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Formaldehyde
Ethan isn't afraid to cross the lines when it comes to his sister.
In fact, he's more than ready to do whatever it takes to claim Alina.
Even if she is alive or dead.
In fact, he's more than ready to do whatever it takes to claim Alina.
Even if she is alive or dead.
- GenresHorror
126 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 26, 2026
that was definitely taboo. make sure to check the trigger warnings on this one for sure, but i liked it. it was dark, eerie, and uncomfortable at times, but i wish it was longer and we got to see their dynamic a little more. i wanted to know more about Alina and her story and side of things. Ethan just wanted to be loved. 🥹 i think they were twin flames more than soulmates. they just didn’t know how to express it. 🥹❤️🩹
July 7, 2026
Hands down the most fucked up thing I've read. Wow 👀
April 21, 2026
It is a horror taboo story with no HEA. It is good, but I felt that somethings were too much and other missing but being pretty short it is normal to put more accent on the horror aspects
May 1, 2026
1.5. And that’s super generous. This was way too wackadoo weird.
April 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸🩸 - 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Ethan and Alina
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕taboo horror
📕autopsies
📕primal play
📕necrophilia
📕cannibalism
🖤𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼🖤
“I’m coming for you, little sister. Ready out not.”
“A vision of beauty in the middle of chaos.”
“Is any of this even real? I guess we’ll never know.”
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
This was a delightful read, for those that don’t mind a little taboo with their romance. The relationship between the downright unhinged Ethan and the delicate Alina is full of tension that could be cut with a knife. Just when you think you know where the story is heading, it takes a left then a right turn out of nowhere, which will have you SEATED! After reading Eat Your Heart Out earlier this year from Bamforth, I highly anticipate her next release because I was hooked the entire time I was seated.
*spoilers*
Ethan and Alina are siblings by blood. Their father is extremely intolerant of his own son’s behavior and makes it known strictly that he doesn’t want his freak of a son anywhere near his daughter. But Ethan can’t resist because he’s in awe of her. In more ways than one. Alina, who keeps her deep thoughts to herself, has the same feelings for him in return but knows it’s downright wrong.
Alina’s friend Chloe invites her to a Halloween party, insisting she come in costume. Even giving her a very revealing nun costume for her to wear that’s sure to attract all the boys her way. But once she tries to step out of the house to meet Chloe, Ethan steps out in front of her. She almost allows him to take her, but a moment of reality hits and she shoves him off, declaring that it’s wrong while using the same term he’s grown to hate. Freak.
At the party, she has a single drink and a smoke with a stranger and feels her head spinning. But she’s not able to do much about it because Ethan has arrived with some of his buddies swinging baseball bats at whoever is nearby. With blood splatter and bodies covering the house, Ethan is more preoccupied with his sister in the bathroom. The bathroom where they allow temptations to be expressed. Until Chloe walks in on them and is mortified.
The rest goes downhill… in the best way possible. A brutal accident. A morbid sexual experimentation with a corpse. And lots of bloody fragments of body with an unsuspecting morgue owner. This book swings in a way that you won’t see coming. Just like you’ll never be able to stare at a chicken nugget the same way after reading. Bamforth brings us another straight banger with Formaldehyde.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸🩸 - 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Ethan and Alina
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕taboo horror
📕autopsies
📕primal play
📕necrophilia
📕cannibalism
🖤𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼🖤
“I’m coming for you, little sister. Ready out not.”
“A vision of beauty in the middle of chaos.”
“Is any of this even real? I guess we’ll never know.”
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
This was a delightful read, for those that don’t mind a little taboo with their romance. The relationship between the downright unhinged Ethan and the delicate Alina is full of tension that could be cut with a knife. Just when you think you know where the story is heading, it takes a left then a right turn out of nowhere, which will have you SEATED! After reading Eat Your Heart Out earlier this year from Bamforth, I highly anticipate her next release because I was hooked the entire time I was seated.
*spoilers*
Ethan and Alina are siblings by blood. Their father is extremely intolerant of his own son’s behavior and makes it known strictly that he doesn’t want his freak of a son anywhere near his daughter. But Ethan can’t resist because he’s in awe of her. In more ways than one. Alina, who keeps her deep thoughts to herself, has the same feelings for him in return but knows it’s downright wrong.
Alina’s friend Chloe invites her to a Halloween party, insisting she come in costume. Even giving her a very revealing nun costume for her to wear that’s sure to attract all the boys her way. But once she tries to step out of the house to meet Chloe, Ethan steps out in front of her. She almost allows him to take her, but a moment of reality hits and she shoves him off, declaring that it’s wrong while using the same term he’s grown to hate. Freak.
At the party, she has a single drink and a smoke with a stranger and feels her head spinning. But she’s not able to do much about it because Ethan has arrived with some of his buddies swinging baseball bats at whoever is nearby. With blood splatter and bodies covering the house, Ethan is more preoccupied with his sister in the bathroom. The bathroom where they allow temptations to be expressed. Until Chloe walks in on them and is mortified.
