writing was good (just as earlier) and mentally picturing the colorful character gallery when BAM! Starting to comprehend what Lorn has created here is really a vertiginous experience and following the brief "torture" scene (where I had time to think - "nah, really don't care for this kind" and mentally drafting a four-star review) early in the book, I was totally and utterly spellbound for the remainder. Even the ending was superb!
I read another reviewer stating that Edward Lorn had earned his place besides Stephen King in his bookshelf, but another writer came to my mind in the course of Cruelty and that is Clive Barker, who totally would have loved to explore some of these ideas I think. And finishing off the association game it is probably so that Lorn actually has earned the opinion that King once gave about Barker: "I have seen the future of horror, his name is...". This time I think it will be true.
Remaining parts (A Final Act of Cruelty) are here
May 5, 2016
This book is a mind fuck, but a good one. It has everything I like in horror. It's disturbing,funny, and most importantly it's downright creepy. I was home alone the other night and had to stop listening to this and go play video games because I was genuinely creeped out. Chicken shit I here you say. Well read it yourself and then you can call me names. Go on I dare ya!!!!
Edward Lorn generously gave me this audio book for free. Not for a an honest review but just because he's one of the good guys.
Edward Lorn generously gave me this audio book for free. Not for a an honest review but just because he's one of the good guys.
April 11, 2015
"The deaf man and the prostitute moseyed on down the road..."
And so this wildly imaginative, fantastic story begins. Before long, the prostitutue is dead on the side of the road--brutally run over by a most peculiar driver. A huge being emerges from the car. The deaf man, William Longmire, can't believe his eyes. The creature looks like a rotund baby doll. But he's not the least bit innocent or harmless.
There is so much going on within this compilation of Epidodes One through Five. Lorn weaves such an extraordinary story. It's as though he bottled up his kick-a$$ attitude, shook vigorously and allowed all of that awesomeness to explode onto the pages of the book. The characters are plentiful and each one is so well-developed, with individual personalities and interesting backgrounds. Some you'll love and others you'll hate. Though I think the most memorable is the creepy creature with a baby doll's face.
The story itself is quite bizarre, but that's part of its incredible appeal. It is so unique, so creative. You won't find vampires and werewolves in this one. It's a breath of fresh air when an author can trek down uncharted territory and successfully conceive a totally new and fascinating horror concept. I am intrigued by the idea of Cruelty, Forgiveness and Regret and the horrifying connection between them.
One of my favorite scenes involves a safety pin...
...but I won't spoil it for you.... If you're a hardcore horror fan, I have a feeling that you'll truly enjoy and appreciate this one just as much as I did. Ingenious storyline, gory scenes and perfect pacing combine to make this captivating story simply unforgettable.
I will definitely be continuing this amazing saga very soon!
And so this wildly imaginative, fantastic story begins. Before long, the prostitutue is dead on the side of the road--brutally run over by a most peculiar driver. A huge being emerges from the car. The deaf man, William Longmire, can't believe his eyes. The creature looks like a rotund baby doll. But he's not the least bit innocent or harmless.
There is so much going on within this compilation of Epidodes One through Five. Lorn weaves such an extraordinary story. It's as though he bottled up his kick-a$$ attitude, shook vigorously and allowed all of that awesomeness to explode onto the pages of the book. The characters are plentiful and each one is so well-developed, with individual personalities and interesting backgrounds. Some you'll love and others you'll hate. Though I think the most memorable is the creepy creature with a baby doll's face.
The story itself is quite bizarre, but that's part of its incredible appeal. It is so unique, so creative. You won't find vampires and werewolves in this one. It's a breath of fresh air when an author can trek down uncharted territory and successfully conceive a totally new and fascinating horror concept. I am intrigued by the idea of Cruelty, Forgiveness and Regret and the horrifying connection between them.
One of my favorite scenes involves a safety pin...
