Degenerate

by Matt Casamassina, Mateusz Michalski (Illustrator)

Mason Kowalski, a twenty-four year-old copywriter for a San Mateo startup, is on the verge of a nervous breakdown when he inexplicably suffers widespread vision loss in one eye. The doctors say it’s macular degeneration triggered by overwhelming stress, but he wonders if it’s something more, especially when the shadows in his peripheral vision begin to take shape and whisper wonderful and horrible things to him. Is it madness or destiny? The answer could destroy everything and everyone he holds dear.

Journey into the absurd beating heart of Silicon Valley as Mason and his lovable friends scramble to stop a demented serial killer from murdering more children. Degenerate mashes horror and sci-fi into a twisted, dark, violent and funny pulp drowned in tentacled nightmares. Featuring infamous hijacker DB Cooper and more twists than you can imagine, the genre-breaking story is designed for fans of Stephen King, Blake Crouch, Peter Clines, Keith Rosson, Chuck Wendig and John Scalzi.

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2025

About the author

Matt Casamassina is a video game / technology journalist, executive, and author who cofounded IGN.com and built Apple's App Store games editorial team. He's written three books, Dead Weight, Sophistication, and Degenerate, and is hard at work on his fourth. Matt is married, has three kids, two dogs, and a fat cat, and lives in northern California.

For more timely updates, visit Matt’s website at www.mattcasa.com

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOL this book has some twists and turns in it. Good ones. Strange ones. Cosmic horror and more.

Right off the bat, however, it reads like it could be a mystery-thriller, quietly transforming into revenge-horror, becoming almost UF in its buddy-fiction hi-jinx, before turning right around and surprising us in a very Nick Cutter/Gone World/Dark City way. Which is, by now, becoming something of a genre in itself. What do we call it, if not cosmic horror? It's a very specific KIND of cosmic horror, anyway. It's rather hard-SF.


So, YEAH, this ostensible HORROR is all those things with a little romance thrown in the mix as well. And superhero action.

And as long as you are going into this book with proper expectations--EXPECT ANYTHING--it's a wild, creative ride. It's an author having an awful lot of fun.

I recommend it wholeheartedly--with these caveats.

[Alenna Burleson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story we follow Mason, Mason struggles with mental health with his anxiety’s and the stresses of taking care of his almost non verbal grandmother he has a lot of his plate. When a sudden pain in his eye and his boss getting on him leads to the death of his boss and a brand new set of symptoms that would confuse anyone.

This was such a wild journey, if you are into sci- fi horror this one is definitely for you. The characters were all working so well together between the banter and the way they got along.

This story seems like it’s going one way and then it takes you into a different universe quite literally. I did enjoy the way it went but there were some parts that felt confusing for the plot. Overall it cleared itself up and ended very well.

Thank you Netgalley for sending this over.

[Mars Azel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Degenerate is a satirical rollercoaster of cosmic horror with a wild superhero twist. Much like a comic book this story hits the gas on page one and never lets up. It's violent, gory, and relentlessly paced, expertly balancing high-stakes action with dark, cynical laughs.

[Ben Haskett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mason Kowalski, a copywriter for a tech startup, knows he's about to be canned. But when his boss tries to give him the talk, strange powers steer the conversation in a wild direction. Later on, when his boss takes another crack at it, things go even farther off the rails in one of the book's most hilarious (and shocking) scenes. Pushed far enough, Mason can issue a command that the listener has no choice but to obey. He gets together with his friends to try and figure out this newfound ability, to see if it can be used for good, but it's not long before they're sidetracked by new horrors.

Wherever you think this book is going, you're wrong. You can even write down your evolving predictions after each chapter, and I reckon you'll still miss its trajectory by miles.

The cast is wonderful. Mason's unlikely friends Cassy and Rudy are as funny as they are caring and empathetic. She's a brash and extroverted construction worker constantly pushing Mason out of the house. He's a musclebound semi-retired cop with a penchant for conspiracy theories. The three don't appear to have anything in common, but you'll wish you had friends like them. It's a good reminder, especially in these increasingly divisive times, that uniformly common ground need not be a prerequisite for friendship. It is to the author's credit that they are often ridiculous but rarely undignified. Later on a fourth joins their group, and his eccentricities only make him a better fit. (Okay, maybe his introduction is a little undignified.)