The rest goes downhill… in the best way possible. A brutal accident. A morbid sexual experimentation with a corpse. And lots of bloody fragments of body with an unsuspecting morgue owner. This book swings in a way that you won’t see coming. Just like you’ll never be able to stare at a chicken nugget the same way after reading. Bamforth brings us another straight banger with Formaldehyde.
August 3, 2026
I picked this up for my Book Bingo Challenge because I needed something to tick off the horror category, and after hearing BookedByMay rave about it, I knew I had to see what all the fuss was about.
Well… I finished it in one sitting.
And then I just sat there questioning everything I’d just read at 12:00 am.
Now, anyone who follows my reviews knows I have a pretty high tolerance for dark, taboo books. I actively seek them out as I like to be left thinking and questioning. But this? This was fucked up… even for me.
The Frankenstein-esque elements were disturbing enough, but the maggots… absolutely not. I have never wanted to crawl out of my own skin so much while reading a book. It was grotesque in a way that genuinely made me feel uncomfortable, and I think that’s exactly what the author was aiming for.
I also found myself feeling incredibly conflicted about Ethan. Part of me felt so sorry for him because of everything he’d been through, but at the same time there was something so deeply disturbed about him that I never quite knew whether to pity him or fear him. He was such an unsettling character, and I think that’s what made him so compelling.
But nothing… and I mean nothing… prepared me for that ending.
I spent the entire book trying to piece together where it was heading, and I was still completely blindsided. It takes a lot to genuinely surprise me these days, but that final twist came out of nowhere. Suddenly everything clicked into place, and I was left staring into space thinking, “What the actual hell did I just read?”
It was shocking, unexpected, and I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t like this ending for a book that never once played it safe. It felt like at the end, the covers were pulled back up and we were left with an ‘only joking!’
This is absolutely not a book for everyone, but if you’re looking for horror that genuinely unsettles you rather than relying on cheap jump scares, this one will definitely leave a mark.
Well… I finished it in one sitting.
And then I just sat there questioning everything I’d just read at 12:00 am.
Now, anyone who follows my reviews knows I have a pretty high tolerance for dark, taboo books. I actively seek them out as I like to be left thinking and questioning. But this? This was fucked up… even for me.
The Frankenstein-esque elements were disturbing enough, but the maggots… absolutely not. I have never wanted to crawl out of my own skin so much while reading a book. It was grotesque in a way that genuinely made me feel uncomfortable, and I think that’s exactly what the author was aiming for.
I also found myself feeling incredibly conflicted about Ethan. Part of me felt so sorry for him because of everything he’d been through, but at the same time there was something so deeply disturbed about him that I never quite knew whether to pity him or fear him. He was such an unsettling character, and I think that’s what made him so compelling.
But nothing… and I mean nothing… prepared me for that ending.
I spent the entire book trying to piece together where it was heading, and I was still completely blindsided. It takes a lot to genuinely surprise me these days, but that final twist came out of nowhere. Suddenly everything clicked into place, and I was left staring into space thinking, “What the actual hell did I just read?”
It was shocking, unexpected, and I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t like this ending for a book that never once played it safe. It felt like at the end, the covers were pulled back up and we were left with an ‘only joking!’
This is absolutely not a book for everyone, but if you’re looking for horror that genuinely unsettles you rather than relying on cheap jump scares, this one will definitely leave a mark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
This is not “dark romance”—this is dark with the lights smashed out and the door locked behind you. J.N Bamforth doesn’t flirt with taboo, she fully commits to it. Incest, obsession, necrophilia… nothing is approached halfway.
And yet—beautifully—it works.
What surprised me most is that beneath all the shock and discomfort is a genuinely heavy exploration of grief, trauma, and what happens when the only person who ever made you feel human is taken away. Ethan is not a character you’re meant to like, and you absolutely shouldn’t… but you understand him. His obsession is all consuming, but it’s rooted in something painfully real: loss, isolation, and a desperate need to hold onto the only thing that ever felt like home and being seen as a human being.
That’s what makes this book linger. It isn’t just crossing lines for the sake of it—it’s showing what can grow in the aftermath of damage, neglect, and love with nowhere safe to exist.
The pacing is fast, the writing is immersive, and the emotional weight hits far harder than you expect from a book that includes… embalming-adjacent intimacy.
And that ending? Rude. Effective, but rude. No comfort, no clean resolution—just something that leaves you sitting there for a moment, quietly re-evaluating everything you just read.
This won’t be for everyone—and it’s not meant to be. But if you like your dark fiction to actually earn its darkness, with emotional depth woven through the chaos, this delivers in a way that’s both disturbing and strangely compelling.
This is not “dark romance”—this is dark with the lights smashed out and the door locked behind you. J.N Bamforth doesn’t flirt with taboo, she fully commits to it. Incest, obsession, necrophilia… nothing is approached halfway.
