A gripping, fast-paced tale of travelers who take the wrong exit and find themselves faced with a cannibalistic family and their sadistic whims.
Sam wakes to find herself naked and strapped to a filthy bed. She hears her infant daughter crying in another room but no matter how hard she tugs, the ropes only get tighter.
Upon learning he has inoperable cancer, Daniel begins playing a solitaire version of Russian roulette, which is interrupted when his childhood friend calls him out of the blue with an invitation.
Can they make it out of the house, or are they doomed to be eaten alive, piece by piece?
This book contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.
First off, a big congratulations to Oscar Brady on his debut novel! And it was a strong showing, especially for a first outing. I really enjoyed the self-awareness during the more graphic scenes of each character, whether the ‘bunnies’ or the perpetrators. And it was great how each of the family members of this group of cannibalistic heathens had a personality. Krystal, most notably, having her own chapters and time to showcase just how ugly the group was and really made this story stand out. Usually, it’s just from the perspective of the victims and the antagonists are more or less a bunch of nameless, faceless inbreds. The sexual content and body horror was nothing groundbreaking, but was, mostly, well-placed and fitting. I did want some additional development for Jared and Sam. Just felt like both of their journeys were cut short and didn’t get fully fleshed out. Still a very good horror experience that is perfect for fans of movies like Wrong Turn, Hills Have Eyes, and Deliverance.
BUNNY ROOM [2025] By Oscar Brady My Review 3.0 Stars
This novel was nominated for Group Book Read on Splatterpunk Horror Book Club in August 2025. It was unsuccessful in securing sufficient votes to be competitive. However, upon reading the Book Description I noted the cannibalism theme and felt it would be a perfect selection for a Buddy Read with a good friend of mine.
This book is written by a new-to-me author, and I am aware that this novel was not his first, but other than that I know nothing about Brady, who calls Virginia home. Secondly, I would like to lodge still another irritation with the party responsible for the genre designations. It is labeled “Erotic Horror”, and I almost spit out what I was drinking and no! it was not booze. I want to be honest. This is defined as sensual or sexual imagery which are blended with horrific overtones or story elements for the purpose of sexual arousal. I buy a LOT from Amazon, so I probably notice their cavalier disregard for correctly designating a genre for their readers more than others.
For readers who have NOT read this book I will clue you in on the correct genre designation. It is the Sub-Genre: Extreme Horror, Full Stop. Most of the time I use the terms “Extreme Horror/Splatterpunk” together but they most assuredly are different. Splatterpunk has a message and contains extreme horror. “Extreme Horror, Full Stop” designates “Extreme Horror” (with no message or plot, just gore, violence, torture, etc.)
I am not prepared to flatly declare that I have not (or will not ever) read and/or enjoy an “Extreme Horror, Full Stop” novel. “Bunny Room” was problematic for me not only because it was non-stop sadistic torture, but because the author did not make the effort (or did not know) that it was important to some readers that things that happen should be plausible. It is irritating or sometimes funny when I read something that is simply not believable. It would require more than for me to “suspend disbelief” I would need a frontal lobotomy.
Everyone has seen the movie “Big Driver” by Stephen King, right? We have watched it at least six or seven times. Anyway, the female protagonist is a writer, and she drives alone to a town where she has been invited to host her most recent hardback mystery. She is ready to pull out and leave when the President of her fan club (middle aged woman) assists her to plug in a shorter scenic route home and eliminate that nasty freeway drive. Tess is just driving along and suddenly by this run down gas station her tire blows. Planks with large nails are driven through them are strung across the roadway. So, this is similar to causing a car or van to break down in a specific spot so the bad guys can approach it and con the passengers.
There is this family of cannibals. They do not have to abduct folks and then imprison them, starve them, dehydrate them, torture and mutilate them, sexually violate them, and of course eat body parts. Oh, no. Granddaddy has money to burn, lots of land, and plenty of money to spend at the grocery store for groceries. His granddaughter is young and really wants a baby to raise as her own. She has a sadistic vicious streak but mostly follows Grandaddy’s orders. The third member of the family unit is a large man, huge as a lumberjack, and mentally disabled.
They acquire four (4) prisoners, oops! “bunnies”, more than enough for the winter. I will reveal no details due to potential spoilers. There is also a cheerful anecdote shared by the horny teenage cannibal about a “whole family of bunnies” they had kept captive for a long while carving pieces off the parents and “little kid bunny”.