Very late in the story the whole operation jumps tracks to an altogether different genre, where both the scope and stakes balloon to a galactic scale -- and the book barely survives the transition. In this final act the plot gets bogged down under an avalanche of overserious, heavy-handed prose, and the dialogue is mostly limited to zippy one-liners. It does at length amble to a fittingly epic conclusion, though, and most of its many threads resolve in a lengthy epilogue.

Fans of Stephen King, especially "track jumpers" like The Outsider or Rose Madder, will find a lot to love here. Fans of comic book anti-hero origin stories will also find a lot to love here. If that seems incongruous, it should -- this is an incongruous book. It makes for a strange but pleasant reading experience, urban fantasy mashed together with the hard sci-fi of Clarke or Robinson, all written in the style of contemporary authors like Joe Hill or John Scalzi. Funny, a little scary, a little weird, and a whole lot of fun.

[Iain Batten · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Degenerate” is a satirical rollercoaster that masterfully blends cosmic horror with a unique superhero twist. It is characterized by its violence and gore, expertly balancing high-stakes action with dark, cynical humor. Readers may find their predictions about the plot's direction consistently off the mark, even if they jot down their evolving theories after each chapter.

Describing the overall tone of this novel is challenging. It begins with a stark, realistic portrayal of life, addressing the struggles of anxiety and mental health. Gradually, tendrils of the unnatural weave in and out of the narrative. The story introduces a warm, diverse cast of characters, creating a comfortable reading experience that is infused with enough intrigue to compel readers to turn each page.

The book skillfully blends psychological tension with surreal, almost nightmarish moments. Certain scenes prompted me to pause, as I grappled with distinguishing between reality and the protagonist's mental unraveling. This uncertainty is precisely what propelled me to keep reading, instilling a lingering sense of unease that endures long after the final page is turned.

And then the energy shoots off into grotesque, almost cosmic horror vibes. And then you find yourself ignoring your usual bedtime because how are you supposed to put this down now?

I received an advance review copy at no cost, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let’s jump straight into it—Casamassina knows how to write.
But so does 87% of the world's population aged 15 and up. Does he know how to write clearly and engagingly? ‘Cause I do need a new favorite author. We’re about to find out. (Well, I'm about to find out; you can probably judge the rating already)

The book Degenerate (still not certain whether a noun or a verb) starts with infamous DB Cooper holding a plane hostage.
Alright, so I’ll start this off by saying I have a teensy bit of background in aviation, and while the chapter reads fairly okay, this is where I tripped up (I have receipts!):

“[..] because they aren’t allowed to fly any faster than 115 mph or higher than 10k feet.”

If we’re talking a commercial airliner, 115 mph, depending on tonnage, is a stall. As in “brace for impact in 3..2..1”. Unless the author meant knots, which, generally, is preferred in aviation, but still would be too low a speed. Are we talking a Boeing 727 or similar? Granted, there’s DB Cooper in the chapter. Otherwise, the airplane chapter reads fine. Although—confused about the era of that flight. This could prove a problem for people who don’t know who DB Cooper was, and that the plane “borrowing” happened in 1971. So, timestamps would’ve made it easier to follow it all. (Also, a fuselage includes the cockpit as well as wiring and insulation, among other things. It’s the frame of the plane minus the wings, engines, etc—that’s a note for the author.)

Next. Characters. Oh boy. I will make a generalized statement right now, but—men have an odd way of writing women. Portrayal of Cassy/Cassandra (and later Yinny) is problematic. I can, with certainty, say I have never in my life met a woman who speaks the way she does. Starting with “Hey yo, it’s me—coming in. Hope ya’ll mu’fuckas be decent,” to “What, ya’ll think your gran ain’t heard this shit before? Bitch, she was circling blocks before your dumb ass was swimmin’ up into life.” She is described as a husky Samoan with broad shoulders and hair pulled into cornrows. Then called a hulk. Then claiming she outweighs the main character by at least 75lbs. Probably should’ve gone through a round of sensitivity readers with this one(female ones). That being said—she was fun to read and was a good supporting character to the protagonist. So, I guess we pick our battles.