And yet—beautifully—it works.
What surprised me most is that beneath all the shock and discomfort is a genuinely heavy exploration of grief, trauma, and what happens when the only person who ever made you feel human is taken away. Ethan is not a character you’re meant to like, and you absolutely shouldn’t… but you understand him. His obsession is all consuming, but it’s rooted in something painfully real: loss, isolation, and a desperate need to hold onto the only thing that ever felt like home and being seen as a human being.
That’s what makes this book linger. It isn’t just crossing lines for the sake of it—it’s showing what can grow in the aftermath of damage, neglect, and love with nowhere safe to exist.
The pacing is fast, the writing is immersive, and the emotional weight hits far harder than you expect from a book that includes… embalming-adjacent intimacy.
And that ending? Rude. Effective, but rude. No comfort, no clean resolution—just something that leaves you sitting there for a moment, quietly re-evaluating everything you just read.
This won’t be for everyone—and it’s not meant to be. But if you like your dark fiction to actually earn its darkness, with emotional depth woven through the chaos, this delivers in a way that’s both disturbing and strangely compelling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3⭐️ - 2🌶
☆ Erotic horror
☆ No HEA
☆ Siblings
☆ Touch her and die
☆ Frankenstein vibes
ARC Review
Thank you to J.N. Bamforth for the free copy.
This was an excellent example of an erotic horror book, the freaky kind, just the way I like it. I was enjoying myself and even considered rating this higher, but that ending brought it down for me. I hate those kinds of endings, they sully the experience. In my opinion, it feels like a cop out, but I know a lot of readers who will enjoy this. Check your triggers, this is real dark and twisted.
Favorite quotes:
> “Gimme that attitude again and I’ll be forced to put that mouth to good use.”
> The mention of my sister has my hackles rising. If anyone is putting her on a leash, it’ll be me. I’ll walk her like a dog and she’ll be begging me to fuck her.
> What a silly little girl. Thinking she can hide from me. Alina will never be free of me, whether it be in this life or the next. She’s clawed her way under my skin and made a home inside of me.
> “I’ll fucking kill anyone who touches you again. I’ll turn their skin into a fucking suit. You hear me?”
> “Eh.. excuse me?” She says with a shocked tone and I smirk like a Cheshire cat. “You’re excused. Now, off you go before I have to come back to collect your body as well.”
> Alina could stab me in the heart and I’d accept it willingly, if it meant that I’d die by her hands. I’d forgive her every day for the rest of my life.
☆ Erotic horror
☆ No HEA
☆ Siblings
☆ Touch her and die
☆ Frankenstein vibes
ARC Review
Thank you to J.N. Bamforth for the free copy.
This was an excellent example of an erotic horror book, the freaky kind, just the way I like it. I was enjoying myself and even considered rating this higher, but that ending brought it down for me. I hate those kinds of endings, they sully the experience. In my opinion, it feels like a cop out, but I know a lot of readers who will enjoy this. Check your triggers, this is real dark and twisted.
Favorite quotes:
> “Gimme that attitude again and I’ll be forced to put that mouth to good use.”
> The mention of my sister has my hackles rising. If anyone is putting her on a leash, it’ll be me. I’ll walk her like a dog and she’ll be begging me to fuck her.
> What a silly little girl. Thinking she can hide from me. Alina will never be free of me, whether it be in this life or the next. She’s clawed her way under my skin and made a home inside of me.
> “I’ll fucking kill anyone who touches you again. I’ll turn their skin into a fucking suit. You hear me?”
> “Eh.. excuse me?” She says with a shocked tone and I smirk like a Cheshire cat. “You’re excused. Now, off you go before I have to come back to collect your body as well.”
> Alina could stab me in the heart and I’d accept it willingly, if it meant that I’d die by her hands. I’d forgive her every day for the rest of my life.
April 29, 2026
I received this as a ARC copy from the author, this is my honest review for Formaldehyde!!!
One: check your TRIGGER WARNINGS, Two: Wow what a mind spin?
First and foremost if you pick up this book to read please Check your TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️ , because you are in for one hell of a roller coaster 🎢 pushing the boundaries on taboo and pitch black!!!!
This beautifully psychological taboo story follows Ethan and Alina they are blood brother and sister. They both have feelings for each other more on Ethan's side than Alina's I feel. But under the circumstances they live in I truly understand why they were drawn to each other. The possessiveness of Ethan over his sister and Alina trying to hide her darkest feelings for her brother. Then halloween night the worst happens that changes both their lives!! Now I do say that ending made me stop and flip back through and be like what just happened cause i was so caught off guard by it!!!! NO HEA
I read this in one sitting very quick read, 127 pages but boy did those pages pack a lot!!!
This book was completely unhinged and depraved but I loved every page, Jordan does not hold back in her writing and I am here for every second of it. Definitely recommend if you want a twisted taboo pitch black book that will mess with your head and maybe even your stomach. (I still can eat chicken nuggets🫣)
One: check your TRIGGER WARNINGS, Two: Wow what a mind spin?
