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The Sadist's Bible
How well do you know the people you chat with on a social network?
Thirty-seven year old Ellie Blake is about to find out. Her Bible Belt community wouldn’t dare accept her if she came out as a lesbian. Her husband, her pastor, and her neighbors would be scandalized by such a disclosure. But Ellie’s desire for another woman’s intimate touch grows stronger with each passing day, as does her desire to be dominant – to tell another woman just how to please her, to tie up another woman so that she’ll never, ever leave.
Ashamed of these feelings and hopeless of ever satisfying them, Ellie goes to a secret group on the social network and seeks out a partner for a suicide pact.
There, she finds twenty-four year old Lori Morris–a woman who also claims devotion to death and lust. She agrees to meet Ellie in a hotel for an intense night of decadent sex and torture before suicide. But Lori has another agenda, to escape an oppressive force that might be God or might be the Devil. A force that even suicide may not allow her to escape. A force that wants Lori, Ellie, and all of humanity broken and brought to its knees.
Praise and
Cushing delivers a knockout punch that’ll leave you reeling and that will stay with you long after you’ve read the last word. - Shane Douglas Keene / This Is Horror
The Sadist Bible is an incredible piece of work. Cosmic. Transgressive. Suspenseful… There needs to be more books written like this. The kind that beg for a reread and a book club. - Mark Matthews / Author of Milk-Blood
The style builds from a dull hum of curiosity to a scream that evokes Barker’s Cenobites and Dante’s Inferno in equal measure – Carmilla Voiez / Terror Realm
This contemporary novella applies a very ancient archetypal element to modern themes and characters to interesting effect. - Jaffa Kintigh / Jaffalogue
…truly terrifying. It’s set in the mundane world but then takes a sharp right turn into disturbia and never leaves. The imagery ranks right up there with some of the torments that befall Clive Barker’s unfortunate characters in his earlier works. – Bark’s Book Nonsense
Thirty-seven year old Ellie Blake is about to find out. Her Bible Belt community wouldn’t dare accept her if she came out as a lesbian. Her husband, her pastor, and her neighbors would be scandalized by such a disclosure. But Ellie’s desire for another woman’s intimate touch grows stronger with each passing day, as does her desire to be dominant – to tell another woman just how to please her, to tie up another woman so that she’ll never, ever leave.
Ashamed of these feelings and hopeless of ever satisfying them, Ellie goes to a secret group on the social network and seeks out a partner for a suicide pact.
There, she finds twenty-four year old Lori Morris–a woman who also claims devotion to death and lust. She agrees to meet Ellie in a hotel for an intense night of decadent sex and torture before suicide. But Lori has another agenda, to escape an oppressive force that might be God or might be the Devil. A force that even suicide may not allow her to escape. A force that wants Lori, Ellie, and all of humanity broken and brought to its knees.
Praise and
Cushing delivers a knockout punch that’ll leave you reeling and that will stay with you long after you’ve read the last word. - Shane Douglas Keene / This Is Horror
The Sadist Bible is an incredible piece of work. Cosmic. Transgressive. Suspenseful… There needs to be more books written like this. The kind that beg for a reread and a book club. - Mark Matthews / Author of Milk-Blood
The style builds from a dull hum of curiosity to a scream that evokes Barker’s Cenobites and Dante’s Inferno in equal measure – Carmilla Voiez / Terror Realm
This contemporary novella applies a very ancient archetypal element to modern themes and characters to interesting effect. - Jaffa Kintigh / Jaffalogue
…truly terrifying. It’s set in the mundane world but then takes a sharp right turn into disturbia and never leaves. The imagery ranks right up there with some of the torments that befall Clive Barker’s unfortunate characters in his earlier works. – Bark’s Book Nonsense
87 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2016
22 people are currently reading
774 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Cushing
41 books346 followersNicole Cushing is the Bram Stoker Award® winning author of Mr. Suicide and a two-time nominee for the Shirley Jackson Award.
Various reviewers have described her work as “brutal”, “cerebral”, “transgressive”, "wickedly funny", “taboo”, “groundbreaking” and “mind-bending”.
Rue Morgue magazine included Nicole in its list of 13 Wicked Women to Watch, praising her as an “an intense and uncompromising literary voice”. She has also garnered praise from Jack Ketchum, Thomas Ligotti, and Poppy Z. Brite (aka, Billy Martin).
Her second novel, A Sick Gray Laugh (2019) was named to LitReactor’s Best Horror Novels of the Last Decade list and the Locus Recommended Reading List. She has recently completed and polished her third novel.
She lives in Indiana.
Various reviewers have described her work as “brutal”, “cerebral”, “transgressive”, "wickedly funny", “taboo”, “groundbreaking” and “mind-bending”.
Rue Morgue magazine included Nicole in its list of 13 Wicked Women to Watch, praising her as an “an intense and uncompromising literary voice”. She has also garnered praise from Jack Ketchum, Thomas Ligotti, and Poppy Z. Brite (aka, Billy Martin).
Her second novel, A Sick Gray Laugh (2019) was named to LitReactor’s Best Horror Novels of the Last Decade list and the Locus Recommended Reading List. She has recently completed and polished her third novel.
She lives in Indiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
April 30, 2022
Twisted, dark, and weird. That's all I got. It was a short read 🤷♀️
October 20, 2021
Ellie tries to arrange the first sexual encounter with another woman, Lori. They plan do have a wild night and then commit suicide together. In this novella you'll read about prejudices in society, hypocrisy, madness, a strange image of God, the problems of a dull marriage. It started strong but soon the story became a bit repetitive. You'll also read about a disabled child and uncanny mannequin like men. Nice ingredients but the storytelling was a bit confusing. The book certainly will find its fans but to be honest it wasn't my cup of tea. Certainly interesting for readers of the author.
February 10, 2017
This review and the rest of the crap I write can be seen @ my blog Bark's Book Nonsense . Stop by and say hey.
Ellie is miserable and longs for the sweet release of death. She feels trapped, is married to a man she doesn’t love and has realized that she only wants to be with a woman. If only for a night. She meets a stranger named Lori online and the two agree to meet for a night of sex, debauchery and death.
But, you see, although Lori wants desperately to die as well, she’s not being entirely truthful with Ellie. I’d be less than forthcoming too if I were hiding what Lori is hiding. . . Her secret is a doozy and I am afraid to say much of anything besides read this book if you like excellently written, thoughtful and extreme horror.
The Sadist’s Bible was truly terrifying. It’s set in the mundane world but then takes a sharp right turn into disturbia and never leaves. The imagery ranks right up there with some of the torments that befall Clive Barker’s unfortunate characters in his earlier works. I honestly don’t think I’ve read an erotic horror short so unsettling and under-the-skin intense since I finished Lucy Taylor’s Unnatural Acts back in 1997.