...but I won't spoil it for you.... If you're a hardcore horror fan, I have a feeling that you'll truly enjoy and appreciate this one just as much as I did. Ingenious storyline, gory scenes and perfect pacing combine to make this captivating story simply unforgettable.
I will definitely be continuing this amazing saga very soon!
January 15, 2015
Dead Turtles, Mother Mary facials, Voodoo mommas, psycho crack dealin muddahfuckahs and a Kewpie Doll from hell. Yep.
All Will wanted was to finally get laid. How difficult can it be, when you’re paying for it?
Innis Blake is having a bad day, which quickly gets worse when she runs over something in the road. Too bad for her, …it’s getting up.
Will and Innis have been brought together through circumstance and blood. Lots and lots of blood. Now, they will be torn apart only to be thrown into a waking nightmare where monsters feast on pain and misery and Cruelty awaits in the shadows.
Forgiveness may be on the horizon for Will. He does not want that.
There will be no Regret on Innis's face. As a matter of fact, it may be the other way around.
Edward Lorn sure knows how to pen one hell of a wild ride. The characterization is crazy good and the characters themselves are just plain crazy. This one is written very well and moves fast. Can’t wait for the next installments.
Solid 4+ Stars and maybe even more. Highly Recommended!
All Will wanted was to finally get laid. How difficult can it be, when you’re paying for it?
Innis Blake is having a bad day, which quickly gets worse when she runs over something in the road. Too bad for her, …it’s getting up.
Will and Innis have been brought together through circumstance and blood. Lots and lots of blood. Now, they will be torn apart only to be thrown into a waking nightmare where monsters feast on pain and misery and Cruelty awaits in the shadows.
Forgiveness may be on the horizon for Will. He does not want that.
There will be no Regret on Innis's face. As a matter of fact, it may be the other way around.
Edward Lorn sure knows how to pen one hell of a wild ride. The characterization is crazy good and the characters themselves are just plain crazy. This one is written very well and moves fast. Can’t wait for the next installments.
Solid 4+ Stars and maybe even more. Highly Recommended!
June 10, 2017
I'd never read Lorn before, and he's definitely someone I'll read again. This omnibus of the first 5 episodes of the Cruelty serial reminded me at times of King, Laymon, and Piccirilli. Lorn balances a distinctive authorial "voice" with well-written violence, character development with breakneck pacing. The guy has writing chops and I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
May 13, 2015
Commencing as what seems a simple homage to the supernaturally themed unstoppable killers of the early 80s, Edward Lorn's Creulty soon proves it's a pony of considerably more tricks than that. Incorporating everything from dark magic to a DEA investigation, by way of a 600 pound wind-up killer, a creature that takes the form of emotionally-laden people from its observor's past, and a dog with a serious need for some bacon treats, Creulty all but defies categorization. Yes, it's a horror, but it's also thrilling at times, a crime drama at others, and all the while manages to be amusing here and there. Lorn constructs a wide array of characters, with someone for just about everybody to relate to and root for as the story progresses. And though there are moments where it seems things are spiralling narratively out of his control and becoming too weird and abstract, rest assurred that by the time this first half of the Cruelty saga ends, enough will have been revealed to tantalise rather than perplex. Furthermore enough characters will have been pulped, mashed or otherwise blown away that you're unlikely to be feeling any degree of confidence that your remaining favourite will live to see the end of Episode Ten when it eventually arrives.
Be warned, however: As a relatively new reader of Edward Lorn, I'm fairly certain there is a moment or two where his other works are mentioned within Cruelty - great if you're a long time fan; a bit sucky if you're not so well versed and were planning on going back there in due course.
Anyway, this is the point where I'm supposed to give my score and rate Cruelty accordingly. Only I'm not going to, and the reason rests squarely on Mr Lorn's shoulders. Namely: if you release only half of your epically long horror(ish) novel, how can I properly rate it when I may yet hate the overall product, or love it so much I burst into tears of joy when I attempt to convey to potential future readers how much they have to get their hands on this? Sure, neither outcome is probably likely, but I won't know until I've read A Final Act of Cruelty, will I?