First and foremost if you pick up this book to read please Check your TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️ , because you are in for one hell of a roller coaster 🎢 pushing the boundaries on taboo and pitch black!!!!
This beautifully psychological taboo story follows Ethan and Alina they are blood brother and sister. They both have feelings for each other more on Ethan's side than Alina's I feel. But under the circumstances they live in I truly understand why they were drawn to each other. The possessiveness of Ethan over his sister and Alina trying to hide her darkest feelings for her brother. Then halloween night the worst happens that changes both their lives!! Now I do say that ending made me stop and flip back through and be like what just happened cause i was so caught off guard by it!!!! NO HEA
I read this in one sitting very quick read, 127 pages but boy did those pages pack a lot!!!
This book was completely unhinged and depraved but I loved every page, Jordan does not hold back in her writing and I am here for every second of it. Definitely recommend if you want a twisted taboo pitch black book that will mess with your head and maybe even your stomach. (I still can eat chicken nuggets🫣)
July 18, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4/5
Formaldehyde by J.N. Bamforth completely caught me off guard. 🫣
Going into this book, I was thinking, Oh… this isn’t too bad! Oh boy… how wrong I was 🫠🤣
Every time I thought I’d figured out where the story was heading, it took another turn... The author doesn’t hold back, and what starts as an unsettling read quickly spirals into something far darker, more disturbing, and completely unpredictable.
The relationship at the heart of this story is deeply taboo, but it’s written in a way that keeps you hooked. It’s tense, shocking, uncomfortable, and impossible to look away from. Whether I was horrified, intrigued, or sitting there thinking…what on earth did I just read?! I seriously couldn’t stop turning the pages.
That said, this definitely isn’t a book I could read back-to-back with other dark romance erotic horror. I need a chance to breathe after this one... If you’re someone who enjoys pushing the boundaries of fiction, you’ll probably appreciate just how bold this story is, but please read the trigger warnings responsibly before diving in. They’re there for a reason!
This won’t be for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you love books that are unpredictable, have forbidden obsessions, and leave you sitting in stunned silence after the final page, Formaldehyde is worth picking up!
Formaldehyde by J.N. Bamforth completely caught me off guard. 🫣
Going into this book, I was thinking, Oh… this isn’t too bad! Oh boy… how wrong I was 🫠🤣
Every time I thought I’d figured out where the story was heading, it took another turn... The author doesn’t hold back, and what starts as an unsettling read quickly spirals into something far darker, more disturbing, and completely unpredictable.
The relationship at the heart of this story is deeply taboo, but it’s written in a way that keeps you hooked. It’s tense, shocking, uncomfortable, and impossible to look away from. Whether I was horrified, intrigued, or sitting there thinking…what on earth did I just read?! I seriously couldn’t stop turning the pages.
That said, this definitely isn’t a book I could read back-to-back with other dark romance erotic horror. I need a chance to breathe after this one... If you’re someone who enjoys pushing the boundaries of fiction, you’ll probably appreciate just how bold this story is, but please read the trigger warnings responsibly before diving in. They’re there for a reason!
This won’t be for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you love books that are unpredictable, have forbidden obsessions, and leave you sitting in stunned silence after the final page, Formaldehyde is worth picking up!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Formaldehyde by J. N. Bramforth is one of those books that completely caught me off guard—in the best possible way. Going into it, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but what I got was something far more surprising and thought-provoking than I imagined.
The story explores a very uncomfortable and controversial relationship at its core, but it’s written in a way that keeps you turning the pages. Nothing unfolds the way you think it will. Just when I felt like I had an idea of where the story was heading, it took another unexpected turn. I absolutely loved that constant sense of unpredictability—it made the reading experience intense and hard to put down.
What stood out most to me was how bold the author was in tackling such a difficult subject. The twists, the tension, and the emotional complexity kept me hooked throughout.
This definitely won’t be a book for everyone due to its themes, but if you’re someone who appreciates stories that push boundaries and keep you guessing, it’s well worth the read.
Thank you for the ARC—this is one I won’t forget anytime soon.
The story explores a very uncomfortable and controversial relationship at its core, but it’s written in a way that keeps you turning the pages. Nothing unfolds the way you think it will. Just when I felt like I had an idea of where the story was heading, it took another unexpected turn. I absolutely loved that constant sense of unpredictability—it made the reading experience intense and hard to put down.
What stood out most to me was how bold the author was in tackling such a difficult subject. The twists, the tension, and the emotional complexity kept me hooked throughout.
This definitely won’t be a book for everyone due to its themes, but if you’re someone who appreciates stories that push boundaries and keep you guessing, it’s well worth the read.
Thank you for the ARC—this is one I won’t forget anytime soon.
July 19, 2026
First things first: read the trigger warnings. Seriously. They're there for a reason.