So okay, the author was so focused on writing excellent extreme horror, much of it original I must say, that he sloughed when it came to making outcomes believable. I can’t go into much detail but implausibility in this book KILLED me! Okay, here’s one. Does anyone believe that a man who is half dead (dehydrated, starved, already chronically ill and weak) could endure having his entire array of genitals torn off by a strong set of teeth and eaten, leaving blood flowing from the open areas with no first aid…and be alive the next day with a whole new lease on life? This is utterly insulting narrative written here. He didn’t need his penis and testicles; they only got him in trouble anyway. Yeah, that is what I would think after being neutered.
I do have a few positive points to share. First, I know that there are many readers who enjoy extreme horror, full stop. This book was one which did not hold back on descriptive prose that made me cringe. I also recognized that I was actually sick in my stomach in one instance. Gag-worthy is the right word. Neither “Exquisite Corpse” nor “Child of God” made my gorge rise (well that is not entirely true since McCarthy’s writing style made me turn green with nausea more than once). The extreme horror was OTT, imaginative in my opinion, and hellishly effective in “Bunny Room” sans plot.
There were no satisfying plot twists at the end. Potential included the family discovering the victim they just dined on was terminal and infected with CJD [Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease]. Other animal prion diseases are being monitored in the US. This is similar to an episode of X-Files and was also a sublime trick they pulled on the Termites who were eating one of the good guys [Bob] at a nice fireside chat. He informed them he had been “bitten” only after they had been gleefully eating him [TWD]. Second, modify the plot so that the one victim’s spouse at home somehow tries to locate her and gets nabbed by the cannibals. Ideally accompanied by the cheating spouse’s lover. The author could have thrown the poor reader a bone and let those two get captured and tortured since they sure deserved it.
Finally, I am thrilled that my Buddy Reader didn’t take out a Contract on me here in the States. She is one who appreciates and enjoys Extreme Horror, Full Stop. Thank goodness. I was shaking in my boots since I am the one who chose it.
Whoa. That bear coming out of nowhere was so random. Haha.
I loved that the POVs included one of the villains—it really helps you understand how they think and why they do what they do. This book is a depiction of every nightmare known to man. It’s like Wrong Turn and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre had a baby—with a little something extra thrown in for shock value.
The corn cobs, Emma, and the bear—disgusting, vile, and everything you could ever ask for in a Splatterpunk. Jared is definitely a character you’ll hate, not only because he’s an asshole. I would’ve liked a more gruesome ending for Krystal, though.
4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5! I loved this and read it so fast! I gagged a few times and will never look at corn 🌽 the same again… ever. I do feel like the ending was a but rushed and Jared made me so mad. He was stupid but I think he was suppose to be that way??? Anyways, I highly recommend if you want a truly fun/gory story about wholesome cannibals 🫣
Bunny Room reminded me of the old Texas Chainsaw Massacre slogan: “Who will survive, and what will be left of them?”
Some creative storytelling and memorable villains make this novel feel like a fresh take on the redneck torture and survival trope. Highly recommended for fans of disgusting depravity and “WTF did I just read?” moments.
Where to start with this one? Let me start with my overall rating of 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this sick, twisted, graphic story. The only negative I have to say is that despite being advertised as splatterpunk I found it very tame from other books I’ve read of the same genre. If I was to reclassify its genre I’d classify it into general horror. That being said I have a question for the author, Oscar, part 2? ⚠️ Also remember to check your trigger warnings before reading! ⚠️
Breakdown of my personal criteria when rating books.
Pacing/flow and storyline: 4⭐️ Although I found the beginning few chapters a bit on the slower side, they help the reader acclimate to the different characters that each chapter focuses on and paint a picture that all comes together in later chapters.
How well the book kept my attention: 3⭐️ I’m personally a very easily distracted person but find with an amazing book that I could easily ignore just about anything. This book held my attention pretty decently but not enough to keep my incredibly rambunctious huskies from stealing my attention.
How much I wanted to return to the book after putting it down: 4⭐️ Even my aforementioned huskies could not keep me from wanting to rush back to this book. I often found myself thinking about this book while at my day job and wanting to return home to continue reading.
Overall Enjoyment: 4⭐️ Overall I enjoyed reading this book. While all of the characters felt unique and had their own personalities they added levels to the story. The only problem that I had was, I needed more!!! More gore! More twisted, depraved, grotesque moments! But, that is just my opinion. I would recommend giving this book a read if you are even just a little bit curious about what lies between its covers!