(I've decided to put a place-holder grade of 4 stars in until I've read the end of this, as it shits me seeing this ranked lower than my one star reads in 2014's round up stats.)
An Indeterminate Number of Blood-Chilling "Ma-Ma"s for Cruelty.
Be warned, however: As a relatively new reader of Edward Lorn, I'm fairly certain there is a moment or two where his other works are mentioned within Cruelty - great if you're a long time fan; a bit sucky if you're not so well versed and were planning on going back there in due course.
Anyway, this is the point where I'm supposed to give my score and rate Cruelty accordingly. Only I'm not going to, and the reason rests squarely on Mr Lorn's shoulders. Namely: if you release only half of your epically long horror(ish) novel, how can I properly rate it when I may yet hate the overall product, or love it so much I burst into tears of joy when I attempt to convey to potential future readers how much they have to get their hands on this? Sure, neither outcome is probably likely, but I won't know until I've read A Final Act of Cruelty, will I?
(I've decided to put a place-holder grade of 4 stars in until I've read the end of this, as it shits me seeing this ranked lower than my one star reads in 2014's round up stats.)
An Indeterminate Number of Blood-Chilling "Ma-Ma"s for Cruelty.
May 1, 2015
Ed Lorn has put together a tale of supernatural horror and suspense. Will roommate Kirk thinks it is about time that Will loses his virginity. Kirk lines up a prostitute for Will but as we know things don't always turn out the way that they are planned. Innis Blake's life is about to change when she runs something over in the road. The monster that Innis hits is out for blood and no one can stop this thing. Will and Innis don't know it yet but their worst nightmare is still yet to come. Lorn characters are well developed and this make the story even stronger. The tale takes you on one hell of a ride through the gates of hell! Once you have entered, there is no getting out. If you are a fan of supernatural horror with a twist, Cruelty is the book that you are looking for. Episodes 6-10 is a must!
May 13, 2015
A ghostie; when you take a dump and you realise you don't need to wipe.
We've all had one, and we can all agree they're pretty awesome. This 'ere book right 'der (half a book, I suppose) is fucking awesome.
Aside from the fucked up shit going on in Cruelty and the wtf is going on moments - the writing is deceptively good ( if that makes sense).
Characters are flawed i.e. real muddafuckers
Dialogue is spot on
Story is total wtf (in a sexy way)
Granted it's only half the story, but I gots a chubby for the next half...
We've all had one, and we can all agree they're pretty awesome. This 'ere book right 'der (half a book, I suppose) is fucking awesome.
Aside from the fucked up shit going on in Cruelty and the wtf is going on moments - the writing is deceptively good ( if that makes sense).
Characters are flawed i.e. real muddafuckers
Dialogue is spot on
Story is total wtf (in a sexy way)
Granted it's only half the story, but I gots a chubby for the next half...
April 27, 2015
I was planning on reading another book between the first and second collection, but the heck with that. I'm plowing straight into the next omnibus.
Note:
I was provided this collection by the author for a fair and unbiased review.
Cruelty by Edward Lorn is a big ball of horror and mystery rolling around in a dusting of comedy. When I first met the titular character, I thought, get out of here with this crap. But after a few moments I was reduced to dread and in the future experienced chills every time the character came on the scene. This book has several features that I love:
- Shifting POVs. I love this shit. And I especially love it when you think you're going to get 2-3 POVs for the story, and bam, you're seeing through the eyes of a character you wouldn't have anticipated or even thought possible.
- Mysterious happenings. I don't mean whodunit type stuf;, I mean WTF is happening on this insane acid trip type stuff.
- Unforeseen connections and subtle machinations that indicate a purpose larger than the individual characters.