On to Mace/Mason.
I’ll put this right at the start of this section, to get it quickly out of the way—When did Mason start recording the conversation with the Prick(love the name)? Feels very Deus Ex, which is bizarre because that’s literally the second chapter. But maybe I just missed the detail. Aaaaand—nope. I checked. No mention of any recording being set up. Just that Mason has somehow been recording a conversation with his boss, which, we later come to know, holds something else.
Furthermore, Mason reads like… wet cardboard. I’ll leave it at that.

The prose, although clean and engaging, is filled with errors, some of which I will list below:

Referring to a CT scan:
“Lots of deep bass noises and crazy hammering.”
Is factually incorrect. The author confused an MRI with a CT scan. MRI is the banging noise, CT is more of a quiet whirr.

“She’s coherent.” Is wild to say about a grandmother who only ever says one word—hungry/Hungary.

"and now it rots behind a weeded field just as neglected" < “weeded” is not the correct word to use. “Weeded” means we removed the weeds, which then means—a field that has been carefully cleared of weeds, yet somehow neglected? Hmm.

"Train tracks cut San Mateo in half, on one side the invasive super rich and their shielded high-tech bubble world, on the other the persistent natives, their *rundown, dirty lives* not just ignored but pushed farther and farther back until there’s no space left for them." While I get what the author was trying to relay in theory, the phrasing is… peculiar. I will leave it at that. And knock one star off for it.

“Their rays search for [..]” Guess what this is about. Flashlights. Confused? You and I both.

And a few sentences later: “There's a rickety staircase that must've ascended to an attic.” STAIRCASES DON’T ASCEND!

“My name is Steve Willis, staff sergeant, San Mateo Police.” Within the US—and I think San Mateo is well within the bounds of the US—a staff sergeant is a military rank. This is generally how it goes:

Staff Sergeant → U.S. Army / Marines / Air Force / Space Force
Police (U.S.) → Officer → Sergeant → Lieutenant → Captain → etc.
Now, within the UK, yes. There are staff sergeants (although rarely used as a rank).

“He blinks, rubs his eyes, and tries to push away the ethereal nature of reality as seen through the lens of exhaustion." At this point, I’m pissed, and the kindle flies across the room. ‘Cause what does that even mean? Ethereal nature of reality… what?

“Sir, if we do not see you at the department or hear from you presently, we will dispatch units to detain you for questioning. Do not ignore our attempts to reach you.” That’s not how it works. In the US, police cannot detain someone for questioning just because they don’t respond. In the US:
a) You have no legal obligation to answer police calls.

b) You have no obligation to come to the station voluntarily.

c) Silence or non-response is not probable cause.

d) “Questioning” alone is not grounds for detention.
Police need reasonable suspicion (for a stop) or probable cause (for arrest).

In short, the author probably knows the denotation of a word but not the connotation. A tip: if you’re looking up a fancier word to substitute for the one you know via Thesaurus—check the full meaning and how the word is used in a sentence.

Conclusion: Degenerate by Matt Casamassina made me feel like my brain was degenerating whilst reading it, hence I did not finish it. Clocked out at 30%. While the story may’ve been interesting as a concept, the execution kept pulling me out of it constantly, and I don’t believe the story past the 30% mark is any more finetuned than it is up to it.


ARC read.

[Draculise A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If stories about monsters once stayed in the shadows, Degenerate reveals what happens when the shadow steps forward wearing the face of someone you loved. This novel is not about clean heroism or chosen destiny. It is about inheritance, fear, and the slow ruin that begins when the mind you trust becomes an unreliable witness. Matt Casamassina crafts a world where memory frays, where voices slide under your skin, and where the past does not stay buried. It follows Mason Kowalski, a man already stretched thin, who discovers the darkness inside him is not a metaphor. It is alive. It speaks. And it wants control.

The unraveling begins with a firing that twists into possession, a boss laughing through a fog of shadows that Mason cannot explain. It spreads to interrogation rooms where officers convulse and lose their minds, to a suited stranger who dissolves into blackness, leaving only his laughter behind. From there the horror widens: mutilated children, stolen memories, a grandfather whose tenderness once felt like salvation now revealed as something older, crueler, and monstrously transformed. Mason is pushed from the city into impossible landscapes, from wheat fields watched by colossal hawks to underground tiers governed by myth and fear. Reality bends. Worlds collide. And through it all, the danger remains intimate, as if every nightmare began at his family’s dinner table.