It’s been awhile since I picked up a splatterpunk, and I definitely returned with a bang on the traumatic scale. (complimentary)
It definitely had many off the wall moments, and some that were so ridiculous that I was laughing. But the only times I really legitimately enjoy this genre is when I am invested in the characters. This gave me multiple to root for that I almost instantly felt connected to. I really loved having four POVs. Even if I hated two of them. 😅
Highly recommend if splatterpunk and/or extreme horror are your thing. I will for sure be reading more from Oscar Brady, and really enjoyed the writing!
Also I will never look at corn on the cob or bears the same again. 😅🐻🌽
This book isn’t about bunnies folks! Note to self: NEVER go to the Appalachia’s!!
This is Splatterpunk and contains graphic material-please read responsibly! However, if you love to be scared and sick at the same time .. READ THIS BOOK!! You won’t be disappointed! 😜 Oscar Brady knows how to get the job done!
Im always looking for a book to push my limits! Im pretty sure this one did it! This book gave me a visceral reaction! I didn’t know if I was gonna get thru (Ch 17) IYKYK! 🤮 For reasons unknown to me I loved it! 😂 I was biting my nails and had to lay it down a time or two! However, this was a superb story filled with shock factor!
I am thrilled I found this author! Can’t wait for the next sensory overload! 😜
Uh… first of all, I will never look at corn the same way again. So, thanks for that, Bunny Room—you’ve officially ruined elote for me.
Second, I keep seeing reviews saying the corn scene was the most messed up part, but how is nobody talking about the bear?! Like, seriously, that part was way worse.
This book is basically a walking trigger warning. I’m not even gonna try to list them all, but if you’re wondering whether it has a certain one… yeah, it probably does.
Wow! Currently my favorite Splatterpunk/Horror book! This was a great mix of gore and storytelling. I will not think the same about multiple things after this book iykyk! The ending seemed a bit hurried but still satisfying, I would have loved that last chapter to have been a lot longer!
At first, the switching POV’s almost made me quit reading, but I decided to power through and it turned out to be a pretty good story. Would’ve been four stars but knocked down to three because in my opinion, the bear scene was very weird and ruined it a little for me
I loved this book from the moment I started reading it. I was invested in all the characters and enjoyed how the story went from bad to awful to the twist at the end which actually had me saying yes and fist pumping the air, you will understand what I mean when you've read the book.
I was really enjoying this book, right up until a certain scene in the woods where everything just went south 😭 it made zero sense to me. The storyline was such good fun, and then it felt as though I was suddenly reading something entirely different. The ending was predictable, but that honestly wasn't my biggest issue 😂
It's been a while since a book made me physically retch, so that's impressive. For a debute novel, this was good! A lot more of the story needed to be fleshed out to improve the off pacing. Some bits, like Krystal's monologues, really dragged, while other parts were far too quickly. Otherwise, a fun read!
Things I don’t want to eat again: sweetcorn and sandwiches made by people I don’t know.
Bunny Room follows a cannibal family who keep people, or ‘bunnies’, captive in their house. It feels really unsettling that they give them such a cute name whilst simultaneously committing absolutely horrendous acts on them.
I loved the perfect example of why a woman would choose the bear. Oh also, absolutely f*ck Jared.
*I was kindly sent a free Audible code from the author.
I have a few other books I was going to review but after finishing Bunny Room by Oscar Brady, I had to push it to the top of my list.
In Bunny Room an elderly hillbilly living in the Appalachian mountains is just doing his best to take care of his twenty-something year old granddaughter and her her brother. The story is told through Krystal, his granddaughter, and Sam and Daniel who are more than just dinner guests.
I’ve read a few cannibal themed books this year and the majority of them have been tongue in cheek, or over the top comical. Of those, Bunny Room might be my favorite, primarily because of its darker tone. The novel is bleak and just makes you feel hopeless and that’s what I love about Bunny Room. It effected me exactly the way I expected it to. I think what enhances that dreadful tone is the first person points of view we get from Sam, Daniel, and Krystal. We get first hand accounts not only of what Sam and Daniel are experiencing as victims, but we also get the unhinged thought processes of Krystal who is committing these acts and attempting to rationalize them. In any other context, the dialog between Granddaddy and Krystal could come off as comical, but Brady does an excellent job and making sure you know these people are not to be laughed at.