- References to events, places, and characters from the author's other work. Done with a subtle touch here, it's not forced and gives us fans a little thrill.
The only issue I had with the story was that some character introductions felt a little uneven and the flow between some events wasn't quite smooth. However, this was distributed as a serial, and I'm just now reading the collections one after another. This could explain why the flow seems strange at times.
Either way, this is a solid four-star read that I would recommend to any horror fan. Can't wait for the next half!
Note:
I was provided this collection by the author for a fair and unbiased review.
Cruelty by Edward Lorn is a big ball of horror and mystery rolling around in a dusting of comedy. When I first met the titular character, I thought, get out of here with this crap. But after a few moments I was reduced to dread and in the future experienced chills every time the character came on the scene. This book has several features that I love:
- Shifting POVs. I love this shit. And I especially love it when you think you're going to get 2-3 POVs for the story, and bam, you're seeing through the eyes of a character you wouldn't have anticipated or even thought possible.
- Mysterious happenings. I don't mean whodunit type stuf;, I mean WTF is happening on this insane acid trip type stuff.
- Unforeseen connections and subtle machinations that indicate a purpose larger than the individual characters.
- References to events, places, and characters from the author's other work. Done with a subtle touch here, it's not forced and gives us fans a little thrill.
The only issue I had with the story was that some character introductions felt a little uneven and the flow between some events wasn't quite smooth. However, this was distributed as a serial, and I'm just now reading the collections one after another. This could explain why the flow seems strange at times.
Either way, this is a solid four-star read that I would recommend to any horror fan. Can't wait for the next half!
May 18, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Cruelty contains the cruel first five episodes of Cruelty.
In case you hadn't noticed already, the book is cruel. I would not recommend it to the weak of heart (or those with a weak stomach). But, as was to be expected with Edward Lorn, I really enjoyed it (I don't know want to know what that says about me).
Meet Cruelty, a doll... From Hell. (As if doll faced things weren't already creepy enough). Cruelty wants to play. Her playthings less so... Follow the story of a small American town that is about to meet Cruelty. And be prepared for, ehmm, cruel things.
I can only say that it kind of reminded me of Stephen King with the many many characters that were introduced in these episodes. All with their own little or big problems. It's something you have to like, but I like it. I'm so glad I'm not reading this one episode at a time because I think I would have been completely lost.
The story is a good horror one, I'm still trying to figure out exactly what is going on. I'd planned to read the second part immediately after Cruelty but I didn't manage yet to do that. I hope to read it soon. The writing is quite raw, but it fits the story well. And on to A Final Act of Cruelty.
The ten episodes of Cruelty are now combined in two books, Cruelty (episodes 1-5) and A Final Act Of Cruelty (episodes 6-10)
Thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Cruelty contains the cruel first five episodes of Cruelty.
In case you hadn't noticed already, the book is cruel. I would not recommend it to the weak of heart (or those with a weak stomach). But, as was to be expected with Edward Lorn, I really enjoyed it (I don't know want to know what that says about me).
Meet Cruelty, a doll... From Hell. (As if doll faced things weren't already creepy enough). Cruelty wants to play. Her playthings less so... Follow the story of a small American town that is about to meet Cruelty. And be prepared for, ehmm, cruel things.
I can only say that it kind of reminded me of Stephen King with the many many characters that were introduced in these episodes. All with their own little or big problems. It's something you have to like, but I like it. I'm so glad I'm not reading this one episode at a time because I think I would have been completely lost.
The story is a good horror one, I'm still trying to figure out exactly what is going on. I'd planned to read the second part immediately after Cruelty but I didn't manage yet to do that. I hope to read it soon. The writing is quite raw, but it fits the story well. And on to A Final Act of Cruelty.
The ten episodes of Cruelty are now combined in two books, Cruelty (episodes 1-5) and A Final Act Of Cruelty (episodes 6-10)
Thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 20, 2015
It's extremely tricky to read a book through your fingers, but if this were a film I'd be hiding behind the sofa. It made me cringe and recoil in horror.