It also has a few unexpected and brief moments of humor.
“Nuttier than a squirrel turd.”
I seriously have to read everything this woman has ever written.
Also posted at my sparkling new blog. Please visit :)
Ellie is miserable and longs for the sweet release of death. She feels trapped, is married to a man she doesn’t love and has realized that she only wants to be with a woman. If only for a night. She meets a stranger named Lori online and the two agree to meet for a night of sex, debauchery and death.
But, you see, although Lori wants desperately to die as well, she’s not being entirely truthful with Ellie. I’d be less than forthcoming too if I were hiding what Lori is hiding. . . Her secret is a doozy and I am afraid to say much of anything besides read this book if you like excellently written, thoughtful and extreme horror.
The Sadist’s Bible was truly terrifying. It’s set in the mundane world but then takes a sharp right turn into disturbia and never leaves. The imagery ranks right up there with some of the torments that befall Clive Barker’s unfortunate characters in his earlier works. I honestly don’t think I’ve read an erotic horror short so unsettling and under-the-skin intense since I finished Lucy Taylor’s Unnatural Acts back in 1997.
It also has a few unexpected and brief moments of humor.
“Nuttier than a squirrel turd.”
I seriously have to read everything this woman has ever written.
Also posted at my sparkling new blog. Please visit :)
March 16, 2018
Nicole Cushing takes social conventions and long-held beliefs and flings them boldly into the fire. Is this transgressive? That depends on the way that you think. If your savior turned your long-held ideology upside down and told you to dismember it, would that change your thoughts and actions? This is a read that may be challenging or impossible for some, but for those who appreciate escaping the realms of conventionality, it is a riveting and thought-provoking novella.
April 15, 2016
The Sadist's Bible is a difficult novella to review without spoilers, but I'm going to try.
We start off with two women having a sexy internet relationship. One woman, Ellie, is the married wife of a very religious man and the other, Lori, a disturbed bisexual. How disturbed she actually is doesn't become apparent until later. The two have a plan to meet up in real life, have some mind blowing lesbian sex, and then kill themselves. Everything is realistic and understandable up to this point and then it all goes right off the rails; so far off the rails the train cars are in a smoking, wrecked heap about a mile away.
From here on out, a lot of the story is almost interactive with the reader. What I mean by that is that every reader brings their baggage and experience to a story. Depending on what you've read in the past or your past experiences in real life-these things may color your views on the second half of this tale. For myself, I see numerous influences and ways to interpret the last half of this book. A few examples of these influences, from my point of view, would be Lovecraft and Thomas Ligotti for sure. Perhaps a little bit of The King in Yellow and early Clive Barker as well. However, despite these influences the last half is pure Cushing, and this is a style I have grown to love and even adore over the last two years. I'm talking wildly imaginative and creative scenes-described so vividly that I can see them in my mind's eye as clearly as if they were on a giant movie screen before me. I'm not sure that current technology could even live up to Nicole Cushing's imagination-in fact, I doubt it.
This book was incredible. I don't know what else to say. I will include a short warning, this book is daring-in its vivid descriptions of sex and violence, (with both often combined), and also with its frank observations of "in the closet" lesbianism and religious guilt: it may not be for everyone. However, if you think the synopsis and my review sound interesting, I can't say it strongly enough: GO BUY THIS BOOK. (You can do so here: http://www.amazon.com/Sadists-Bible-N...)
My highest recommendation!
*I received a free e-copy of this novella from the author, in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
We start off with two women having a sexy internet relationship. One woman, Ellie, is the married wife of a very religious man and the other, Lori, a disturbed bisexual. How disturbed she actually is doesn't become apparent until later. The two have a plan to meet up in real life, have some mind blowing lesbian sex, and then kill themselves. Everything is realistic and understandable up to this point and then it all goes right off the rails; so far off the rails the train cars are in a smoking, wrecked heap about a mile away.
From here on out, a lot of the story is almost interactive with the reader. What I mean by that is that every reader brings their baggage and experience to a story. Depending on what you've read in the past or your past experiences in real life-these things may color your views on the second half of this tale. For myself, I see numerous influences and ways to interpret the last half of this book. A few examples of these influences, from my point of view, would be Lovecraft and Thomas Ligotti for sure. Perhaps a little bit of The King in Yellow and early Clive Barker as well. However, despite these influences the last half is pure Cushing, and this is a style I have grown to love and even adore over the last two years. I'm talking wildly imaginative and creative scenes-described so vividly that I can see them in my mind's eye as clearly as if they were on a giant movie screen before me. I'm not sure that current technology could even live up to Nicole Cushing's imagination-in fact, I doubt it.
This book was incredible. I don't know what else to say. I will include a short warning, this book is daring-in its vivid descriptions of sex and violence, (with both often combined), and also with its frank observations of "in the closet" lesbianism and religious guilt: it may not be for everyone. However, if you think the synopsis and my review sound interesting, I can't say it strongly enough: GO BUY THIS BOOK. (You can do so here: http://www.amazon.com/Sadists-Bible-N...)
My highest recommendation!
*I received a free e-copy of this novella from the author, in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
November 7, 2020
'Welcome to the Hotel Horrotica!'
Before reading this story I had some reservations as I not only found the actual book cover slightly juvenile in design but also thought the synopsis suggested that the story might easily degenerate into a straight forward 'C' rated blood, gore and sex fest, with a shallow plot and a ridiculously silly, OTT boring, repetitive and familiar narrative of mainstream horror.
However, after reading 'The Sadist's Bible,' I am delighted to report that nothing could have been further from the truth - I thought it was absolutely fantastic! Just a brilliant, adult, supernatural adventure, full of clever ideas based on a hard-hitting storyline which was purposely designed to make the reader really sit up and think. Wonderful!
Two women, both with serious issues of their own, decide to 'pair' up after meeting one another on a 'Des'pair'ing' website and plan a rendezvous in a hotel to enjoy one final glorious romantic fling together before carrying out a dual suicide pact and leaving behind all their earthly troubles forever. But religion dictates that they will ultimately meet their maker - so just what type of Godly figure will they encounter...and why?
A deep, dark and disturbing supernatural horror story that touches on many issues found within society that are deemed awkward, contentious and taboo. Wonderfully well written and cleverly crafted, bringing together believable characters that challenge specific 'norms' that are widely accepted by us humans of today.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the story which was set in the real-life world of the US before being taken into the supernatural and extremely surreal, sexually explicit and horror-filled arena of the afterlife and all its beautifully detailed, glorious but grotesque, rich tapestry of pure outrageous hideousness. And the ending didn't disappoint either- giving real meaning to the feelings, passions and theories offered up by the author, so giving us this complete, intelligent and totally awe-inspiring package of supernatural delight. Just fantastic!