What anchors the story is desperation. Mason runs through silent corridors hunted by the possessed. He faces the truth that his powers may save him or consume him. He watches friends stand beside him even when the world unravels into cosmic ruin. And he learns that love, loyalty, even memory can lie.

A Glimpse into the Degeneration:

A man hunted by his own mind.
A grandfather reborn as a monster.
A world built on myth, collapse, and quiet terror.
Violence that strips away the boundary between human and nightmare.
A reality that fractures until it almost disappears.

If you want a story that whispers its horror, that sinks rather than shocks, Degenerate will not comfort you. But it will remain.

[Zimbellina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason works a job he hates for a boss who’s a jerk and now he’s hallucinating.

This was some awesome cosmic horror. I don’t usually like cosmic horror but this was really interesting and unique. I loved the characters and the ending was super satisfying. I want a second book of more adventures! Excellent book, it was epic.

[Rudy Campos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was about to encounter a psychological unraveling but before I knew it, I found myself knee-deep in horror and sci-fi chaos. Honestly, I loved the madness! The Silicon Valley setting has always been a favourite of mine because it carries this undercurrent of pressure and something twisted beneath the surface. This one was bold and completely unafraid to go there. Loved every minute of it.

[Jude Samson]

The writer doesn’t know what kind of book he’s writing and it shows. This was tough to get through between the glaring issues that pop up regularly and the story itself being all over the place.

Negotiable dollars? Lol what?

The end of a lot cigarette is always glowing not just when one inhales.

Lol since when do planes use mph? And also 115mph? They’d drop out of the sky

How does Vaseline on a tinted window make anything darker? What a ridiculous analogy

Again with these ridiculously stupid metaphors - spun around paranoid man with a severe tick? Is he spinning around a lot or twitching? otherwise he’s not ticking and how is spinning around equated with paranoia?

Head cold into the Ebola virus? Soooooo lol the man flu.

And then randomly mentioning Ebola again while hearing the “did you call me boy” monster voice playback on the phone. What’s his obsession with Ebola?

Is this a doctor or a surfer dude?

Macular degeneration doesn’t “clear up” when stress is removed. It can be triggered or worsened by stress but it is a “degenerative” condition and will only get worse, not better or cured.

CT scans don’t make much noise and they are often very quick so he wouldn’t feel too claustrophobic unless he’s pretty prone to it in general. The MRI is loud with banging and takes a lot longer to complete the imagining. Think of a CT like a scanner - quick and quiet, and an MRI like a printer - longer with much more back and forth of the arm and noisier.

Holy cow how many times is this dude going to waste page space reiterating his mantra. We get it already.

Who calls a phone an iPhone? Most people will just say “where’s your phone”

Why wouldn’t he record the conversation after the threats and treatment he got before? California protects CONFIDENTIAL conversations. The one prick had was in public and thus not covered under the two party consent terms. Also, also, mason didn’t threaten him in a court of law, he threatened him with using the recording to HR.

The voice of Siri is not manufactured. It’s a real person’s voice. (Which Apple tricked and screwed her over).

Bushy isn’t going to give details about the murders? lol it’s 2019 there’d be information about every aspect of it all over the news or social media regardless of if the police try to keep it hush.

If bushy isn’t talking then how does mason suddenly know the bodies were mutilated?

Lol the cops can try to dispatch a unit but there’s no obligation for anyone to speak to the police. Also, we aren’t really given a time frame of the others beyond deducing that the blueser apparently called three times within an hour and that’s a bit excessive to jump right to threats (which are empty).

Staff Sargent? Did we enter a military zone? And even if he meant just a regular Sargent why is he calling and not a detective? Come on, man! We have 500 seasons of multiple law and orders and csi/NCIS shows so any layperson would know basic police details at this point.

If the cops had a ton of evidence or any cause they wouldn’t have called him to come down they would’ve gotten a warrant and arrested him.