I have met some truly disgusting men in this book and it's extremely graphic.
There aren't any sex scenes but the author really gets into the nitty gritty of the mind of his characters and most of them are the kind of minds you wouldn't want to shine a UV light on.
Note I said "I have met", each character is well written and I feel like if I met them on the street I'd recognise them and run the other way.
Then there's the horror element- the doll, a grotesque lumbering thing called cruelty that had me sweating bullets, along with a few other characters that have me well and truly intrigued. These aren't just creatures that are just all about killing, even though that's what it seems at first.
Expertly executed fiends, filthy men and horrific horror.
This is the second horror book I have ever read and I'm a now convert to the genre, which is weird because I really don't like horror films.
If what I have said above makes you think it's a bad book I wouldn't read it, but if you're a fan of horror and don't mind the minds of seedy men and naked scab covered drug addicts, this is the book for you.
I would definitely get the omnibus rather than reading the episodes one by one.
I have met some truly disgusting men in this book and it's extremely graphic.
There aren't any sex scenes but the author really gets into the nitty gritty of the mind of his characters and most of them are the kind of minds you wouldn't want to shine a UV light on.
Note I said "I have met", each character is well written and I feel like if I met them on the street I'd recognise them and run the other way.
Then there's the horror element- the doll, a grotesque lumbering thing called cruelty that had me sweating bullets, along with a few other characters that have me well and truly intrigued. These aren't just creatures that are just all about killing, even though that's what it seems at first.
Expertly executed fiends, filthy men and horrific horror.
This is the second horror book I have ever read and I'm a now convert to the genre, which is weird because I really don't like horror films.
If what I have said above makes you think it's a bad book I wouldn't read it, but if you're a fan of horror and don't mind the minds of seedy men and naked scab covered drug addicts, this is the book for you.
I would definitely get the omnibus rather than reading the episodes one by one.
September 20, 2014
This review appeared first on Fantasy is More Fun.
Actual rating is 4.5 stars.
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.
My Initial Reaction...
Cruelty was my first true horror read and it was creepy as hell! I probably shouldn't have read it almost exclusively at night, but it freaked me out and I will never look at baby dolls the same ever again.
Since this is a serial - I'll give a quick review for each episode as opposed to a review of the work as a whole. I found reviewing episodes challenging, so this is more my feelings about what's happening than any details about what actually happens in the episodes themselves.
Episode One: 5 Stars
Episode One of Cruelty immediately grabbed my attention. We start off in a precarious position for the MC - Will Longmire. His car broke down as he was driving a strung-out hooker, who's STILL holding him at gunpoint. Oh, and for a kicker, he's deaf, so he can't even understand what she's muttering about. And it's while they're walking down the side of the highway, in the middle of the night, that things go from bad to worse...
And then you've got Innis, leaving behind her cheating ex-boyfriend, and taking their dog Merlo with her. She hits something and it gets up when it shouldn't be able too...
I read this in like 45 minutes and couldn't put it down. The characters are surprising well developed for how short the story is. The action keeps coming and the suspense was killer. It did end on a cliff-hanger, so I'm very happy that I had Episode Two handy!
Episode Two: 4.5 Stars
From the get go we start seeing how this epsiode is going to bring in more characters and weave together people from the first episode into an ever more complicated web. I was surprised how many more characters were introduced into the story, but they were complete and interesting from the get go.
I thought the horror was pretty great in Episode One, but it escalated big time in Episode Two. I found myself wincing and trying to figure out how to close my eyes like I normally would in a horror film and still read. LOL Maybe I need these on audio? No, that might give me nightmares. Let's just say that things are getting intense for poor Innis, yeah?
