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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.
Published April 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
April 30, 2026
Loved every second of this except the ending! I needed something juicier
April 13, 2026
If you read my reviews you know I enjoy the ‘out there’ horrors along with all the other books I read 🤣
Ethan and Alina are siblings, their home life is not very desirable at all, a drunken abusive father who tells Ethan he is a ‘wretched boy’ and a ‘freak’ though it pains him he has gotten used to it not only from his own kin but others too. He however, has long loved his sister in a more than brotherly way…don’t get me wrong it is reciprocated but she is afraid of how others would view their relationship. Until on fateful Halloween Party when the worst that could happen does…
𝐼'𝓋𝑒 𝒹𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝓋𝒾𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝑔𝓊𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒽.
I totally read this in one sitting, it’s not that long but I just couldn’t put it down. The macabre element to it was for me delicious but I’m thankful I don’t like chicken nuggets 🤣 The ending was a bit of a WTF all whilst your head is taking steps backwards. I will say if you have any triggers at all do read them.
Ethan and Alina are siblings, their home life is not very desirable at all, a drunken abusive father who tells Ethan he is a ‘wretched boy’ and a ‘freak’ though it pains him he has gotten used to it not only from his own kin but others too. He however, has long loved his sister in a more than brotherly way…don’t get me wrong it is reciprocated but she is afraid of how others would view their relationship. Until on fateful Halloween Party when the worst that could happen does…
𝐼'𝓋𝑒 𝒹𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝓋𝒾𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝑔𝓊𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒽.
I totally read this in one sitting, it’s not that long but I just couldn’t put it down. The macabre element to it was for me delicious but I’m thankful I don’t like chicken nuggets 🤣 The ending was a bit of a WTF all whilst your head is taking steps backwards. I will say if you have any triggers at all do read them.
April 28, 2026
Hmmmm this was interesting 🫣 I did not expect that ending whatsoever
April 22, 2026
oof... spoiler alert:
there is necrophilia on page btw.
there is necrophilia on page btw.
May 24, 2026
The book definitely delivered in the gross and taboo departments and I loved it!
April 21, 2026
Bamforth is one sick and twisted individual and I am so here for it!! Every book they release further pushes those taboo boundaries and I am obsessed!! Bamforth not only crosses lines in this book, but they're waaaay behind her!
This book was an absolutely wild ride from the beginning, leaving readers with jaws on the floor by the end. Bamforth has such a wonderful way of making us feel for character's who are not deserving of it. Why am I crying over a man who is definitely a walking red flag??
I loved Formaldehyde so much and cannot recommend this enough to all my fellow girlies who love anything sick, twisted and down right taboo. Please read all the trigger warnings!
Thank you so much to the author for an arc of Formaldehyde! All views and opinions are my own and have been left voluntarily.
This book was an absolutely wild ride from the beginning, leaving readers with jaws on the floor by the end. Bamforth has such a wonderful way of making us feel for character's who are not deserving of it. Why am I crying over a man who is definitely a walking red flag??
I loved Formaldehyde so much and cannot recommend this enough to all my fellow girlies who love anything sick, twisted and down right taboo. Please read all the trigger warnings!
Thank you so much to the author for an arc of Formaldehyde! All views and opinions are my own and have been left voluntarily.
April 16, 2026
Formaldehyde
Firstly I can’t believe I was accepted for this ARC, I screeeeamed 😭 and seeing how it started..first page…yep I devoured it!! This was UNREAL!! 😮💨👏🏼
Ethan has always had a “special” kind of love for his sister, the need to possess & to protect her by any means necessary
Alina adores her brother, she knows it’s wrong but whenever she’s near him that connection is an instant pull, it causes her body to heat & her thighs to clench
They will do anything to protect each other, love has no bounds 👀🫣
Holy 💩 did Bamforth absolutely nail this!! It shook me to my core!! My mind was blown by that ending!! I did NOT predict it at all 😱🤯
This was INCREDIBLE!! The taboo, the spice, the extreme, ugh I loved it! I wish it was longer just so I didn’t have to finish it so soon!
Releasing 20th April. I can’t wait to see the reviews on this one! It’s gonna blow all of your minds!! 🤯 Do check the triggers first as always!