A wonderful, not-to-be-missed, trip into the 'Supernatural land of Disturbia,' for any true fans of genuinely good writers of extreme but meaningful, adult, horror. Simply splendid - loved it, thank you Nicole! Rating: 4.8 stars.
Before reading this story I had some reservations as I not only found the actual book cover slightly juvenile in design but also thought the synopsis suggested that the story might easily degenerate into a straight forward 'C' rated blood, gore and sex fest, with a shallow plot and a ridiculously silly, OTT boring, repetitive and familiar narrative of mainstream horror.
However, after reading 'The Sadist's Bible,' I am delighted to report that nothing could have been further from the truth - I thought it was absolutely fantastic! Just a brilliant, adult, supernatural adventure, full of clever ideas based on a hard-hitting storyline which was purposely designed to make the reader really sit up and think. Wonderful!
Two women, both with serious issues of their own, decide to 'pair' up after meeting one another on a 'Des'pair'ing' website and plan a rendezvous in a hotel to enjoy one final glorious romantic fling together before carrying out a dual suicide pact and leaving behind all their earthly troubles forever. But religion dictates that they will ultimately meet their maker - so just what type of Godly figure will they encounter...and why?
A deep, dark and disturbing supernatural horror story that touches on many issues found within society that are deemed awkward, contentious and taboo. Wonderfully well written and cleverly crafted, bringing together believable characters that challenge specific 'norms' that are widely accepted by us humans of today.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the story which was set in the real-life world of the US before being taken into the supernatural and extremely surreal, sexually explicit and horror-filled arena of the afterlife and all its beautifully detailed, glorious but grotesque, rich tapestry of pure outrageous hideousness. And the ending didn't disappoint either- giving real meaning to the feelings, passions and theories offered up by the author, so giving us this complete, intelligent and totally awe-inspiring package of supernatural delight. Just fantastic!
A wonderful, not-to-be-missed, trip into the 'Supernatural land of Disturbia,' for any true fans of genuinely good writers of extreme but meaningful, adult, horror. Simply splendid - loved it, thank you Nicole! Rating: 4.8 stars.
March 19, 2022
A closeted lesbian raised in a backwater religious society named Ellie Blake meets the troubled Lori Morris in an online chatroom. Ellie secretly harbors feelings of lust, death and violent urges to dominate other women, and she soon discovers that Lori is of the same mindset. Lori agrees to meet Ellie in a hotel for an intense night of decadent sex and torture before ultimately committing suicide together, living out their deepest fantasies before escaping their unfortunate circumstances. Unknown to Ellie, Lori has another agenda in mind. She plans to escape an oppressive force that might be God or might be the Devil. A higher being that forcefully impregnated her and cursed her with a cruelly disfigured child. It is a force that even suicide may not allow her to escape from, a force that wants Lori, Ellie, and all of humanity broken and brought to its knees.
This was a wild ride. It's unabashedly edgy and I think that can be a very fun thing in horror novels. The writing reminds me a lot of Poppy Z. Brite and Jack Ketchum, two authors famous for their unapologetic brutality, fearlessness of offending readers and delving into the pure gross-out nature of splatterpunk. It had an interesting take on religious philosophy as well, portraying God and the Devil as one and the same being.
This was a wild ride. It's unabashedly edgy and I think that can be a very fun thing in horror novels. The writing reminds me a lot of Poppy Z. Brite and Jack Ketchum, two authors famous for their unapologetic brutality, fearlessness of offending readers and delving into the pure gross-out nature of splatterpunk. It had an interesting take on religious philosophy as well, portraying God and the Devil as one and the same being.
July 15, 2019
I have read a lot of bad books, but this was one of the most blatantly awful things I have ever read. It's the ultimate combination of a pants-shittingly stupid plot coupled with awful writing. It's like the only literary device this author knows is exposition; you are shown nothing and told absolutely everything. I think I almost went blind from reading this. I could train a monkey to write a better story by having it bang Morse Code out with its head against a brick wall.
May 14, 2017
The cover for this horror novella made me think that it was something that I wouldn't be interested in at all. But this novel really went against my expectations, if not in what it's about, definitely in the direction it went. Nicole Cushing is no-holds-barred when it comes to her deviant approach towards sex and religion. In fact, if you are a prude of any sort or sensitive when it comes to Christianity, just stay away from this one. I'm neither, so at first I was impressed and drawn in by Cushing's boldness and nerve. She tells a story of a repressed Christian woman named Ellie who agrees to meet up with an online lover for a night of hot lesbian sex capped with a bit of suicide. But what both women discover is a horror beyond anything they are trying to escape in life and that the afterlife might not be the escape their hoping for.
But unfortunately, I was left pretty cold throughout most of the book. It read like a scatter-brained rough draft to me, with every idea feeling incomplete. I felt disconnected through most of it, like the novella was just going through it's paces and not really fully committing. The character of Lori is the biggest culprit here. It seemed as though Cushing had great ideas with where to take her in relation to Ellie, but the exploration of the character seemed to have been abandoned. Even the absolutely insane climax felt like it was done simply for horrific effect rather than inspiring any real catharsis.
This could have been so much more, and really affecting, but it really fell short for me. But hey, what do I know, this was recently nominated for the Shirley Jackson and the Bram Stoker Award!
But unfortunately, I was left pretty cold throughout most of the book. It read like a scatter-brained rough draft to me, with every idea feeling incomplete. I felt disconnected through most of it, like the novella was just going through it's paces and not really fully committing. The character of Lori is the biggest culprit here. It seemed as though Cushing had great ideas with where to take her in relation to Ellie, but the exploration of the character seemed to have been abandoned. Even the absolutely insane climax felt like it was done simply for horrific effect rather than inspiring any real catharsis.
This could have been so much more, and really affecting, but it really fell short for me. But hey, what do I know, this was recently nominated for the Shirley Jackson and the Bram Stoker Award!
October 21, 2017
This one was twisted, there’s no denying that and should have been right up my alley. I’m just stuck thinking that while the concepts were very good it lacked a bit in the execution. I think it could have used more character development and delved deeper into the relationship between Lori and Ellie. I liked it and it was good, but think that it really could have been great had it been a wee longer and more realized.
April 13, 2016
There's an adage, I am pretty sure I heard it from Jack Ketchum first, that a writer should "never be afraid to go there." Well, when I read Nicole's work (we are not on a first name basis, but, seems to fit for some reason...) she is never be afraid to go there since she's already there, and comfortable being there, and does it with confidence and style.