I'm trying to avoid spoilers, so I'll just say that a really messy web is forming and by the end of this episode I was really excited about the way things are going to have to collide. And I'm also a bit terrified. We end with a bit from Merlo - Innis's dog (I was so happy to discover he was okay!) - and I'm very curious how much we're going to get from him.
Episode Three: 5 Stars
I really appreciated the way this episode took us back a bit and gave us some background on the characters. I hadn't realized I was missing some details, but now that I have the blanks filled in, things are getting a bit clearer.
This Episode felt a bit more crime/suspense like since we're seeing the investigation the police began in the last episode progress. We're getting to know still more characters and I have to say I'm really impressed that in such a short space Lorn is developing complex enough characters for me to like/hate and care about what happens to them.
And yet, it was still MOST DEFINITELY Horror!! Holy shit, the things that are happening to Innis. This is the stuff of true horror. Yeah, I was really trying to read with my eyes closed here. *Shudder*
Episode Four: 4 Stars
I liked the continued emphasis on the investigation and time with Sherrif Randy. Especially when Merlo shows back up. I love this little dog and the time spent in his point of view is well done. I'm super anxious for his welfare and seriously hope he survives to the end, even if everyone else dies.
I'm back at four stars because I was a bit bored with the Momma (mother of the drug dealer) plotline in this episode. I think she's supposed to be creepy, but IDK, she didn't do it for me.
But where she failed to creep me out, Forgiveness took over and then some. Geez! Cruelty already freaked me out (especially with the gruesome things he does) but he doesn't have anything on Regret. Forgiveness gives me the chills and makes my stomach drop.
Episode Five: 4 stars
Forgiveness owns this episode. Seriously, his appearances left me with the chills and uncovered all kinds of details about the characters I thought I already knew. Though I think they should be running a hell of a lot faster...
Not that Cruelty and Revenge aren't doing their own damage. Poor Innis. More reading with eyes closed... But I have to say, I got a bit confused in this episode about Revenge and Innis. I'm not sure I understand what's going on here.
There's some more time with Momma and uh, I take it back - she's definitely creepy! I just didn't get it before. And poor Will - I can't imagine what it's like to go through all this without being able to hear.
This ended on a massive cliff hanger for me and I'm really dying to know what will happen next!
Concluding Sentiments...
Hopefully those quick reviews made some sense - the point is: Cruelty freaked me out on numerous occasions. There's lots of action, suspense, and shudder-ific moments. Each Episode contains a pretty solid story of its own, while connecting really well to the other episodes. I don't think it will be hard to pick up Episode Six when it comes out - Lorn does a good job weaving in reminders as you go, without feeling like he's rehashing the whole story. I'm surprised how much I care for the characters, too. There's a lot of them and yet I know them well and either hate/love them all. There's lots of language and vivid descriptions, but what else do you expect from a horror, right? A big thanks to Carol @ I'm A Voracious Reader for the recommendation. Thanks Carol, I had many sleepless nights ;)
Actual rating is 4.5 stars.
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.
My Initial Reaction...
Cruelty was my first true horror read and it was creepy as hell! I probably shouldn't have read it almost exclusively at night, but it freaked me out and I will never look at baby dolls the same ever again.
Since this is a serial - I'll give a quick review for each episode as opposed to a review of the work as a whole. I found reviewing episodes challenging, so this is more my feelings about what's happening than any details about what actually happens in the episodes themselves.
Episode One: 5 Stars
Episode One of Cruelty immediately grabbed my attention. We start off in a precarious position for the MC - Will Longmire. His car broke down as he was driving a strung-out hooker, who's STILL holding him at gunpoint. Oh, and for a kicker, he's deaf, so he can't even understand what she's muttering about. And it's while they're walking down the side of the highway, in the middle of the night, that things go from bad to worse...
And then you've got Innis, leaving behind her cheating ex-boyfriend, and taking their dog Merlo with her. She hits something and it gets up when it shouldn't be able too...