This book is short, absolutely unhinged, and somehow impossible to put down. I sat down thinking I'd read "just one chapter," and the next thing I knew I was staring at the last page wondering what on earth I'd just experienced.
It was dark. It was disturbing. It was the literary equivalent of slowing down to look at a train wreck, you know you shouldn't, but you physically cannot stop.
Also... there might be something wrong with me because I genuinely enjoyed it. At no point did I think, "I should put this down and make better life choices." Instead, I kept turning pages like, "Well... it can't possibly get worse."
Reader, it did.
If you're into pitch-black horror with zero chill and don't scare easily, give it a go. Just don't skip those trigger warnings... and maybe don't tell your therapist I recommended it.
This book is short, absolutely unhinged, and somehow impossible to put down. I sat down thinking I'd read "just one chapter," and the next thing I knew I was staring at the last page wondering what on earth I'd just experienced.
It was dark. It was disturbing. It was the literary equivalent of slowing down to look at a train wreck, you know you shouldn't, but you physically cannot stop.
Also... there might be something wrong with me because I genuinely enjoyed it. At no point did I think, "I should put this down and make better life choices." Instead, I kept turning pages like, "Well... it can't possibly get worse."
Reader, it did.
If you're into pitch-black horror with zero chill and don't scare easily, give it a go. Just don't skip those trigger warnings... and maybe don't tell your therapist I recommended it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First off, thank you so much for this arc! Formaldehyde had a whole menu of trigger warnings and, true to its genre, it was a Taboo Horror. I went into this a little nervous, this was my first *true taboo* read, (stepsibling reader here) and this exceeded expectations. The inner turmoil, and whole life of suffering Ethan went through... it had me in a permanent state of angst and pain. Even writing this... my chest hurts. I wish there were more pages to read in this! It was THAT good. However, sometimes things aren't meant to last and this novella is perfect in respecting Ethan and Alina in exactly that way.
This had no HEA, it was quite a shocking twist of an end.
Check your triggers! But if you like:
Taboo/Blood siblings
Making your own little dolls (sorry)
Necrophilia
NO HEA
Murder sprees on Halloween nights
Morticians
Love til death
You should read this book. 1000%
This had no HEA, it was quite a shocking twist of an end.
Check your triggers! But if you like:
Taboo/Blood siblings
Making your own little dolls (sorry)
Necrophilia
NO HEA
Murder sprees on Halloween nights
Morticians
Love til death
You should read this book. 1000%
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
Formaldehyde by J.N Bamforth 🔪
Release date: 20th April 2026
Spice level: 🌶🌶
🅃🅁🄾🄿🄴🅂
🖤Taboo Horror
✨️Twisted HEA
🖤Obessive MMC
✨️Innocent FMC
“𝕐𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕟 𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕀 𝕒𝕞. 𝕀’𝕞 𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕫𝕪 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕖.”
Once again JN Bamforth has written a disturbing book that you can't help not devour in just one sitting, the writing is just that good. In this morbidly twisted story, we have a big brother who would do anything for his little sister. Including putting her back together again (Frankenstein style) just so her has her in his life again. With a guaranteed no HEA and a first line that you cant help but not laugh at, formaldehyde is a short taboo horror that is strangely good.
Please check Trigger warnings ⚠️
Formaldehyde by J.N Bamforth 🔪
Release date: 20th April 2026
Spice level: 🌶🌶
🅃🅁🄾🄿🄴🅂
🖤Taboo Horror
✨️Twisted HEA
🖤Obessive MMC
✨️Innocent FMC
“𝕐𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕟 𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕀 𝕒𝕞. 𝕀’𝕞 𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕫𝕪 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕖.”
Once again JN Bamforth has written a disturbing book that you can't help not devour in just one sitting, the writing is just that good. In this morbidly twisted story, we have a big brother who would do anything for his little sister. Including putting her back together again (Frankenstein style) just so her has her in his life again. With a guaranteed no HEA and a first line that you cant help but not laugh at, formaldehyde is a short taboo horror that is strangely good.
Please check Trigger warnings ⚠️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Formaldehyde ARC Review
👀💦🫣☠️👻🧸
“Alina, who’s now just a torso and a head. Even resembling a chicken nugget, she’s still perfect.”
This dark, taboo-heavy story by J N Bamforth had me giggling at multiple points, which feels a bit concerning.
The scene setting is vivid and bizarre in an excellent way, it pulls you straight into the madness. It sits somewhere between splatterpunk and horror, but leans hard into pure shock factor rather than that slow-burn tension, and it fully commits to it.
The ending wasn’t what I expected. I’ll admit I was a little frustrated, but only because I wanted more of this twisted storyline.
Thanks for the ARC!
This book comes with a plethora of trigger warnings. Don’t ignore them!
If you think you’re unshockable… this might be your test.
👀💦🫣☠️👻🧸
“Alina, who’s now just a torso and a head. Even resembling a chicken nugget, she’s still perfect.”