The Sadist Bible is an incredible piece of work. Cosmic. Transgressive. Suspenseful. Many deep layers, and tunnels, and escape hatches, and secret rooms; lots of places and interpretations to get lost in. The book begins with real people with deep, completely believable conflicts, planning a same-sex tryst/suicide pact that evolves into something that ends so fantastical, cosmic, apocalyptic even, that it was mind-blowing with its imagery and the places it takes both reader and characters. I read this shortly after I read her Bram Stoker nominated Mr. Suicide. The Sadist's Bible seems like the feminine twin to the masculine driven Mr. Suicide, but I felt this piece was more crisp, maybe even more accessible, as much due to its length or anything. It never once let my attention or focus slip the way Mr. Suicide did at times, nor was there an extra word to be found.
Both books deal with an attempt to escape our existence, or transcend, and a deep spiritual angst, but done so with a visceral degradation of the physical self. I loved the passages written from God. Well, maybe not God as you or I know it/him, but God in the reality of this book. Passages from the assumed Sadist's Bible will stick with you. There's an attention to detail here, and an artist who respects her work tremendously. It's the reader who benefits.
There needs to be more books written like this. The kind that beg for a reread and a book club.
The Sadist Bible is an incredible piece of work. Cosmic. Transgressive. Suspenseful. Many deep layers, and tunnels, and escape hatches, and secret rooms; lots of places and interpretations to get lost in. The book begins with real people with deep, completely believable conflicts, planning a same-sex tryst/suicide pact that evolves into something that ends so fantastical, cosmic, apocalyptic even, that it was mind-blowing with its imagery and the places it takes both reader and characters. I read this shortly after I read her Bram Stoker nominated Mr. Suicide. The Sadist's Bible seems like the feminine twin to the masculine driven Mr. Suicide, but I felt this piece was more crisp, maybe even more accessible, as much due to its length or anything. It never once let my attention or focus slip the way Mr. Suicide did at times, nor was there an extra word to be found.
Both books deal with an attempt to escape our existence, or transcend, and a deep spiritual angst, but done so with a visceral degradation of the physical self. I loved the passages written from God. Well, maybe not God as you or I know it/him, but God in the reality of this book. Passages from the assumed Sadist's Bible will stick with you. There's an attention to detail here, and an artist who respects her work tremendously. It's the reader who benefits.
There needs to be more books written like this. The kind that beg for a reread and a book club.
January 2, 2024
"The Sadist’s Bible" is one of the most unnerving novellas I’ve read in a long time. Nicole Cushing’s writing is devilishly good and the images of existential dread and horrific scenes she paints in less than 100 pages will haunt me for some time. The story opens with two women who meet on an online board and begin exchanging messages. The plan is simple - have sex and then commit suicide.
The problem? God has other plans for them and it’s not a benevolent Christian god. It’s a possessive maniac with an insane agenda. I wouldn’t recommend it to religious readers :) Those who enjoy weird, challenging fiction and aren’t squeamish will find lots to appreciate here. And appreciation is, in this case, a better word than enjoyment because of all the existential dread and bleakness of the story.
Excellent, horrific work.
The problem? God has other plans for them and it’s not a benevolent Christian god. It’s a possessive maniac with an insane agenda. I wouldn’t recommend it to religious readers :) Those who enjoy weird, challenging fiction and aren’t squeamish will find lots to appreciate here. And appreciation is, in this case, a better word than enjoyment because of all the existential dread and bleakness of the story.
Excellent, horrific work.
February 21, 2020
‘As nutty as a squirrel’s turd’ is a description given to one of the minor characters of the story, but it is a description that could be extended to cover the whole novel. If you are looking for a story that includes BSDM, lesbians, a suicide pact, a deformed child, and a god/devil whose the sole purpose is to break humanity, this is one for you. Despite its total lunacy, it did move at pace and did manage to take me with it the whole way, and although I was and remain totally confused, it was a surprisingly interesting experience.
April 18, 2017
This review refers to the 2017 print edition from 01Publishing
This was one of the most profoundly dark and disturbing stories I have read in some time, redefining love, lust, faith, judgement, punishment, heaven, hell, pleasure, and pain. I feel like anything else I would say at this point would move my review into spoiler territory, so I will sum things up with this blurb from the back cover; "Remember: He wants us broken"
This was one of the most profoundly dark and disturbing stories I have read in some time, redefining love, lust, faith, judgement, punishment, heaven, hell, pleasure, and pain. I feel like anything else I would say at this point would move my review into spoiler territory, so I will sum things up with this blurb from the back cover; "Remember: He wants us broken"
November 9, 2020
“What is this place? Heaven? Hell?”
Both. “Heaven” and “Hell” are just two names for the same place. They are one
and the same.
“Who are you? God? The Devil?”
I have been called both names. But names are not my concern. Discipline is my
concern. Mating is my concern. Degeneracy is my concern. Worship is my concern.
Both. “Heaven” and “Hell” are just two names for the same place. They are one
and the same.
“Who are you? God? The Devil?”
I have been called both names. But names are not my concern. Discipline is my
concern. Mating is my concern. Degeneracy is my concern. Worship is my concern.
March 22, 2018
Hmmm, so yeah, where do I start with this one then? I suppose I’ll just jump straight in.
Ellie’s world has gone to shit. Well, when she reflects, it’s always been shit. Shit husband, shit life, shit pretty much everything. In her God-fearing community it would be the worst thing imaginable to tell everyone that she harbours strong feelings about being with a woman. Coming out is a definite no-no for Ellie, it would just add to the steaming pile of shitness. There’s only one perceivable way out for her; she has to die.
By signing up to a website where others in her situation are searching for a soul to die with, she befriends Lori, a lady who just happens to be interested in ladies, too, who promises her a beautiful death. Their plan is to make the most passionate love imaginable, before killing themselves in sexual suicide.
This is quite a dark subject for a book and I knew this going in, but it was so much more frighteningly desolate than I could have imagined. And this is a very good thing.
It’s graphic, it’s bloody, it’s utterly hideous. I never even had a chance to mark this book as ‘currently reading’ on Goodreads because I’d finished it before I knew where I was. It’s that good! OK, it’s not long, but it’s perfect pacing makes it feel much shorter.
So what’s so awful about it then? Let’s see, a woman whose life has become so utterly desperate, even though it would be perceived to be perfect, is planning her suicide with someone she’s never met in real life. There’s a severely disabled child with half his skull missing who has to be restrained to stop him messing with the sticky wound of gore. And then there’s the mother of this child (Lori) who wants him to die, too. She believes he is a cursed child and longs for his soul to be destroyed, along with hers.
Oh yeah, and let’s not forget about God either. Yes, he’s a character in here, and what a bastard he is. Readers of The Old Testament may be saying, ‘well yeah, duh, look at all the mean shit he did to his most accomplished creation.’ I’m sure those who believe in God would be shocked and outraged at the depiction of Him here, but I don’t suppose they would get very far through this anyway. But is He actually God, or The Devil? Are His disciples Angels or Demons? I’m starting to give things away here so I’ll stop.