Thank you again to Bamforth, I’m so grateful to of been able to ARC for you! I pre-ordered this one a while ago & can’t wait to have it in my little hands! 🤎
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Firstly I can’t believe I was accepted for this ARC, I screeeeamed 😭 and seeing how it started..first page…yep I devoured it!! This was UNREAL!! 😮💨👏🏼
Ethan has always had a “special” kind of love for his sister, the need to possess & to protect her by any means necessary
Alina adores her brother, she knows it’s wrong but whenever she’s near him that connection is an instant pull, it causes her body to heat & her thighs to clench
They will do anything to protect each other, love has no bounds 👀🫣
Holy 💩 did Bamforth absolutely nail this!! It shook me to my core!! My mind was blown by that ending!! I did NOT predict it at all 😱🤯
This was INCREDIBLE!! The taboo, the spice, the extreme, ugh I loved it! I wish it was longer just so I didn’t have to finish it so soon!
Releasing 20th April. I can’t wait to see the reviews on this one! It’s gonna blow all of your minds!! 🤯 Do check the triggers first as always!
Thank you again to Bamforth, I’m so grateful to of been able to ARC for you! I pre-ordered this one a while ago & can’t wait to have it in my little hands! 🤎
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 20, 2026
This hurt my feelings🥲😂
June 22, 2026
This was a fun and easy read that I finished really quickly 📖✨. It’s definitely not a book for everyone, so make sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand ⚠️. There were a few moments where I was side-eyeing the pages like 👀🤨, but I was still invested enough to keep reading.
The ending was a bit disappointing for me because it felt rushed and not as satisfying as I hoped. Overall, an entertaining book that kept me turning the pages, but nothing particularly special or unforgettable
The ending was a bit disappointing for me because it felt rushed and not as satisfying as I hoped. Overall, an entertaining book that kept me turning the pages, but nothing particularly special or unforgettable
July 6, 2026
3 stars because of the ending, I really liked it.
April 20, 2026
Check ya triggers on this one
Dark taboo read
So gross but such a good read. Had me chuckling
One part reminded me of a gross version of American pie with the apple pie......
BUT CHECK YA TRIGGERS
Dark taboo read
So gross but such a good read. Had me chuckling
One part reminded me of a gross version of American pie with the apple pie......
BUT CHECK YA TRIGGERS
April 15, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
0.5/5 🌶️
Was lucky enough to meet JN at my local independent store and purchase this as an early release, and then also be sent the ARC too!
Ethan MMC
Alina FMC
I enjoyed this book but for some reason I wanted it to be darker (even though it was already extremely taboo 🙈) I was shocked at the ending, I thought it would go a different way but I understand why he had the other perspective.
This MMC is cooked. He is not okay mentally. It is a taboo DARK non HEA horror story.
Blood siblings who are attracted to each other (and do consensual acts... to a certain extent)
If you have zero triggers and hold a strong stomach... please dive in. You may enjoy it like I did
0.5/5 🌶️
Was lucky enough to meet JN at my local independent store and purchase this as an early release, and then also be sent the ARC too!
Ethan MMC
Alina FMC
I enjoyed this book but for some reason I wanted it to be darker (even though it was already extremely taboo 🙈) I was shocked at the ending, I thought it would go a different way but I understand why he had the other perspective.
This MMC is cooked. He is not okay mentally. It is a taboo DARK non HEA horror story.
Blood siblings who are attracted to each other (and do consensual acts... to a certain extent)
If you have zero triggers and hold a strong stomach... please dive in. You may enjoy it like I did
April 27, 2026
*late arc review due to personal reasons*
Rounded up to 4 stars.....
Bamforth, hats of to you for being a top awesome sick individual 👀🤣🤣 (this is a compliment even if it doesnt seem like 1 lol)
Formaldehyde by J.N. Banforth is A Taboo Horror read, with NO HEA. I have fell behind on some arcs due to being ill so this is my late review after getting this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The Blurb:
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.
This read was a super quick read for me with 125 pages, I went into it knowing of No HEA & a shopping list of triggers, I did love that it was set in the UK tho!!
Triggers:
Blood relations, Graphic details, Autopsies, Autopsy instruments, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Possessive MMC, Mentions of alcohol, Drug Use, Primal Play, Murder, Broken Bones, Dub-Con, Spitting, Suicide, Abusive Parent, Grief, Sibling Death, Sick Fantasies, Insects, Mentions of Overdose, Suicidal Thoughts, Hallucinations, Ghostly Mirror Sex, Improper use of a teddy bear, Autopsies and Embalming on living people, Thoughts of Cannibalism, Patchwork Bodies, Necrophillia, Cum Stuffing, Defiling of a Corpse, Body Horror, Removal of Limbs, Cooking human meat, Chicken nuggets (Sorry.), Mental Voices.
You liturally dive right and holy f***. 👀 J.N really held no punches on this book. Well fuck... also is Mr Wilson as twisted as the mmc Ethan?! Lol. I did not expect that twist at the end. Damn.