This dark, taboo-heavy story by J N Bamforth had me giggling at multiple points, which feels a bit concerning.
The scene setting is vivid and bizarre in an excellent way, it pulls you straight into the madness. It sits somewhere between splatterpunk and horror, but leans hard into pure shock factor rather than that slow-burn tension, and it fully commits to it.
The ending wasn’t what I expected. I’ll admit I was a little frustrated, but only because I wanted more of this twisted storyline.
Thanks for the ARC!
This book comes with a plethora of trigger warnings. Don’t ignore them!
If you think you’re unshockable… this might be your test.
Review of advance copy received from Author
UNHINGED… UNCOMFORTABLE… UNPUTDOWNABLE
oh the triggers! and yet here I am, kicking my feet and giggling like a menace
Formaldehyde is depraved, taboo, and wildly uncomfortable but JN Bamforth has this insane talent for pulling you in so deep you forget to breathe.
Ethan isn’t just broken ... he’s shattered, molded by abuse and neglect into something dark and devastating. The only love he’s ever known twists into something forbidden … and yes … it goes exactly as wrong as you think.
WHAT THE HELL energy wrapped in a story that somehow still gives you a twisted version of a happy ending and honestly, I should not have enjoyed this as much as I did
oh the triggers! and yet here I am, kicking my feet and giggling like a menace
Formaldehyde is depraved, taboo, and wildly uncomfortable but JN Bamforth has this insane talent for pulling you in so deep you forget to breathe.
Ethan isn’t just broken ... he’s shattered, molded by abuse and neglect into something dark and devastating. The only love he’s ever known twists into something forbidden … and yes … it goes exactly as wrong as you think.
WHAT THE HELL energy wrapped in a story that somehow still gives you a twisted version of a happy ending and honestly, I should not have enjoyed this as much as I did
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to recieve this as an ARC and although I've been wanting to read some of this authors work for a while, this was my first Bamforth book.
The MMC, Ethan, is completely obsessed with his sister, and he is willing to do absolutely anything to have her-even unspeakable things…
I went into this book expecting something disturbing and dark, and it did not disappoint! This story is seriously messed up, and if you enjoy completely unhinged, disturbing stories with obsessive MMCs, then this is the horror for you.
I can't say I was a fan of the ending but the author definitely got me-It's not something I saw coming at all.
This book is DARK with themes that may disturb some people. Please check the trigger warnings on this one because it will not be for everyone.
🖤 Taboo - Blood siblings
🖤 No HEA
🖤 Obsessive MMC
🖤 Morally black MMC
🖤 Morticians assistant
The MMC, Ethan, is completely obsessed with his sister, and he is willing to do absolutely anything to have her-even unspeakable things…
I went into this book expecting something disturbing and dark, and it did not disappoint! This story is seriously messed up, and if you enjoy completely unhinged, disturbing stories with obsessive MMCs, then this is the horror for you.
I can't say I was a fan of the ending but the author definitely got me-It's not something I saw coming at all.
This book is DARK with themes that may disturb some people. Please check the trigger warnings on this one because it will not be for everyone.
🖤 Taboo - Blood siblings
🖤 No HEA
🖤 Obsessive MMC
🖤 Morally black MMC
🖤 Morticians assistant
June 2, 2026
whoa!!!!
Definitely wasn’t expecting that plot twist at the end. I’ve always had a thing for the dark things and this was pitch black and I loved it. Ethan really did deserve better than he got. And Alina loving him the way she did fueled everything in me. Yeah it’s all wrong but I fully understand Ethan. Being called a freak, not loved by your parents, everyone treating you different expect your sister. That caused the possessive behavior. If you enjoy a short read then I recommend this book but if you aren’t into reading things this book has then I advise not to read it. It’s dark, taboo, etc. but hell I enjoyed it a lot. Couldn’t stop reading!!!
Definitely wasn’t expecting that plot twist at the end. I’ve always had a thing for the dark things and this was pitch black and I loved it. Ethan really did deserve better than he got. And Alina loving him the way she did fueled everything in me. Yeah it’s all wrong but I fully understand Ethan. Being called a freak, not loved by your parents, everyone treating you different expect your sister. That caused the possessive behavior. If you enjoy a short read then I recommend this book but if you aren’t into reading things this book has then I advise not to read it. It’s dark, taboo, etc. but hell I enjoyed it a lot. Couldn’t stop reading!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Moni’s lil’ spoiler free thoughts:
Formaldehyde by J.N. Bamforth
“I’ll protect her from everything this wretched world has to throw at us. She’ll never feel the hurt like I did.”
Thoughts: Wild ride through the psychosis of our MMC and his obsession over his sister. Dark, depraved, disgusting, and heartbreaking - this quick read hits hard.
•
Key points: Dark and taboo AF. Mortuary workers gone bad. Body horror. HEA🤷🏻♀️? Chicken nugget.