The God in The Sadist’s Bible reminded me a lot of His characterisation in The Gospel According to Jesus Christ by Jose Saramago where’s He’s an equally massive narcissistic prick. But here, OK I’m definitely stopping now.
If you’re after a romantic love story between two women, or maybe even some graphic lesbian sexy scenes, read something else, there’s loads out there (apparently!).
This is horrific, horrifying horror of the highest order. I was blown away. So stop reading this review and just read the damn book. Or God may get angry, and you certainly don’t want that, feeble human!!
Ellie’s world has gone to shit. Well, when she reflects, it’s always been shit. Shit husband, shit life, shit pretty much everything. In her God-fearing community it would be the worst thing imaginable to tell everyone that she harbours strong feelings about being with a woman. Coming out is a definite no-no for Ellie, it would just add to the steaming pile of shitness. There’s only one perceivable way out for her; she has to die.
By signing up to a website where others in her situation are searching for a soul to die with, she befriends Lori, a lady who just happens to be interested in ladies, too, who promises her a beautiful death. Their plan is to make the most passionate love imaginable, before killing themselves in sexual suicide.
This is quite a dark subject for a book and I knew this going in, but it was so much more frighteningly desolate than I could have imagined. And this is a very good thing.
It’s graphic, it’s bloody, it’s utterly hideous. I never even had a chance to mark this book as ‘currently reading’ on Goodreads because I’d finished it before I knew where I was. It’s that good! OK, it’s not long, but it’s perfect pacing makes it feel much shorter.
So what’s so awful about it then? Let’s see, a woman whose life has become so utterly desperate, even though it would be perceived to be perfect, is planning her suicide with someone she’s never met in real life. There’s a severely disabled child with half his skull missing who has to be restrained to stop him messing with the sticky wound of gore. And then there’s the mother of this child (Lori) who wants him to die, too. She believes he is a cursed child and longs for his soul to be destroyed, along with hers.
Oh yeah, and let’s not forget about God either. Yes, he’s a character in here, and what a bastard he is. Readers of The Old Testament may be saying, ‘well yeah, duh, look at all the mean shit he did to his most accomplished creation.’ I’m sure those who believe in God would be shocked and outraged at the depiction of Him here, but I don’t suppose they would get very far through this anyway. But is He actually God, or The Devil? Are His disciples Angels or Demons? I’m starting to give things away here so I’ll stop.
The God in The Sadist’s Bible reminded me a lot of His characterisation in The Gospel According to Jesus Christ by Jose Saramago where’s He’s an equally massive narcissistic prick. But here, OK I’m definitely stopping now.
If you’re after a romantic love story between two women, or maybe even some graphic lesbian sexy scenes, read something else, there’s loads out there (apparently!).
This is horrific, horrifying horror of the highest order. I was blown away. So stop reading this review and just read the damn book. Or God may get angry, and you certainly don’t want that, feeble human!!
July 8, 2017
Still less disturbing than the actual Bible. Also, "He Wants Us Broken" and "Damned With Blessings" need to be on t-shirts.
November 2, 2020
i'm sure there is merit in this story - i'm just not the person to find it. there are grotesque descriptions that just skeeved me out (though i'm sure that was the point) but i didn't find it scary, kind of a must for a horror, just gross. the writing was uninteresting and the characters though intriguing on paper (two women, one of whom is deeply religious and closeted) meeting up to have sex and then commit suicide together. unfortunately, the characters we got were just...there, as this bizarre story takes place.
i just truly do not know what i read. i like some weird horror but this was not it for me.
i just truly do not know what i read. i like some weird horror but this was not it for me.
April 28, 2019
Lori and Ellie have never met, but they both yearn for the touch of a woman and the sweet release of death. Eager to take their online correspondence to the next level, they strike an agreement and plan a getaway to a remote hotel. Their intentions? To succumb to their desires and finish with a deadly climax.
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
There’s nothing like discovering a well-hidden gem, and that’s exactly what happened when I originally spied a review from Morgan K Tanner's blog. The book in question seemed intriguing; a mix of suicidal intentions and grim religion - right up my street. What followed was a quick read, yet despite its short length, its execution was no less impactful. Cushing was able to portray two very mentally ill individuals; their helplessness apparent when they decide the best course of action is a joint suicide. Amongst the fantasies of death, is a very prominent emphasis on homosexuality, whereupon the women visualise their passing as a deeply erotic affair, and thus a statement to society. Certainly morbid, but in that darkly fascinating sort of way that I can appreciate if done well. Of course this wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, especially when it comes to Christianity, as He is painted in a very harsh light - which isn't as far-fetched as one might believe. If anything, I'd consider Him more alike his Old Testament representation, but that’s neither here nor there.
One thing that occurred to me early on was that, whilst Lori’s situation was significantly more dour, Ellie’s was a lot more closer to reality. Unable to express her true self, Ellie was ruled by fear, and to some extent, shame. It was a very genuine example of what a lot of people go through every day of their lives, and I felt that the coupling of real life issues and celestial intervention worked well together. Honestly though, I didn't find these two characters entirely likeable on a personal level, however my sympathy lay more with Lori, as I believed her to be a victim of the most horrendous acts possible. The connection between these two women could've been explored further, although it was easy enough to discern their relationship formed out of desperation.
The plot itself was able to keep up a decent pace, probably because it didn’t have time to add any unnecessary fluff. The last half of the book is where things took a turn, and I guess I didn’t expect things to get so crazy, but they did. The running theme of sex and violence only magnified, and it was unquestionably shoved to the forefront throughout the end. Vivid, graphic scenes delved into totortuous acts of depravity, where Cushing had no qualms about detailing the sadistic pleasures of a heavenly orgy. I use the term "heavenly" very loosely, as those creatures more resembled beings of nightmare.
That's the thing here - this is a bleak story, where a saviour, in the typical sense of the word, doesn't exist.
In conclusion: Torture intermingles with sex in this novella, and those of a religious nature would be likely best to avoid this one altogether. I considered it a very entertaining read, and it certainly put Cushing on my radar.
Notable Quote:
The arc of the universe is long, but bends towards degeneracy.
© Red Lace 2018
Wordpress ~ Booklikes ~ Twitter
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
There’s nothing like discovering a well-hidden gem, and that’s exactly what happened when I originally spied a review from Morgan K Tanner's blog. The book in question seemed intriguing; a mix of suicidal intentions and grim religion - right up my street. What followed was a quick read, yet despite its short length, its execution was no less impactful. Cushing was able to portray two very mentally ill individuals; their helplessness apparent when they decide the best course of action is a joint suicide. Amongst the fantasies of death, is a very prominent emphasis on homosexuality, whereupon the women visualise their passing as a deeply erotic affair, and thus a statement to society. Certainly morbid, but in that darkly fascinating sort of way that I can appreciate if done well. Of course this wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, especially when it comes to Christianity, as He is painted in a very harsh light - which isn't as far-fetched as one might believe. If anything, I'd consider Him more alike his Old Testament representation, but that’s neither here nor there.