Rounded up to 4 stars.....
Bamforth, hats of to you for being a top awesome sick individual 👀🤣🤣 (this is a compliment even if it doesnt seem like 1 lol)
Formaldehyde by J.N. Banforth is A Taboo Horror read, with NO HEA. I have fell behind on some arcs due to being ill so this is my late review after getting this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The Blurb:
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.
This read was a super quick read for me with 125 pages, I went into it knowing of No HEA & a shopping list of triggers, I did love that it was set in the UK tho!!
Triggers:
Blood relations, Graphic details, Autopsies, Autopsy instruments, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Possessive MMC, Mentions of alcohol, Drug Use, Primal Play, Murder, Broken Bones, Dub-Con, Spitting, Suicide, Abusive Parent, Grief, Sibling Death, Sick Fantasies, Insects, Mentions of Overdose, Suicidal Thoughts, Hallucinations, Ghostly Mirror Sex, Improper use of a teddy bear, Autopsies and Embalming on living people, Thoughts of Cannibalism, Patchwork Bodies, Necrophillia, Cum Stuffing, Defiling of a Corpse, Body Horror, Removal of Limbs, Cooking human meat, Chicken nuggets (Sorry.), Mental Voices.
You liturally dive right and holy f***. 👀 J.N really held no punches on this book. Well fuck... also is Mr Wilson as twisted as the mmc Ethan?! Lol. I did not expect that twist at the end. Damn.
June 3, 2026
★★★★☆
I picked up Formaldehyde by J.N. Bamforth after seeing people compare it to Dark Descent by Hazel Black and tbh, I don’t think they’re even in the same category.
Yes, the subject matter is taboo, but this book never fully commits to being as dark as it’s marketed. It constantly feels like it’s standing right on the line and then pulling back before it can really go there. I actually wanted it to be darker. (If you know me in real life- no you don’t plz stop reading)
My biggest issue is that everything felt a little rushed. I wish more time had been spent developing the relationship between the main characters because there was so much potential there. Instead, it felt like we skipped over parts of their dynamic that would have made the story hit harder.
And that ending? It felt like a cop-out. Almost like a way to walk back some of the darker aspects of the story instead of fully committing to them.
That being said, I absolutely loved the MMC. He was by far my favorite part of the book and honestly carried a lot of it for me. Overall, this is a 4-star read because I was invested and I can see exactly what the author was trying to do. I just wish it had gone further.
I picked up Formaldehyde by J.N. Bamforth after seeing people compare it to Dark Descent by Hazel Black and tbh, I don’t think they’re even in the same category.
Yes, the subject matter is taboo, but this book never fully commits to being as dark as it’s marketed. It constantly feels like it’s standing right on the line and then pulling back before it can really go there. I actually wanted it to be darker. (If you know me in real life- no you don’t plz stop reading)
My biggest issue is that everything felt a little rushed. I wish more time had been spent developing the relationship between the main characters because there was so much potential there. Instead, it felt like we skipped over parts of their dynamic that would have made the story hit harder.
And that ending? It felt like a cop-out. Almost like a way to walk back some of the darker aspects of the story instead of fully committing to them.
That being said, I absolutely loved the MMC. He was by far my favorite part of the book and honestly carried a lot of it for me. Overall, this is a 4-star read because I was invested and I can see exactly what the author was trying to do. I just wish it had gone further.
April 20, 2026
TRIGGER WARNINGS. Do not go into this book without reading the triggers. If you're as f*cked up and enjoy f*cked up things like me, then proceed!
Ha, this was by far, the most insane thing I've ever read and I loved every single second of it. We go into the mind of a, I'm not even sure, a psychopath? But we are in the mind of Ethan, who is absolutely in love with his sister Alina and will kill anyone who threatens or touches her. He eventually follows her to a party, murders everyone, and bangs her right there. Alina, not able to handle being caught and knowing the actions her brother did (and enjoying said actions) end up doing the unthinkable. You'll need to read the rest to find out what happens from here 😉.
Absolute cinema. Extremely taboo. I loved every single second of this deranged book and I would absolutely recommend it to the other freaks out there!
Ha, this was by far, the most insane thing I've ever read and I loved every single second of it. We go into the mind of a, I'm not even sure, a psychopath? But we are in the mind of Ethan, who is absolutely in love with his sister Alina and will kill anyone who threatens or touches her. He eventually follows her to a party, murders everyone, and bangs her right there. Alina, not able to handle being caught and knowing the actions her brother did (and enjoying said actions) end up doing the unthinkable. You'll need to read the rest to find out what happens from here 😉.