On the surface, the plot seems simple enough. A hillbilly family captures unsuspecting people and uses them as food. But the real story comes from what the characters experienced in the days leading up to their abduction. Sam’s mom recently suffered a stroke so, along with her newborn daughter, she heads out to visit her mother. They’re both captured by the cannibal family and Sam’s main concern now is her daughter’s safety. Meanwhile, Daniel, who recently found out that he has terminal cancer, agrees to travel across the country with his childhood friend. Unfortunately, they also end up in the basement of this hillbilly family, but he finds the will to survive.
Brady wrote Sam and Daniel in such a way that they are relatable, likable, and you can feel what they’re going through. And I can’t tell you how happy I am that Oscar wrote Sam to be such a strong female character; she’s a fighter. Too often in extreme horror and splatterpunk, we see female characters that are fragile and easily broken. Daniel went from hopelessness and wanting to die to finding a desire to live despite his terminal cancer.
Even the secondary characters feel like they could be people who actually exist. Not only that, but they serve a real purpose other than moving the plot forward. Jared, who is Sam’s husband only has two or three chapters of his own, but they do so much to increase our sympathy for Sam.
In my opinion, Oscar Brady has written what I would call, a masterpiece. While reading Bunny Room I’m pretty sure I went through the full range of emotions and towards the end, I’ve never been so anxious to turn a page until the very end. And as for the ending, it was so satisfying, I couldn’t have asked for better. This absolutely needs to be on your TBR.
This booooooook is so unhinged in so many ways… This is not a cute tale of fluffy white bunnies … Noooo, This is a twisted nightmare you don’t want to live through. Picture this: You’re driving down a desolate road. Tires blow. No signal. No buildings. Just vibes — and not the good kind. A lone truck pulls up like it’s been waiting for you. You get in, because you’re desperate... and then BOOM. You wake up naked in a basement as their next Bunny.
Everything about this book is WRONG, but I ate it up piece by piece like it was gourmet trauma. This book was deranged in the most addictive way. I hated it. I loved it. I felt unwell….But ohhhh what a great splatterpunk read! 🥪
🌽 I don’t know if I’ll be eating elote for awhile so there’s that, especially because all I see is that man smiling back at his sister 🤮
This was my first Oscar Brady book, and it won't be the last! I read a snippet of Bunny Room and was upset that I couldn't read it further, so naturally, I had to get it.
This is written from multiple POV, which is something I like, because it gives me insight into how everyone experiences what's going on. So we follow Sam and her baby, Emma, who get stuck on the side of the road with no cellphone reception and a newborn; needless to say, Sam is stressed out. Unluckily for her, an old man offers to take her to a towing company, and with no other options, she accepts. And this is where things go to shit for Sam.
She ends up with a cannibalistic hillbilly family, each with their own desires and dreams. This is where I'll stop, because from there, you need to experience this book yourself.
Oh, one final thing, fuck you Jared, you piece of shit.
What in the corn cob up my bum did I just read? I am a scary mashed potato when it comes to driving. Especially to areas I know nothing about. This clenched butt cheek page turner of a book was wild. There was so much going on that I didn't want to put the book down. The descriptions given will make you wince. It'll feel like you're there, one of the bunnies. I used to love corn on the cob, imma just pass on it now. I used to love sandwich meat, now I'm not sure if I want to eat it anymore. I damn sure don't want to if a stranger offers me one. Bears are so adorable, but I don't think I could handle that kind of bear attack. This is a great story for those who ignored their parents' warnings of getting in the car with strangers.
Bunny Room by Oscar Brady. A excellent book by a new author. A fucked up family in the back of beyond, unwittingly trap humans by leaving traps to to disable their cars. The grandfather happens along offering assistance, then next thing they're drugged and taken back to the very pits of hell. A mother and her baby, and two unsuspecting friends soon discover what a freakish family are capable of. Scenes of torture, cannibalism and sexual abuse feature aplenty. Throwback vibes to Texas Chainsaw Massacre for sure. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and can't wait to see what the author might come out with next 😊
“It might be the best barbecue I ever had.” “Oh, it ain’t pork. Pork comes cheap.” The old man snorts. “That meat’s yer baby.”
Meh- wasn’t a fan of the writing style/ flow- just couldn’t get into the book as quick as I would normally do-the book had some good parts but for the most of it I was bored- I skipped a lot of the “plot” also didn’t feel like the bunnies had any emotions for what was happening it’s seem like they was having a weekend away instead of being tortured and eaten alive
The bear scene was soo unnecessary 😂 did confuse me as it had no context at all BUT moral of the story… always choose the bear 🐻