One thing that occurred to me early on was that, whilst Lori’s situation was significantly more dour, Ellie’s was a lot more closer to reality. Unable to express her true self, Ellie was ruled by fear, and to some extent, shame. It was a very genuine example of what a lot of people go through every day of their lives, and I felt that the coupling of real life issues and celestial intervention worked well together. Honestly though, I didn't find these two characters entirely likeable on a personal level, however my sympathy lay more with Lori, as I believed her to be a victim of the most horrendous acts possible. The connection between these two women could've been explored further, although it was easy enough to discern their relationship formed out of desperation.
The plot itself was able to keep up a decent pace, probably because it didn’t have time to add any unnecessary fluff. The last half of the book is where things took a turn, and I guess I didn’t expect things to get so crazy, but they did. The running theme of sex and violence only magnified, and it was unquestionably shoved to the forefront throughout the end. Vivid, graphic scenes delved into totortuous acts of depravity, where Cushing had no qualms about detailing the sadistic pleasures of a heavenly orgy. I use the term "heavenly" very loosely, as those creatures more resembled beings of nightmare.
That's the thing here - this is a bleak story, where a saviour, in the typical sense of the word, doesn't exist.
In conclusion: Torture intermingles with sex in this novella, and those of a religious nature would be likely best to avoid this one altogether. I considered it a very entertaining read, and it certainly put Cushing on my radar.
Notable Quote:
The arc of the universe is long, but bends towards degeneracy.
© Red Lace 2018
Wordpress ~ Booklikes ~ Twitter
May 20, 2017
Ellie is in a loveless marriage and a loveless life. She believes she is a lesbian but her strict religious upbringing and her stifling marriage has blocked any attempts to explore these feelings. A yearning to explore her desires and an overwhelming hopelessness which sparks an urge to die leads her to a secret internet group that pairs partners for suicide. Lori, who Ellie sees as a kindred spirit, convinces her to leave her husband and come to her for a final night of sex and death. What Ellie does not know is that Lori has ulterior motives having to do with cheating God (or is it the Devil?) who she believes is the father of her child.
Nicole Cushing writes bizarre erotic horror that is not for everyone. There is a darkness in her stories that is generously laced with sexual kink, body horror, and a deeply repressive nihilism. Her writing is also quite beautiful. In The Sadist’s Bible, we are thrown head-on into Ellie’s ennui. “She dressed without fanfare. She dreamed without fanfare. It seemed the only way to live.” So when she is given a way out, no matter how destructive it may seem to us, we feel her anticipation and doubt even though we know she is headed into a nightmare. Lori is more of an enigma to the reader. She is deceitful and crazy but perhaps not delusional. As Ellie gets closer to her date with suicide, we discover more about the forces that are involved. It becomes a bleak and scary downhill ride and the author doesn’t pull any punches. There is an exquisite balance of terror, repulsion and beauty in her descriptions. I am not always sure I like what I read but the amazing prose keeps me there.
And that is the dilemma for me. The Sadist’s Bible is beautiful but at the same time is unpleasant and immensely disturbing. But it is the kind of disturbing that keeps you thinking about it long after you turned the last page. There is an almost Dante-esque quality in Ellie’s journey into her personal hell. It is hard to say if there is a definitive theme here but I would say it is about Humankind’s battle between a mundane existence and a yearning for the forbidden and visceral excitement that often results in destruction. Ellie would prefer death over monotony even if that “death” leads to an existence more terrible than life. Or maybe, because it does?
Whatever the meaning you get out of The Sadist’s Bible, the power of the writing is unmistakable. You may find yourself cringing at some parts yet this is the type of hardcore horror novel that will reward the brave. I think you will understand me when I say I may not have liked it but I still loved it. It is a book worth experiencing.
Nicole Cushing writes bizarre erotic horror that is not for everyone. There is a darkness in her stories that is generously laced with sexual kink, body horror, and a deeply repressive nihilism. Her writing is also quite beautiful. In The Sadist’s Bible, we are thrown head-on into Ellie’s ennui. “She dressed without fanfare. She dreamed without fanfare. It seemed the only way to live.” So when she is given a way out, no matter how destructive it may seem to us, we feel her anticipation and doubt even though we know she is headed into a nightmare. Lori is more of an enigma to the reader. She is deceitful and crazy but perhaps not delusional. As Ellie gets closer to her date with suicide, we discover more about the forces that are involved. It becomes a bleak and scary downhill ride and the author doesn’t pull any punches. There is an exquisite balance of terror, repulsion and beauty in her descriptions. I am not always sure I like what I read but the amazing prose keeps me there.
And that is the dilemma for me. The Sadist’s Bible is beautiful but at the same time is unpleasant and immensely disturbing. But it is the kind of disturbing that keeps you thinking about it long after you turned the last page. There is an almost Dante-esque quality in Ellie’s journey into her personal hell. It is hard to say if there is a definitive theme here but I would say it is about Humankind’s battle between a mundane existence and a yearning for the forbidden and visceral excitement that often results in destruction. Ellie would prefer death over monotony even if that “death” leads to an existence more terrible than life. Or maybe, because it does?
Whatever the meaning you get out of The Sadist’s Bible, the power of the writing is unmistakable. You may find yourself cringing at some parts yet this is the type of hardcore horror novel that will reward the brave. I think you will understand me when I say I may not have liked it but I still loved it. It is a book worth experiencing.
August 10, 2016
Ellie is tired of life. Despite outward appearances, being married to a pastor and heavily involved in the church with her husband, she’s been living a lie. The secret she’s been carrying is her sexuality – she thinks about being with a woman. The only people she has come out to are online in a suicide forum, as she could never contemplate coming out in her conservative community. It’s on that suicide social network that she finds Lori. She wants to be Ellie’s suicide buddy and let her indulge her secret desires, before they end their lives together. They arrange to meet at a hotel for their final night on earth to fulfill all their desires and then end their lives.
Ellie examines her life and the consequences of coming out instead of killing herself. There is a good deal of introspection both about sexuality and also about life and death. Lori’s backstory is altogether different and more disturbing. There is much she has not told her lover to be. Ellie comes across as naive and inexperienced. Lori is the more dominant of the two and is bringing Ellie into the dangers ahead beyond the prospect of suicide.
What makes this story controversial is the presentation of religion and God. I’m going to avoid spoilers on this, as the religious aspects are too integral to the plot of the story. Suffice it to say that religious folks are not going to like this book one bit and I doubt they would get through it. And that’s an understatement. Degeneracy, both sexual and of the human form are key themes. One of the most interesting examples of deformity in the book is Rene, a misshapen but charismatic character of few words, who has a critical role to play in Ellie’s life.