Absolute cinema. Extremely taboo. I loved every single second of this deranged book and I would absolutely recommend it to the other freaks out there!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
*ARC REVIEW COPY*
I feel like I went on a bit of a journey with this book. Despite being siblings (not condoning at all) I actually liked their dynamic and the extreme possessiveness that Ethan felt towards his sister. Given their home situation it made sense as to why they found comfort in each other.
When Alina stepped in front of the car I found it hard to believe that Ethan didn’t realise what she was about to do and that he also only got 4 years for “killing her” but no mention of the other murders from the Halloween party.
His revenge plan on his dad was definitely fitting and I like that it was implied that Mr Wilson most likely knew about it and what was going to happen but didn’t stop Ethan.
Then that ending. What was that? You’ve taken me on a journey of sibling relations, death and murder, revenge, patchwork bodies and necrophilia and for it all to be a lie. I loved it!!
Reading Mr Wilson’s chapter made it all make sense. Why Ethan was hearing and seeing Alina but also knowing how possessive he was off her and that he truly couldn’t live without her, it made sense that he also is no longer with us.
P.S - Thankfully this didn’t ruin chicken nuggets for me but I did have to laugh at that part! And I’m still ok to sleep with my teddy bears!
I feel like I went on a bit of a journey with this book. Despite being siblings (not condoning at all) I actually liked their dynamic and the extreme possessiveness that Ethan felt towards his sister. Given their home situation it made sense as to why they found comfort in each other.
When Alina stepped in front of the car I found it hard to believe that Ethan didn’t realise what she was about to do and that he also only got 4 years for “killing her” but no mention of the other murders from the Halloween party.
His revenge plan on his dad was definitely fitting and I like that it was implied that Mr Wilson most likely knew about it and what was going to happen but didn’t stop Ethan.
Then that ending. What was that? You’ve taken me on a journey of sibling relations, death and murder, revenge, patchwork bodies and necrophilia and for it all to be a lie. I loved it!!
Reading Mr Wilson’s chapter made it all make sense. Why Ethan was hearing and seeing Alina but also knowing how possessive he was off her and that he truly couldn’t live without her, it made sense that he also is no longer with us.
P.S - Thankfully this didn’t ruin chicken nuggets for me but I did have to laugh at that part! And I’m still ok to sleep with my teddy bears!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2026
I needed a few days to wrap my head around this and actually read it twice
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
I am a huge fan of this author so I jumped at the chance for this ARC.
The twist at the end had me raging all up in my feels. And made me want to ask so many questions I needed revenge on a few characters such as the dad.
I was hoping for a lot more spice between the FMC and MMC - the spice they did have was EXTREMELY TABOO and dark
I am a sucker for a non HEA and this will live rent free in my head for a while so I am leaning closer to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
I am a huge fan of this author so I jumped at the chance for this ARC.
The twist at the end had me raging all up in my feels. And made me want to ask so many questions I needed revenge on a few characters such as the dad.
I was hoping for a lot more spice between the FMC and MMC - the spice they did have was EXTREMELY TABOO and dark
I am a sucker for a non HEA and this will live rent free in my head for a while so I am leaning closer to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2026
No more chicken nuggets for me 😳
Also what was that ending 🤯
Also what was that ending 🤯
May 13, 2026
Dark ✔️
Twisted ✔️
Totally fu*ked up ✔️
Loved it!
Twisted ✔️
Totally fu*ked up ✔️
Loved it!
June 2, 2026
3.5/5 ⭐️
taboo, dark, depraved, & WILD. just how i like it 🔥
taboo, dark, depraved, & WILD. just how i like it 🔥
July 8, 2026
I’m all for taboo but this was on another level!!
May 12, 2026
i don’t know what i was expecting but it wasn’t that, what an experience. what an ending. honestly ethan is hilarious, enjoyed this more than i thought i would
April 25, 2026
Holy Jesus Christ! 😳 I’m not sure I hand the words to properly describe this fucked up awesomeness. Taboo and spicy and warped. The triggers are perfectly on point. 100% go read this book!
April 15, 2026
What the ffffff…
I don’t even know where to start! 😅
First of all it’s 5 stars from me, J N Bamforth has done it again, throwing us into a world of depravity, unhinge, disgust & down right madness that I love.