•
Rating: 5⭐️s - recommend…but please…check your trigger warnings.
•
*Thank you for the ARC J.N Bamforth and adding me to your little corpses team🖤.
Formaldehyde by J.N. Bamforth
“I’ll protect her from everything this wretched world has to throw at us. She’ll never feel the hurt like I did.”
Thoughts: Wild ride through the psychosis of our MMC and his obsession over his sister. Dark, depraved, disgusting, and heartbreaking - this quick read hits hard.
•
Key points: Dark and taboo AF. Mortuary workers gone bad. Body horror. HEA🤷🏻♀️? Chicken nugget.
•
Rating: 5⭐️s - recommend…but please…check your trigger warnings.
•
*Thank you for the ARC J.N Bamforth and adding me to your little corpses team🖤.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️ What was I expecting, I’m not quite sure, but damnnnn I wasn’t expecting that at all! This was such a good read and had me gripping my own sanity…
The story of Alina and Ethan had me in a chokehold, I’m still reeling from this and I’m not going to lie, I still don’t know how my brain feels right now!
You certainly do need to read the TWs, they aren’t just there for the fun of it! It is very important you are not eating while reading this, in true Bamforth style she does not want us to enjoy our food!
The story of Alina and Ethan had me in a chokehold, I’m still reeling from this and I’m not going to lie, I still don’t know how my brain feels right now!
You certainly do need to read the TWs, they aren’t just there for the fun of it! It is very important you are not eating while reading this, in true Bamforth style she does not want us to enjoy our food!
May 10, 2026
Formaldehyde by J.N Bamfourth review
Holy cow . This book has the “ what did I just read “ vibe . But I couldn’t put it down .
Formaldehyde is a pitch black taboo novella that pushes boundaries and should be read if you’re a pitch black dark romance , and not a beginner in that realm.
There was definitely moments I was questioning my morals while reading this , so many moms I just started at a wall blankly questioning all my life choices. J.N did an incredible job writing this one ! I don’t think I’ll ever look at a teddy bear or chicken nugget the same after this.
4.5 ⭐️
Holy cow . This book has the “ what did I just read “ vibe . But I couldn’t put it down .
Formaldehyde is a pitch black taboo novella that pushes boundaries and should be read if you’re a pitch black dark romance , and not a beginner in that realm.
There was definitely moments I was questioning my morals while reading this , so many moms I just started at a wall blankly questioning all my life choices. J.N did an incredible job writing this one ! I don’t think I’ll ever look at a teddy bear or chicken nugget the same after this.
4.5 ⭐️
August 16, 2026
Another Taboo Horror – JN Bamforth
Not quite on the same level as Mommy Issues... but it's still gloriously messed up. 😳
Another bite-sized dose of taboo themes, psychological horror, gore, and enough "what the hell?" moments to keep the pages flying by. JN Bamforth definitely knows how to make you uncomfortable in the best (or worst!) way.
As always, read every trigger warning first. These books aren't written to shock for one scene—they're designed to push boundaries from start to finish.
Short. Twisted. Unhinged. Exactly what you'd expect from a JN Bamforth horror.
Not quite on the same level as Mommy Issues... but it's still gloriously messed up. 😳
Another bite-sized dose of taboo themes, psychological horror, gore, and enough "what the hell?" moments to keep the pages flying by. JN Bamforth definitely knows how to make you uncomfortable in the best (or worst!) way.
As always, read every trigger warning first. These books aren't written to shock for one scene—they're designed to push boundaries from start to finish.
Short. Twisted. Unhinged. Exactly what you'd expect from a JN Bamforth horror.
Review of advance copy received from Author
absolutely devoured this in one go. I purchased this from the author at a book signing. I bought it as I was purchasing other items that were on my wishlist .
I am so glad I did.
please take the trigger warnings seriously, cause there are parts in this , that makes you question a lot of stuff.
not your common love story that's for sure, but if you like it dark, like, pitch black .. you won't be disappointed.
I am so glad I did.
please take the trigger warnings seriously, cause there are parts in this , that makes you question a lot of stuff.
not your common love story that's for sure, but if you like it dark, like, pitch black .. you won't be disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice 🥵 🥵
Arc Review
Thank you to the Author for my Advance Reader copy 💚🖤
I actually really loved this book. It's a quick read sitting at 126 pages. Before getting started definitely check your triggers, it can get a little dark in spots. I absolutely love the Frankenstein Vibes it gives. My only complaint is how abrupt the ending is. But it definitely had me shocked wasn't expecting the twist at all. Also if you are looking for a happy ending go elsewhere lol.
Spice 🥵 🥵
Arc Review
Thank you to the Author for my Advance Reader copy 💚🖤
I actually really loved this book. It's a quick read sitting at 126 pages. Before getting started definitely check your triggers, it can get a little dark in spots. I absolutely love the Frankenstein Vibes it gives. My only complaint is how abrupt the ending is. But it definitely had me shocked wasn't expecting the twist at all. Also if you are looking for a happy ending go elsewhere lol.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beta Review
JN never fails to deliver!