I read this in like 45 minutes and couldn't put it down. The characters are surprising well developed for how short the story is. The action keeps coming and the suspense was killer. It did end on a cliff-hanger, so I'm very happy that I had Episode Two handy!
Episode Two: 4.5 Stars
From the get go we start seeing how this epsiode is going to bring in more characters and weave together people from the first episode into an ever more complicated web. I was surprised how many more characters were introduced into the story, but they were complete and interesting from the get go.
I thought the horror was pretty great in Episode One, but it escalated big time in Episode Two. I found myself wincing and trying to figure out how to close my eyes like I normally would in a horror film and still read. LOL Maybe I need these on audio? No, that might give me nightmares. Let's just say that things are getting intense for poor Innis, yeah?
I'm trying to avoid spoilers, so I'll just say that a really messy web is forming and by the end of this episode I was really excited about the way things are going to have to collide. And I'm also a bit terrified. We end with a bit from Merlo - Innis's dog (I was so happy to discover he was okay!) - and I'm very curious how much we're going to get from him.
Episode Three: 5 Stars
I really appreciated the way this episode took us back a bit and gave us some background on the characters. I hadn't realized I was missing some details, but now that I have the blanks filled in, things are getting a bit clearer.
This Episode felt a bit more crime/suspense like since we're seeing the investigation the police began in the last episode progress. We're getting to know still more characters and I have to say I'm really impressed that in such a short space Lorn is developing complex enough characters for me to like/hate and care about what happens to them.
And yet, it was still MOST DEFINITELY Horror!! Holy shit, the things that are happening to Innis. This is the stuff of true horror. Yeah, I was really trying to read with my eyes closed here. *Shudder*
Episode Four: 4 Stars
I liked the continued emphasis on the investigation and time with Sherrif Randy. Especially when Merlo shows back up. I love this little dog and the time spent in his point of view is well done. I'm super anxious for his welfare and seriously hope he survives to the end, even if everyone else dies.
I'm back at four stars because I was a bit bored with the Momma (mother of the drug dealer) plotline in this episode. I think she's supposed to be creepy, but IDK, she didn't do it for me.
But where she failed to creep me out, Forgiveness took over and then some. Geez! Cruelty already freaked me out (especially with the gruesome things he does) but he doesn't have anything on Regret. Forgiveness gives me the chills and makes my stomach drop.
Episode Five: 4 stars
Forgiveness owns this episode. Seriously, his appearances left me with the chills and uncovered all kinds of details about the characters I thought I already knew. Though I think they should be running a hell of a lot faster...
Not that Cruelty and Revenge aren't doing their own damage. Poor Innis. More reading with eyes closed... But I have to say, I got a bit confused in this episode about Revenge and Innis. I'm not sure I understand what's going on here.
There's some more time with Momma and uh, I take it back - she's definitely creepy! I just didn't get it before. And poor Will - I can't imagine what it's like to go through all this without being able to hear.
This ended on a massive cliff hanger for me and I'm really dying to know what will happen next!
Concluding Sentiments...
Hopefully those quick reviews made some sense - the point is: Cruelty freaked me out on numerous occasions. There's lots of action, suspense, and shudder-ific moments. Each Episode contains a pretty solid story of its own, while connecting really well to the other episodes. I don't think it will be hard to pick up Episode Six when it comes out - Lorn does a good job weaving in reminders as you go, without feeling like he's rehashing the whole story. I'm surprised how much I care for the characters, too. There's a lot of them and yet I know them well and either hate/love them all. There's lots of language and vivid descriptions, but what else do you expect from a horror, right? A big thanks to Carol @ I'm A Voracious Reader for the recommendation. Thanks Carol, I had many sleepless nights ;)
June 7, 2015
Exciting first half of a compelling and gruesome story. The story starts with a bang and never lets up. While a few of the side characters are not much more than fodder for the ensuing carnage (and that is not necessarily a bad thing), most of the characters are better fleshed out, with complex histories and motivations. And, as with all good horror, one can never tell who will make it to the end. Well worth checking out.