Ethan, is one of the most unhinged MMC’s I’ve probably ever read about. He crossed SO MANY boundaries, he will do anything to make Alina his. And the crazy thing is.. I was routing for him in some ways. Like seriously what is wrong with me.. 🥴
This has got to be up there with one of my favourite novellas. The ending won’t be for everyone, but it all fits together and honestly, this was just a great read for me.
I don’t even know where to start! 😅
First of all it’s 5 stars from me, J N Bamforth has done it again, throwing us into a world of depravity, unhinge, disgust & down right madness that I love.
Ethan, is one of the most unhinged MMC’s I’ve probably ever read about. He crossed SO MANY boundaries, he will do anything to make Alina his. And the crazy thing is.. I was routing for him in some ways. Like seriously what is wrong with me.. 🥴
This has got to be up there with one of my favourite novellas. The ending won’t be for everyone, but it all fits together and honestly, this was just a great read for me.
April 20, 2026
Damn. This book is taboo, pretty dark and scary. I knew there wasn't going to be a happy ending, but I won't deny that I would have preferred them to end up together hahaha
Please review the Warning
Please review the Warning
June 12, 2026
🚨EVERYTHING IS MY OPINION AND MY OPINION ONLY!🚨
1/5⭐️
1/5🌶️
I gave this book 1/5 stars (for the plot) as well as the spice aspect of it. And I’ll explain MY reasoning. (Clearly people like this book but I can’t seem to figure out why).
1. I’ve read quite the amount of books with any type of sibling like relationship and this one felt extremely NOT original by any means. If you’ve read “Little Liar” you’ll see that it’s kind of the same dynamic but poorly executed. A lot of ideas in this book felt duplicated from other books I’ve read and it felt overdone.
2. The DIALOGUES! so unoriginal, cringy AF and uninspiring and not even trying to be situational realistic. I felt like I was reading the same sentences over and over again and it almost felt like a “default sentence”. meaning, because it’s THIS type of dark horror romance book, it as if it should have THOSE familiar sentences because that is the “basic formula” of it, almost like she copied it from 1000 other poorly written books. So it lacked any originality and flame / interest.
3. THE ENDING: I have no problem with the Necrophilia aspect of that book and I will give it to her that the aspect of this theme and the scenes of this specific nature we’re ok, but the whole idea of the ending was stupid.
Why? Because She gave us a poorly executed alternative ending - something that could have happened in the book but didn’t really happen eventually. But what REALLY happened at the end made ZERO sense because who of the characters of that book came up with that ending in their mind? That’s how alternative endings work - someone from the character is in a predicament where they experienced one thing that is OBJECTIVELY TRUE but they are unreliable narrators so they give us a different ending while the author at the end tells us the truth of what happened. In this case, the AUTHOR WAS THE UNRELIABLE NARRATOR and she didn’t even give us an alternative ending, it’s like she lied about what happened without even giving closure to the fabricated scenario and jumped into what really happened.
Look, I took extensive literature classes for three years in high school and learned a lot about how the basic foundations of books, tropes and ideas work - and the author, in this specific book, just overlooked some of them and I have to say that it’s not smart, it’s not unique or cool, it’s not edgy and different. You can have all those characteristics in your book by sticking to what is originally the literature structure of things (even loosely). I’m a bit of a pedantic person when it comes to this. (If you’re gonna use a literary tool, use it at least right).
She TRIED to be unique, and fell A looooong way of the mark.
I was just left with the feeling that this book was stupid and really unoriginal, uninspiring and I found myself skimming through the last 20ish % of the book to just get it over with, even though I thought about not finishing it, but then I said I wanted to read the full thing to see if it was bad through and through. Which it was.
Be more original. Write better dialogues. Have fun and create things out of the box - don’t fit into molds. Which unfortunately is what happened here.
1/5⭐️
1/5🌶️
I gave this book 1/5 stars (for the plot) as well as the spice aspect of it. And I’ll explain MY reasoning. (Clearly people like this book but I can’t seem to figure out why).
1. I’ve read quite the amount of books with any type of sibling like relationship and this one felt extremely NOT original by any means. If you’ve read “Little Liar” you’ll see that it’s kind of the same dynamic but poorly executed. A lot of ideas in this book felt duplicated from other books I’ve read and it felt overdone.
2. The DIALOGUES! so unoriginal, cringy AF and uninspiring and not even trying to be situational realistic. I felt like I was reading the same sentences over and over again and it almost felt like a “default sentence”. meaning, because it’s THIS type of dark horror romance book, it as if it should have THOSE familiar sentences because that is the “basic formula” of it, almost like she copied it from 1000 other poorly written books. So it lacked any originality and flame / interest.