“Like a fisherman can feel the tug of a hooked tuna” lol I’m sorry what? How is this supposed to indicate some kind of “knowing” or “other sense” when ANYONE even a kid can feel when they’ve hooked a fish. It’s a literal tug.

Police having to disclose that they’re police if directly asked is a very old myth. Police can lie to you, you cannot lie to them.

A patrolman wouldn’t be that aggressive or threatening with warrants. And why doesn’t Rudy come out of the bedroom?

Lol is the dude from the lodge either Irish or a pirate?

Not putting incriminating details of murders in a diary is hardly proof of innocence much less undeniable.

The door at the police station doesn’t slide ajar - ajar means a slight opening and sliding isn’t even right either. He pushes it open. Keep it simple and accurate.

Mason can’t seem to draw in enough AIR not oxygen. We don’t breathe pure oxygen, it would kill us.

Omg stop with the bullet point list of every single sign on the door. We all know what the typical signage is and the list doesn’t provide anything to the story except annoyance.

The writer randomly uses bigger words when smaller more commonly used ones are just fine. A good example is when Rudy says the guy could’ve died of influenza. No one ever calls it influenza, they just say flu. As Mark Twain said: “use the smallest word that does the job.”

Did the writer really think we had to have “simulated” explained to us?

Cassie is so tiring and mason has zero sense of urgency no matter what’s happening.

I highly doubt mason is feeling sleepy as he’s plummeting on a free fall. Sleep and consciousness are not the same thing.

His mouth was as dry as a German Shepard? Lol wtf is that even supposed to mean?

Continuing the story to a conclusion is not an epilogue. The epilogue is a recap or explaination about the conclusion. Him waking up after his free fall is part of the ending not an epilogue. And writers need to stop doing epilogues like they’re standard for every book. It’s bad enough to have one but this joker has THREE

[Bookish Burnished Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how to describe the vibe of this novel. It starts with a harsh, realistic look at life and the struggles of anxiety and mental health. Tendrils of something unnatural start to wave in and out. A warm, wide and inclusive cast of characters is introduced. It’s a comfortable read, with enough intrigue to keep you turning each page.

And then the energy shoots off into grotesque, almost cosmic horror vibes. And then you find yourself ignoring your usual bedtime because how are you supposed to put this down now?

I loved the real, perfectly imperfect characters. I loved to see Mason’s personality tease out when he’s amongst people that has his back, as opposed to the bitter, nihilistic working man just trying to survive the hellscape of daily life. The author writes with charisma, sarcasm and sass — but in a natural way that doesn’t feel contrived or overdone. The dark humour tucked into various scenes feels authentic— I can totally see feeling the same way in those situations.

—-

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hitesh Thakar]

⭐ Degenerate – Review

Rating: 4/5

Degenerate is one of those books that hits you with intensity right from the opening chapter. What surprised me most wasn’t the action or thriller elements, but how emotionally grounded the story felt. The characters are written in a way that makes their anxiety, stress, and paranoia feel uncomfortably real — especially Mason. I found myself reacting strongly to his internal struggles, because the writing makes you feel the pressure building inside him in a way that’s almost claustrophobic.

The book blends psychological tension with surreal, almost nightmarish moments. Some scenes made me pause because I wasn’t sure if what I was seeing through the character’s eyes was real or part of his mental unraveling — and honestly, that uncertainty is what kept me turning the pages. It creates a sense of unease that stays with you even after you stop reading.

Emotionally, I found myself frustrated for the characters, angry at the situations they are put into, and curious about what was actually happening beneath the surface. That emotional engagement is where the book shines brightest.

If I had to offer constructive criticism, I’d say a few transitions felt slightly rushed. Some intense scenes hit extremely hard, but the cooldown moments could’ve used a bit more space for reflection — especially since the main character’s mental state is such a big part of the story. A little more breathing room between the chaos would have made the emotional punches land even harder.

Still, the writing is sharp, the pacing mostly strong, and the blend of psychological horror and human drama feels unique. If you enjoy stories that blur the line between reality and hallucination, and characters who feel painfully human, this book will definitely pull you in.