Ellie and Lori are lesbians, but this is not written by a man to titillate male readers. To Lori, her relationship is as much about love and acceptance as is it sexual intimacy. The dark sexual tones, sadistic eroticism, and the intertwined bond between pleasure and pain certainly brought to mind Clive Barker. The novella is fast paced, and there is not a dull moment. The book also bounds in to more cosmic horror for what is quite the epic finale.
Ellie examines her life and the consequences of coming out instead of killing herself. There is a good deal of introspection both about sexuality and also about life and death. Lori’s backstory is altogether different and more disturbing. There is much she has not told her lover to be. Ellie comes across as naive and inexperienced. Lori is the more dominant of the two and is bringing Ellie into the dangers ahead beyond the prospect of suicide.
What makes this story controversial is the presentation of religion and God. I’m going to avoid spoilers on this, as the religious aspects are too integral to the plot of the story. Suffice it to say that religious folks are not going to like this book one bit and I doubt they would get through it. And that’s an understatement. Degeneracy, both sexual and of the human form are key themes. One of the most interesting examples of deformity in the book is Rene, a misshapen but charismatic character of few words, who has a critical role to play in Ellie’s life.
Ellie and Lori are lesbians, but this is not written by a man to titillate male readers. To Lori, her relationship is as much about love and acceptance as is it sexual intimacy. The dark sexual tones, sadistic eroticism, and the intertwined bond between pleasure and pain certainly brought to mind Clive Barker. The novella is fast paced, and there is not a dull moment. The book also bounds in to more cosmic horror for what is quite the epic finale.
April 24, 2016
Review copy
The Sadist's Bible is a new novella from Nicole Cushing. Nicole is rapidly becoming one of my go-to authors for a solid story. In the last year, I've enjoyed both her novel, Mr. Suicide, and her collection, The Mirrors.
I love a great opening line and they don't get much better than "Do u really think u ready to die? I don't want u chickening out." This is part of a conversation which takes place on The Buddy System, an online place to find a suicide partner.
This is the place where Ellie meets Lori and where they plan their "escape."
Nicole Cushing writes about real people, not necessarily people like me, but real people none-the-less.
The Sadist's Bible is extremely sexual. Ellie has spent nineteen years in a stupid marriage and would like to have a same-sex fling before ending it all. Lori is willing, but she's also just plain crazy.
At times the story made me uncomfortable, and this is a good thing, writing should have some kind of impact on the reader.
At some point on the way to their liaison , Ellie turns off the highway and ends up deep in the Twilight Zone and the climax (yes, I used that word intentionally) is rather surreal.
Admittedly, The Sadist's Bible is not for everyone. Adult themes abound, but still an enjoyable read.
The Sadist's Bible is available as an e-book from 01Publishing.
Nicole Cushing is a Shirley Jackson Award finalist who's written a number of stand-alone novellas and dozens of short stories. Nicole has been referred to as the literary equivalent of the love child between Jack Ketchum and Poppy Z. Bright. Raised in rural Maryland and now living in southern Indiana, Nicole counts master storyteller Edgar Allen Poe as having had a big influence on her as a writer.
The Sadist's Bible is a new novella from Nicole Cushing. Nicole is rapidly becoming one of my go-to authors for a solid story. In the last year, I've enjoyed both her novel, Mr. Suicide, and her collection, The Mirrors.
I love a great opening line and they don't get much better than "Do u really think u ready to die? I don't want u chickening out." This is part of a conversation which takes place on The Buddy System, an online place to find a suicide partner.
This is the place where Ellie meets Lori and where they plan their "escape."
Nicole Cushing writes about real people, not necessarily people like me, but real people none-the-less.
The Sadist's Bible is extremely sexual. Ellie has spent nineteen years in a stupid marriage and would like to have a same-sex fling before ending it all. Lori is willing, but she's also just plain crazy.
At times the story made me uncomfortable, and this is a good thing, writing should have some kind of impact on the reader.
At some point on the way to their liaison , Ellie turns off the highway and ends up deep in the Twilight Zone and the climax (yes, I used that word intentionally) is rather surreal.
Admittedly, The Sadist's Bible is not for everyone. Adult themes abound, but still an enjoyable read.
The Sadist's Bible is available as an e-book from 01Publishing.
Nicole Cushing is a Shirley Jackson Award finalist who's written a number of stand-alone novellas and dozens of short stories. Nicole has been referred to as the literary equivalent of the love child between Jack Ketchum and Poppy Z. Bright. Raised in rural Maryland and now living in southern Indiana, Nicole counts master storyteller Edgar Allen Poe as having had a big influence on her as a writer.
August 14, 2016
After finishing this book I sat in a daze for a moment, much the same as after I finished watching the (original) film Martyrs, which this book also reminded me of. I had to slowly absorb what I had experienced as the visceral horror worked through my mind.
The story may be short but it really packs a punch, it's messed up and deranged, and I absolutely loved it.
Hellraiser is one of my favourite movies of all time and this book also brought to mind this film as well and especially this line from Frank "I thought I'd gone to the limits. I hadn't. The Cenobites gave me an experience beyond limits... pain and pleasure, indivisible."
Whilst the book fondly brought to mind other books (Early Clive Barker) and films it still managed to stay original and engaging.
After reading this and Nicole's other novellas 'I Am the New God' and 'Children of No One' she is without doubt one of my favourite authors and anyone that wants to read well written horror that doesn't hold back, I would definitely recommend this for you!
The story may be short but it really packs a punch, it's messed up and deranged, and I absolutely loved it.
Hellraiser is one of my favourite movies of all time and this book also brought to mind this film as well and especially this line from Frank "I thought I'd gone to the limits. I hadn't. The Cenobites gave me an experience beyond limits... pain and pleasure, indivisible."
Whilst the book fondly brought to mind other books (Early Clive Barker) and films it still managed to stay original and engaging.
After reading this and Nicole's other novellas 'I Am the New God' and 'Children of No One' she is without doubt one of my favourite authors and anyone that wants to read well written horror that doesn't hold back, I would definitely recommend this for you!
April 16, 2016
The Sadist's Bible starts like an emotionally charged character based story, with a plot that could pass the book off as a thriller. But when it approaches its denouement, you sink fast into sleep. The words merge as you descend into a fever dream. It's delicious and disorientating, bewildering but painstakingly detailed in its imagery. And then you wake up. You're clammy, in a pool of your own juices (eww!). You wipe your brow and wonder what the hell just happened as you flick past the last page, satisfied.
Read
October 26, 2016I bought this as a blind buy. The Hot Topic meets Advanced Dungeons & Dragons glossy cover art set my expectations low.