3. THE ENDING: I have no problem with the Necrophilia aspect of that book and I will give it to her that the aspect of this theme and the scenes of this specific nature we’re ok, but the whole idea of the ending was stupid.
Why? Because She gave us a poorly executed alternative ending - something that could have happened in the book but didn’t really happen eventually. But what REALLY happened at the end made ZERO sense because who of the characters of that book came up with that ending in their mind? That’s how alternative endings work - someone from the character is in a predicament where they experienced one thing that is OBJECTIVELY TRUE but they are unreliable narrators so they give us a different ending while the author at the end tells us the truth of what happened. In this case, the AUTHOR WAS THE UNRELIABLE NARRATOR and she didn’t even give us an alternative ending, it’s like she lied about what happened without even giving closure to the fabricated scenario and jumped into what really happened.
Look, I took extensive literature classes for three years in high school and learned a lot about how the basic foundations of books, tropes and ideas work - and the author, in this specific book, just overlooked some of them and I have to say that it’s not smart, it’s not unique or cool, it’s not edgy and different. You can have all those characteristics in your book by sticking to what is originally the literature structure of things (even loosely). I’m a bit of a pedantic person when it comes to this. (If you’re gonna use a literary tool, use it at least right).
She TRIED to be unique, and fell A looooong way of the mark.
I was just left with the feeling that this book was stupid and really unoriginal, uninspiring and I found myself skimming through the last 20ish % of the book to just get it over with, even though I thought about not finishing it, but then I said I wanted to read the full thing to see if it was bad through and through. Which it was.
Be more original. Write better dialogues. Have fun and create things out of the box - don’t fit into molds. Which unfortunately is what happened here.
Review of advance copy received from Author
You’re sick, a freak…
That’s the thought lingering in your mind when reading this- but alas, if you’re reading this author specifically, we know you’re not normal. What is normal anyway?
Ethan is a 19 year old boy with a deep infatuation… for his sister. Blood sister, not step sibling or just a girl he met. But a true, sick undying love for someone he shouldn’t love in the way he does, wanting the things he certainly shouldn’t even have thoughts of. Alina is 17 and also loves her brother. To the same extent as Ethan loves her…. Yeah. And that’s a problem. They both know it’s not right to have the thoughts and feelings towards each other but that isn’t going to stop things.
“You’re sick, Ethan. I don’t feel for you, like how you feel for me. Why can’t you see that? Everyone was right when they said you were a.. freak.”
After Alina begrudgingly screamed that to him, that was the tipping point for Ethan to decide to change their life and what a night to do so. Halloween night, a night others see for evil things and bad decisions disguised as dress up.
Without giving a spoiler, things after that night seal their fate in ways neither wanted. Sadly, it only takes a small but rash decision to change it all. Does Alina finally give in? Does Ethan get what he wants, what he has dreamt of?
This is definitely a sick and twisted taboo horror story that ends without an HEA (depending on your level of what you can consider things- but for me, it was an ending I felt best for their story) but most won’t consider it an HEA by any stretch of imagination. In the end, what happened may not have been as hard to digest once you make it far enough. Did you read it all and scrunch your nose saying “oh… oh?!” Yeah- but once you finish you may not feel as grossed out. This is one of the shorter stories I’ve read with ALL the triggers. Does it have spice? Well- there are definitely some scenes that may damped your netherworld however this isn’t a dark romance but erotic horror to the definition.
That’s the thought lingering in your mind when reading this- but alas, if you’re reading this author specifically, we know you’re not normal. What is normal anyway?
Ethan is a 19 year old boy with a deep infatuation… for his sister. Blood sister, not step sibling or just a girl he met. But a true, sick undying love for someone he shouldn’t love in the way he does, wanting the things he certainly shouldn’t even have thoughts of. Alina is 17 and also loves her brother. To the same extent as Ethan loves her…. Yeah. And that’s a problem. They both know it’s not right to have the thoughts and feelings towards each other but that isn’t going to stop things.
“You’re sick, Ethan. I don’t feel for you, like how you feel for me. Why can’t you see that? Everyone was right when they said you were a.. freak.”
After Alina begrudgingly screamed that to him, that was the tipping point for Ethan to decide to change their life and what a night to do so. Halloween night, a night others see for evil things and bad decisions disguised as dress up.
Without giving a spoiler, things after that night seal their fate in ways neither wanted. Sadly, it only takes a small but rash decision to change it all. Does Alina finally give in? Does Ethan get what he wants, what he has dreamt of?