October 2, 2015
Cruelty
I enjoyed the first half of Cruelty. This story came with many pleasant surprises for me. The suspense and thrills kept coming. Overall the first half was a crazy creepy ride. As the story progresses I found it easy to feel for and be interested in the characters involved, with that said I am totally ready for the final act of Cruelty.
I enjoyed the first half of Cruelty. This story came with many pleasant surprises for me. The suspense and thrills kept coming. Overall the first half was a crazy creepy ride. As the story progresses I found it easy to feel for and be interested in the characters involved, with that said I am totally ready for the final act of Cruelty.
Want to Read
May 6, 2015Daaaaaamn 1240 pages?! I'm going to have to battle my ADHD with this one.
the-nope-shelf
March 21, 2016This a big fat nope because I'm not a fan of dolls.
Nope.NOPE.NOPEEEE.
Nope.NOPE.NOPEEEE.
August 23, 2014
Review to come!
January 24, 2018
Here it is, the first half of Edward Lorn's serial epic, starring a sadistic behemoth with a baby doll mask for a face. Together, all five episodes serve up a salmagundi of splatterpunk, crime fiction, cosmic horror and gallows humor. You can check out my reviews for each episode below:
Episode I
Episode II
Episode III
Episode IV
Episode V
Episode I
Episode II
Episode III
Episode IV
Episode V
August 1, 2020
The review is for the complete serial novel, I just couldn't find my audiobook edition on here.
Anyway, this was one hell of a wild ride. Edward Lorn first came to my attention through his reviews of Stephen King's works here on goodreads and when I found out he is an author himself, I decided to check out his writing and went all in with this serial novel.
And oh boy, Edward Lorn has a twisted mind, but in a good way. "Cruelty" is merciless, gory, creepy as hell and sometimes outright disturbing to a degree where you think "dude...come on, was that really necessary?".
On the other hand, it is also occasionally funny and surprisingly deep, moving even, once you have waded through all the blood and gore and you realise what is actually going on behind the scenes.
Other aspects where Lorn really shines are his talent for characterization and the ability to deliver a certain sense of locality, both of which are probably among the most apparent influences by Stephen King, although in this case it is Texas instead of Maine.
Much like the master himself, Edward Lorn manages to create a cast of multilayered characters, none of whom you will like completely, but who feel all the more real because of their obvious flaws. But you will probably feel sorry for most of them at some point.
I will admit that due to the sheer amount of characters and the slightly episodic form of this serial novel, I sometimes lost track of who is who and of what is going. But despite these moments of cofusion I felt entertained all the way through. Keep up the good work Mr. Lorn!
Anyway, this was one hell of a wild ride. Edward Lorn first came to my attention through his reviews of Stephen King's works here on goodreads and when I found out he is an author himself, I decided to check out his writing and went all in with this serial novel.
And oh boy, Edward Lorn has a twisted mind, but in a good way. "Cruelty" is merciless, gory, creepy as hell and sometimes outright disturbing to a degree where you think "dude...come on, was that really necessary?".
On the other hand, it is also occasionally funny and surprisingly deep, moving even, once you have waded through all the blood and gore and you realise what is actually going on behind the scenes.
Other aspects where Lorn really shines are his talent for characterization and the ability to deliver a certain sense of locality, both of which are probably among the most apparent influences by Stephen King, although in this case it is Texas instead of Maine.
Much like the master himself, Edward Lorn manages to create a cast of multilayered characters, none of whom you will like completely, but who feel all the more real because of their obvious flaws. But you will probably feel sorry for most of them at some point.
I will admit that due to the sheer amount of characters and the slightly episodic form of this serial novel, I sometimes lost track of who is who and of what is going. But despite these moments of cofusion I felt entertained all the way through. Keep up the good work Mr. Lorn!
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