[Hugh Binns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I’ve read all of Matt Casamassina’s novels and Degenerate is, without question, his strongest and most ambitious work so far. It’s a genuinely original story with an epic feel, packed with vivid characters, sharp dialogue and a plot that refuses to sit comfortably in any single genre.

What sets this book apart is its insight into the darker, more corrosive side of Silicon Valley–style ambition. Rather than leaping straight into full dystopian sci-fi, the novel lingers in that unsettling space just before everything tips over — and it’s all the more effective for it. The world Casamassina builds feels disturbingly close to our own, which gives the story real weight as it grows stranger and more intense.

There are moments of outrageous humour, sudden turns that completely wrong-foot you, and passages that are surprisingly thoughtful and lyrical. Casamassina takes real risks here, but they pay off, resulting in a novel that’s gripping, unpredictable and often downright insane in the best possible way.

This is a bold, genre-bending thriller that stays with you long after you’ve finished. Hugely enjoyable in print, and the audiobook is equally compelling. Highly recommended.

[The Nocturnal Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you asked me where this plot was going, I would have been wrong. If I was starting to get an idea, something would happen, and I'd be back at square one!
This book just kept getting weirder as things started happening. It takes a lot to gross me out, but there were several moments that I gagged. I did a double take when a character I thought didn't really matter suddenly mattered a lot. And somehow, in the epilog section, I was shocked again by something out of left field showed up.
I wasn't sure if I truly cared for Mason as the main character, but he grew on me just as everyone else did. I also was a little sad that the ending was as clean as it was. I really wanted to be some kind of consequence for all the bad the characters went through. However, the last epilog made me ok with its clean bow.
I'll be thinking about this book for a while simply due to the twists that punched you in the brain.

[sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mason is a stressed-out copywriter in San Mateo with anxiety, vision problems, and a life that’s very much spiraling. Doctors say it’s stress. Reality says… maybe not. Soon he’s seeing shadows take shape, reality starts glitching, and things go fully off the rails—like his boss literally shoving termination papers up his butt (yes, that happens), or an entire police station collectively forgetting he’s a murder suspect. Toss in his ride-or-die, foul-mouthed bestie Cassy, his conspiracy-obsessed friend Rudy, and a very real guy named DB Cooper who Mason catches spying on him (because of course), and suddenly he’s knee-deep in something much bigger, darker, and weirder than burnout.

This book is an absolute fever dream in the best way. It starts off feeling like cosmic horror, veers into murder mystery territory, and then fully faceplants into wild sci-fi insanity with simulations, asteroids, and good old tentacle-y nightmare fuel. I genuinely never knew where it was going next, and that unpredictability was half the fun. It’s chaotic, unhinged, funny, and bizarrely thoughtful—one of those reads where you just shrug and go, sure, why not, and let it take you wherever it wants. Weird, entertaining, and delightfully degenerate.

[Ellie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW, this book was such a wild ride! The plot is a total mash-up that starts as a horror & then halfway through it flips into a full sci-fi. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it, but it grew on me as I got closer to the end of the story.

The “Blurry Man” had some body-horror-esque moments which I found to be quite enjoyable, even humorous at times. Pretty equally plot- & dialogue-driven as a story too, especially as more characters and weird scenarios were introduced. Imagery was glorious both in the “human” world & “space”; the author does a great job building the different scenes & setting the tone in both halves of the story.

I would definitely read this book again & would recommend it to fans of comic books honestly, it kind of reads the same!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an advance copy of this book!

[Mickie Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved This!!

I started reading this book thinking it was a thriller/horror story, but halfway thru it took a complete left turn. It turned into a story I never thought would interest me.....but, I couldn't put it down. I was so fascinated I had to know how it ended.
If you want something different, you must read this book! I could imagine each character in real life. I laughed at times and scratched my head at others.
One of the best books I've read in a long time!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this... and I tried so hard to get through it but ultimately about 70% through I gave up because - quite frankly - I didn't have a clue what was going on. Though many have described this as cosmic horror, I can't say its anything other than sci-fi. There were so many ambitious areas but the story lacks any sort of answers as you go through so it just mounts confusion to the point of frustration.

(Rating despite being a DNF for me).

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this publication in exchange for an honest review.