This is definitely a sick and twisted taboo horror story that ends without an HEA (depending on your level of what you can consider things- but for me, it was an ending I felt best for their story) but most won’t consider it an HEA by any stretch of imagination. In the end, what happened may not have been as hard to digest once you make it far enough. Did you read it all and scrunch your nose saying “oh… oh?!” Yeah- but once you finish you may not feel as grossed out. This is one of the shorter stories I’ve read with ALL the triggers. Does it have spice? Well- there are definitely some scenes that may damped your netherworld however this isn’t a dark romance but erotic horror to the definition.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I genuinely wasn’t prepared for how much Formaldehyde by J.B. Bamforth would get under my skin 😳💀 This story is dark in every sense—emotionally, psychologically, and morally—and it does not hold your hand through any of it.
At the center are Ethan and Alina Ashcroft, siblings bound together by a childhood shaped by fear, neglect, and a deeply abusive father. Ethan has grown up being called a “freak” and worse, and over time, he’s internalized it… but also stopped caring. Because to him, Alina is everything—his comfort, his anchor, his obsession. And Alina? She feels it too, even if she tries to fight it 😶🌫️🔥 That pull between them is constant, intense, and impossible to ignore, no matter how wrong they both know it is.
What makes this story hit so hard is how it blurs the line between love and damage. When your whole world is broken, what even counts as “normal”? 🤯 The bond between Ethan and Alina is disturbing, yes—but it’s also written in a way that feels tragically believable.
Things spiral fast when Halloween night arrives 🎃🕯️ What starts as just another bad situation turns into something irreversible. One impulsive decision changes everything, and from there, the story descends into full-on chaos. No spoilers, but the direction it takes? I did NOT see it coming.
Also worth mentioning—this isn’t just shock value. There’s a strong undercurrent of grief and emotional decay running through it all. The way loss and trauma twist the characters’ minds adds a layer that makes it even more unsettling.
And that ending… wow. It’s not comforting, not clean, and definitely not what most would call “happy,” but somehow it fits perfectly 🖤 It leaves you sitting there like… “what did I just read?”—in the best and worst way at the same time.
If you’re into extreme, boundary-pushing horror with taboo elements and don’t mind feeling deeply uncomfortable, this one absolutely delivers 😈📖
At the center are Ethan and Alina Ashcroft, siblings bound together by a childhood shaped by fear, neglect, and a deeply abusive father. Ethan has grown up being called a “freak” and worse, and over time, he’s internalized it… but also stopped caring. Because to him, Alina is everything—his comfort, his anchor, his obsession. And Alina? She feels it too, even if she tries to fight it 😶🌫️🔥 That pull between them is constant, intense, and impossible to ignore, no matter how wrong they both know it is.
What makes this story hit so hard is how it blurs the line between love and damage. When your whole world is broken, what even counts as “normal”? 🤯 The bond between Ethan and Alina is disturbing, yes—but it’s also written in a way that feels tragically believable.
Things spiral fast when Halloween night arrives 🎃🕯️ What starts as just another bad situation turns into something irreversible. One impulsive decision changes everything, and from there, the story descends into full-on chaos. No spoilers, but the direction it takes? I did NOT see it coming.
Also worth mentioning—this isn’t just shock value. There’s a strong undercurrent of grief and emotional decay running through it all. The way loss and trauma twist the characters’ minds adds a layer that makes it even more unsettling.
And that ending… wow. It’s not comforting, not clean, and definitely not what most would call “happy,” but somehow it fits perfectly 🖤 It leaves you sitting there like… “what did I just read?”—in the best and worst way at the same time.
If you’re into extreme, boundary-pushing horror with taboo elements and don’t mind feeling deeply uncomfortable, this one absolutely delivers 😈📖
Review of advance copy received from Author
5/5 ⭐️
I don’t even know where to start with this one.
This book is not just dark. It is the kind of dark that settles into your bones and stays there long after you finish the last page. I went in knowing J.N. Bamforth does not hold back, but this still managed to crawl under my skin in a way I was not prepared for. I read most of this with a pit in my stomach, even after checking the trigger warnings first. It didn’t matter. Nothing softens what this story does to you.
The writing is vivid in a way that feels almost invasive. Every scene is sharp, uncomfortable, and impossible to look away from. I kept telling myself I should take a break, that I needed a second to breathe, but I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to. Some of these moments are going to live in my head for a long time.
This is taboo in its rawest form. Not just surface level shock value, but something deeper and more unhinged. The kind of obsession that feels suffocating. The MMC is completely consumed by the FMC to a level that is intense, disturbing, and honestly a little mesmerizing in the worst way.