This is erotic horror at its absolute finest. A novella jam packed with obsession, unforgiving need, deprived thoughts and actions… what you may think is love or romance, this is far beyond that, it’s no longer love. It’s no longer romance. It’s unhinged and twisted but in all the best ways.
I won’t go into detail with this as I don’t like spoilers but this is soo brilliantly written. It brings out many emotios and makes you question what was going through JN’s head while writing certain scenes but that why we love her!!
Definitely check this out when you can, it’s totally worth it!
JN never fails to deliver!
This is erotic horror at its absolute finest. A novella jam packed with obsession, unforgiving need, deprived thoughts and actions… what you may think is love or romance, this is far beyond that, it’s no longer love. It’s no longer romance. It’s unhinged and twisted but in all the best ways.
I won’t go into detail with this as I don’t like spoilers but this is soo brilliantly written. It brings out many emotios and makes you question what was going through JN’s head while writing certain scenes but that why we love her!!
Definitely check this out when you can, it’s totally worth it!
April 20, 2026
Sorry…what the hell did I just read?!
Absolutely insane. Ethan is a complete psycho… and somehow I still love him?? Alina—oh my god, poor Alina—I was literally screaming when she finally caved and unleashed her feelings, then yelling at her the next second. This book had me feeling EVERYTHING.
And that ending… WHAAAAAAT????
Overall: absolutely brilliant. But yeah—I will never look at a chicken nugget the same way again 🤣
Absolutely insane. Ethan is a complete psycho… and somehow I still love him?? Alina—oh my god, poor Alina—I was literally screaming when she finally caved and unleashed her feelings, then yelling at her the next second. This book had me feeling EVERYTHING.
And that ending… WHAAAAAAT????
Overall: absolutely brilliant. But yeah—I will never look at a chicken nugget the same way again 🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2026
5⭐️/4🔥
He. Did. What?!?!
Just finished this book, and my mind is BLOWN! What in the red beans and rice did you do to my brain, J.N.?! I went through all of that to find out THAT?! You sneaky little turkey! LOL. I loved the book, though. Dark, depraved, unhinged, deplorable, and downright delightful! It's what my little pitch-black soul needed. Highly recommend if you don't mind getting really weird, really quick. 😊
He. Did. What?!?!
Just finished this book, and my mind is BLOWN! What in the red beans and rice did you do to my brain, J.N.?! I went through all of that to find out THAT?! You sneaky little turkey! LOL. I loved the book, though. Dark, depraved, unhinged, deplorable, and downright delightful! It's what my little pitch-black soul needed. Highly recommend if you don't mind getting really weird, really quick. 😊
July 11, 2026
I swear there’s something wrong with me because I read this entire book in one sitting, alternating between “fuck, that’s unhinged.” and “I should not be enjoying this as much as I am.”
The way I was hunched over my Kindle at 2am like some little gremlin, turning pages faster than my brain could process. If my Kindle could talk, it would tell me I’m fucked up.
This book is not for the weak-minded. I LOVED IT, SUE ME. It was fucking awesome.
⭐️♾️
The way I was hunched over my Kindle at 2am like some little gremlin, turning pages faster than my brain could process. If my Kindle could talk, it would tell me I’m fucked up.
This book is not for the weak-minded. I LOVED IT, SUE ME. It was fucking awesome.
⭐️♾️
August 5, 2026
Wow, what a ride that was 😅🫠
Honestly, this book delivered with what I was after!! Depraved, Violent, Sickening, and super duper DARK… holy cow 😅
A very dark taboo book 👀 check your triggers 😮💨
I’ll never look at chicken nuggets the same way again 🤣🤣
I’ve seen some people hated the ending but I kind of saw it coming 🤷🏼♀️ I think because the back end was so out there that it felt the only way it could end was how it did, but that’s just my opinion 🤭
Honestly, this book delivered with what I was after!! Depraved, Violent, Sickening, and super duper DARK… holy cow 😅
A very dark taboo book 👀 check your triggers 😮💨
I’ll never look at chicken nuggets the same way again 🤣🤣
I’ve seen some people hated the ending but I kind of saw it coming 🤷🏼♀️ I think because the back end was so out there that it felt the only way it could end was how it did, but that’s just my opinion 🤭
May 11, 2026
It was so good at first, then it just got worse and worse…
I really don’t get why three young guys just went rampant and started killing people at a party, like that’s the normal thing to do on a weekend…
The author just didn’t bother checking any facts, like how a frozen corpse does not bleed so much that you have to cauterise the wounds etc...
I really don’t get why three young guys just went rampant and started killing people at a party, like that’s the normal thing to do on a weekend…
The author just didn’t bother checking any facts, like how a frozen corpse does not bleed so much that you have to cauterise the wounds etc...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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