[Travis Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Degenerate
By Matt Casamassina

Mason is having eye pain that leads to hallucinations and fainting. When he comes to crazy things have happened. Children have gone missing. Copper, a man who should have been dead for many years, has shown up to help Mason and his friends solve the mystery of what is happening to and around him.
This book is an absolute mind fuck. One of the craziest books I have ever read and I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the he opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.

[Parmy Violet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately I didn't.

The book follows Mason, a copywriter, who has begun to see shadows and experience pain behind his right eye when he's stressed. He quickly realises that these shadows aren't just in his head, they're not caused by a tumor, and they're not harmless.

I enjoyed the original idea of it, the shadows, the weirdness, Masons interaction with his boss... But around the 50% mark I began to lose interest. I felt that the focus and direction of the story was changing too much, and by 80% I wanted to DNF. I kept reading, finished the book, and honestly felt that it wasn't worth it. I feel that the author had a lot of ideas for different books, and ended up putting them all together in this, and it just didn't work for me.

I liked the start, as I already mentioned, the few creepy sections (such as when Mason was listening to the recording), and how unpredictable it was. Unfortunately there was a lot that I didn't like...

I didn't like the characters. I tend to read books with unlikeable characters, so I'm aware that not all books have characters that the reader is meant to love, but the problem is that the characters in this book weren't written in an unlikeable way, I just felt that they all had pretty much the same personality. Mason has zero personality, Cassie is loud, argumentative, and sarcastic (and later goes through a phase of panicking over everything for some reason, but then she goes back to her original personality), and Rudy and Coop are argumentative and sarcastic, and kind of loud. There is also a lot of stereotyping in the book, which I didn't enjoy. And I feel that the book could have easily been 100 pages shorter if the unnecessary, constant bickering had been left out.

I don't agree with the blurb where it says this book is for fans of Stephen King, Keith Rosson, and Blake Crouch. I'm not entirely sure who I'd say this book is aimed at.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Rhiannon Vaughan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally, Degenerate was not for me. I do enjoy some sci-fi; however, I think this was just too Lovecraftian for me to stay interested. Which I think is why this story was somewhat of a doozy for me to get through. The first half of the book was a bit too slow paced for me, but at that halfway mark the horror and action began to ramp up and keep my attention. Once it flipped to the cosmic horror a bit afterward is when I started struggling with it again. Now, this is not to say that this isn’t a good book. This one just wasn’t for me. I did feel like there was A LOT happening and going on throughout the book. I somewhat felt like by certain points I was reading a completely different book. There was a lot going on, and just a bit all over the place to keep my ADD brain attentive to the story. To bring some positive notes about this book, I did enjoy the characters and did come to care for them throughout the novel. There were some good twists within the storyline I didn’t expect that were sad but gave a good shock factor. All in all, if cosmic horror & sci-fi are your thing, then take my review with a grain of salt. If your brain runs ninety to nothing like mine, this one may be hard to keep up with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Matt Casamassina for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mr. Taimur Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a story that refuses to be boxed in, Degenerate is it. Matt Casamassina has crafted a visceral, high-octane mashup of sci-fi, horror, and dark comedy that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.
From the very first chapter, it is clear that Casamassina is the master of flow. The pacing is relentless, seamlessly shifting between the absurd culture of Silicon Valley and a gritty, tentacle-drenched nightmare without ever losing its rhythm. He balances the high-stakes terror of a serial killer hunt with genuinely funny, human moments between Mason and his friends. It’s cinematic, propulsive, and incredibly smart.
A special shout-out must go to the production of the audiobook. It is an immersive masterpiece. The narration by Phillip Nathaniel Freeman is top-tier, but it’s the sound design that truly elevates the experience. The audiobook effects are subtle perfect—using just the right amount of audio distortion and atmospheric music to enhance the creeping dread without ever distracting from the story.
This isn't just a book; it's an experience. Whether you're a fan of Dead Weight or new to his work, Degenerate is an absolute must-listen.

[John M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to share my thoughts on “Degenerate,” Matt’s latest book, even though I’m usually not one for fiction. My reading preferences normally lean toward straight-up factual history and research books, but after stumbling upon Matt’s writing, I think I might be hooked for good.