The relationship is complicated, wrong, and written in a way that makes you feel every ounce of it. You understand it even when you don’t want to. Especially when you don’t want to.
And that ending… it left me sitting there staring at nothing for a minute. Confused. A little hollow. A little heartbroken. But also knowing it could not have ended any other way. This is not a happily ever after. This is something much darker, something that lingers.
If you are even slightly sensitive to heavy content, read the trigger warnings. Seriously.
But if you like your books pitch black, obsessive, and unforgettable… this one will ruin you in the best way.
I don’t even know where to start with this one.
This book is not just dark. It is the kind of dark that settles into your bones and stays there long after you finish the last page. I went in knowing J.N. Bamforth does not hold back, but this still managed to crawl under my skin in a way I was not prepared for. I read most of this with a pit in my stomach, even after checking the trigger warnings first. It didn’t matter. Nothing softens what this story does to you.
The writing is vivid in a way that feels almost invasive. Every scene is sharp, uncomfortable, and impossible to look away from. I kept telling myself I should take a break, that I needed a second to breathe, but I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to. Some of these moments are going to live in my head for a long time.
This is taboo in its rawest form. Not just surface level shock value, but something deeper and more unhinged. The kind of obsession that feels suffocating. The MMC is completely consumed by the FMC to a level that is intense, disturbing, and honestly a little mesmerizing in the worst way.
The relationship is complicated, wrong, and written in a way that makes you feel every ounce of it. You understand it even when you don’t want to. Especially when you don’t want to.
And that ending… it left me sitting there staring at nothing for a minute. Confused. A little hollow. A little heartbroken. But also knowing it could not have ended any other way. This is not a happily ever after. This is something much darker, something that lingers.
If you are even slightly sensitive to heavy content, read the trigger warnings. Seriously.
But if you like your books pitch black, obsessive, and unforgettable… this one will ruin you in the best way.
April 24, 2026
Formaldehyde is depraved, disgusting, wildly entertaining, and completely unhinged. This book feels like a fever dream soaked in embalming fluid, and somehow I mean that in the best way possible.
At the centre of the chaos is Ethan—a mortician's assistant with zero boundaries, questionable sanity, and an obsession with his younger sister that is as disturbing as it is impossible to look away from. When death shoulo have been the end, Ethan refuses to let go, and what follows is a grotesque spiral into grief, possession, obsession, and acts so vile they'll have you staring at the page in disbelief.
This is extreme horror that fully commits to the bit: body horror, taboo themes, gore, psychological instability, morally black characters, and enough "what the f*ck?" moments to keep your jaw permanently dropped. There's a twisted Frankenstein/Re-Animator energy running through it, mixed with dark humour and scenes that feel almost surreal in their madness.
And yet... Ethan is weirdly compelling. Absolutely reprehensible, deeply broken, terrifyingly possessive, and still somehow one of those characters you can't stop reading about. If you love a villainous MMC who crosses every line and then digs under them, he'll fascinate you.
This is not for casual horror readers or anyone sensitive to heavy taboo content. Check trigger warnings seriously. But if you like your horror nasty, bold, shocking, and memorable, Formaldehyde delivers in full. Gross, fun, and a little traumatic.
*
*
For fans of: extreme horror, body horror, morally black MMCs, chaotic fever-dream reads, books that make you question your life choices.
At the centre of the chaos is Ethan—a mortician's assistant with zero boundaries, questionable sanity, and an obsession with his younger sister that is as disturbing as it is impossible to look away from. When death shoulo have been the end, Ethan refuses to let go, and what follows is a grotesque spiral into grief, possession, obsession, and acts so vile they'll have you staring at the page in disbelief.
This is extreme horror that fully commits to the bit: body horror, taboo themes, gore, psychological instability, morally black characters, and enough "what the f*ck?" moments to keep your jaw permanently dropped. There's a twisted Frankenstein/Re-Animator energy running through it, mixed with dark humour and scenes that feel almost surreal in their madness.
And yet... Ethan is weirdly compelling. Absolutely reprehensible, deeply broken, terrifyingly possessive, and still somehow one of those characters you can't stop reading about. If you love a villainous MMC who crosses every line and then digs under them, he'll fascinate you.
This is not for casual horror readers or anyone sensitive to heavy taboo content. Check trigger warnings seriously. But if you like your horror nasty, bold, shocking, and memorable, Formaldehyde delivers in full. Gross, fun, and a little traumatic.
*
*
For fans of: extreme horror, body horror, morally black MMCs, chaotic fever-dream reads, books that make you question your life choices.
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