“Degenerate” is an absolute page-turner—a roller-coaster ride packed with mind-blowing twists and turns that kept me guessing. The story hits and relates on so many levels, immersing the reader in its unpredictable narrative and leaving you wanting more at every chapter. I truly appreciate how Matt crafts a story that’s both riveting and relatable, making even a non-fiction fan like myself invested in the characters and their journeys.

If you’re looking for a novel that will sweep you off your feet and keep you engaged from start to finish, “Degenerate” is definitely worth picking up. I can’t wait to see what Matt writes next!

[George Stull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think Stranger Things only with DB Cooper, a former Navy Seal, and a couple of best friends just trying to live their lives. A unique blend of horror, mystery and sci-fi. The characters are loveable, something that is very difficult to pull off in a novel like this. How often can a book scare you, make you laugh and even bring a tear to your eye? This one can do all of that along with a captivating story that will make you want to keep turning pages. To quote directly from the book "I guess times flies when you be chillin' with shadow monsters and looking for serial killers and stuff." You'll be flipping pages right up to the out of this world ending. I heard this book was a mix of Stephen King, Blake Crouch and Chuck Wendig and I could not agree more. If you like any of those authors, this book is for you!

[Reading Xennial · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was unhinged in the best way possible. I was surprised many, many times. There were parts I had to reread because I was so blindsided by the events. It is quite gross at times so that’s something to be aware of. This book is not for the faint of heart. Even through the twisty events, the plot was still good and the characters were fun to read. I’ve never read from Casamassina before, but I will look into his previous works. This is a book I will be thinking of for quite some time. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Matt Casamassina for allowing me to read this early. The opinion in this review is my own.

[Rich Rosell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a truly bizarro novel, something I imagine would be a complimentary description to the author. Because - well, it is. Bizarro, that is. A young copywriter develops a mysterious affliction that seems to cause horrific, mind-melting hallucinations. And then the dead bodies start piling up. Oh, and then D.B. Cooper shows up, decades and decades after his infamous jump out of a plane.

I wasn't necessarily in love with where this went story-wise, but I can honestly say it was NOT anything I could have anticipated.

I really liked the main characters, and Casamassina handles dialogue extremely well, full of punchy sarcasm and humor.

I would read more from this author......

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel that takes you places you would never have expected, ever.
This is an incredibly ambitious novel, and Matt Casamassina nailed it. A wildly original story, funny, creepy, anxiogenic, at times terrifying, relatable and warming. Casamassina throws plot twists at the reader like there’s no tomorrow. Turning the pages becomes compulsive. I devoured it.
Take the premise: Mason, a burned-out, anxious copywriter in a Silicon Valley startup, experiences vision problems. Add moving shadows in his peripheral vision and Lovecraftian tentacles. Tell me where you think this is going. I can assure you; you are wrong.
This novel erases frontiers between genres. It’s mind-bending, it’s delectable, it’s impossible to predict. Be prepared for a plethora of “I didn’t see that coming” moments. A fantastic read.
A heartfelt thank you to Matt Casamassina and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.

[Lowanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Degenerate is an outstanding, genre- bending novel, that's impossible to put down. It's smart gripping and wildly original blending horror sci.Fi and thriller elements into a fast paced story that never plays it safe. The characters feel real.The tension is constant and the writing crackles with energy and dark humor. Bold, imaginative and unforgettable degenerate is a kind of book that stays with you long after you finish it and makes you immediately recommend it to others. I cannot wait to read another book by this author.

[Holly Gabbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This is such an unpredictable, twisty, turny novel! I couldn’t put it down. First, it decimates the pretension of Silicon Valley. Then there are tentacle monsters. Plus, some really grotesque scenes involving a literal butt hole. And just when you think you know where it’s all going, it flips the script upside down. I don’t want to give anything away, but think weird and wonderful and weird again. I loved the characters, all of whom felt real and genuine. And I was floored by the ending in the best way.”

[Emziethebookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what a was walking in on as soon as a started to read this book as I thought it was gonna be smooth sailing but wow wasn't I wrong.
It was certainly a book that knows how to draw in it's audience readers, a mean the plot was really amazing to me.
The characters were good throughout the book, however didn't like one but that's fine.
Thank you to netgallery for allowing me to read this book.