I thought it was an extraordinary piece of work. Absolutely uncompromising. Visceral. Uncomfortable. Cold. Awe-inspiring. I have to read more of this author's work. The writing from the point of view of Evil God could so easily have been hammy and embarrassing, but it was profoundly devastating.
I thought it was an extraordinary piece of work. Absolutely uncompromising. Visceral. Uncomfortable. Cold. Awe-inspiring. I have to read more of this author's work. The writing from the point of view of Evil God could so easily have been hammy and embarrassing, but it was profoundly devastating.
March 20, 2022
This was very bizarre, and missed the mark for me. The concept was interesting but I just couldn't connect to the characters. And maybe this just wasn't what I was in the mood for. There were some dark and twisty parts that kept me from DNFing, and because of that I want to try something else by this author. But this one is a no for me.
March 14, 2022
A hell of a ride, and quite literally. Two women, with an age gap, in love with each other and the idea of suicide, and moving towards each other for their first and last act of sexual rebellion. La petite mort followed by real death, in the cradle of a mountainous retreat.
It sounded like the culmination would be more important than the journey but the author had other things on her mind. She takes you through hell, deprives god of the capital G and depicts him as the flip side of Satan, again, quite literally. This god has no truck with kindness but loves to torture. He doesn't love his children but fathers his own twisted offsprings from their womb.
The climax is a hotbed of sadomasochistic sex, wrapped in a package of some potent hallucinogen. It may repel some readers but it's totally up my alley.
I'd like to meet the author.:) Her mind sounds like a hauntingly beautiful place.
It sounded like the culmination would be more important than the journey but the author had other things on her mind. She takes you through hell, deprives god of the capital G and depicts him as the flip side of Satan, again, quite literally. This god has no truck with kindness but loves to torture. He doesn't love his children but fathers his own twisted offsprings from their womb.
The climax is a hotbed of sadomasochistic sex, wrapped in a package of some potent hallucinogen. It may repel some readers but it's totally up my alley.
I'd like to meet the author.:) Her mind sounds like a hauntingly beautiful place.
March 6, 2020
Reading this proves I'm a degenerate. A tale of suicide, torture, pleasure, sex, lesbianism, deformity, heaven/hell, demons, angels and love. A tale that redefined good and evil as one in the same, I think. Disturbingly satisfying.
July 24, 2017
Personally, I have never had much respect for titles that rely on the "gross-out" factor within the realm of horror literature. It is so, SO easy to take images of sex and violence, taboos that are sure to provoke the readers' emotions one way or the other, smash them together, and watch as they mistake the author playing on their kneejerk reactions for brilliance.
And that is exactly what this book does. Suicide, homosexuality, religion... this book felt more like a collection of tabloids, a series of buzzwords, than a genuine novelette with something, ANYTHING to say, with ANY substance behind it that would justify the lengths to which it needlessly goes.
In fact, as I kept reading it, kept encountering more cliché elements, more trivializations of serious matters in the name of a cheap scare, I almost felt myself belittled by the author. It read like gloating, like Cushing was telling me "look what I can show you, isn't it disgusting". And I know many are willing to let that slide just because we are talking about horror, but I think it would be disrespectful to the genre itself if we put this book under any less scrutiny than its contemporaries.
I found "The Sadist's Bible" sensationalist, insultingly homophobic, just generally insensitive in its treatment of matters both of religion and mental illness, grotesquely dull (one would think that with so much death and suffering it should be impossible to get bored, and yet...), and poorly thought-out, rather than "visceral".
What I first thought was the author cleverly blurring the lines between what was happening in real life and what was perhaps the characters' delusion turned out to be (essentially) Deus ex Machina, the protagonists were charmless reflect a gross misunderstanding of what it is like to be suicidal, and all in all it reminded me of a C-list slasher movie from the 80's that was left in the back room of a long-abandoned Blockbuster.
The only thing saving this book from a one-star rating in my eyes is the writer's craft. The prose flows nicely, and there were several parts where the writing itself, I found myself appreciating. Had it not been for Cushing's mastery of the language, I do not think I would have ever finished this book. I am not likely to ever pick it up again.
And that is exactly what this book does. Suicide, homosexuality, religion... this book felt more like a collection of tabloids, a series of buzzwords, than a genuine novelette with something, ANYTHING to say, with ANY substance behind it that would justify the lengths to which it needlessly goes.
In fact, as I kept reading it, kept encountering more cliché elements, more trivializations of serious matters in the name of a cheap scare, I almost felt myself belittled by the author. It read like gloating, like Cushing was telling me "look what I can show you, isn't it disgusting". And I know many are willing to let that slide just because we are talking about horror, but I think it would be disrespectful to the genre itself if we put this book under any less scrutiny than its contemporaries.
I found "The Sadist's Bible" sensationalist, insultingly homophobic, just generally insensitive in its treatment of matters both of religion and mental illness, grotesquely dull (one would think that with so much death and suffering it should be impossible to get bored, and yet...), and poorly thought-out, rather than "visceral".
What I first thought was the author cleverly blurring the lines between what was happening in real life and what was perhaps the characters' delusion turned out to be (essentially) Deus ex Machina, the protagonists were charmless reflect a gross misunderstanding of what it is like to be suicidal, and all in all it reminded me of a C-list slasher movie from the 80's that was left in the back room of a long-abandoned Blockbuster.
The only thing saving this book from a one-star rating in my eyes is the writer's craft. The prose flows nicely, and there were several parts where the writing itself, I found myself appreciating. Had it not been for Cushing's mastery of the language, I do not think I would have ever finished this book. I am not likely to ever pick it up again.
May 10, 2016
This contemporary novella applies a very ancient archetypal element to modern themes and characters to interesting effect. Two women, desperate in their own ways, meet in an internet chatroom devoted to people considering suicide and wanting a partner to share in their final moments. The tale purports to show what brought each of the two to that desperate decision and then tail them as they attempt to follow through on their plans. Others in their lives have different ideas and aim to scuttle the suicidal journey. One of those "others" is a deity.
The god portrayed is not the typical of the modern era. He is a throwback to the raping, vengeful cruel gods of ancient Greek myth. Lori, one of the 2 women, just wants out of her abusive relationship with the possessive, rape-y god that claims her for his own. The driver of her tale is her relationship with her mother who doesn't believe Lori's claims and would rather shuttle Lori off to psychiatric hospitals every few months, rather than get to the root of her ongoing problems and torments.
Ellie's problems are more internalized. Not only does she not love her complacent, devout husband, but she's a closeted lesbian full of self-hatred in large part due to the Christian faith she adheres to. She sees suicide as her only escape and no less damning that what she's already brought on herself.
Two women, not being supported and protected by the families and communities they are a part of, plan a dual suicide with the ultimate goal of freedom from their torment. The god, being an omniscient god, is many steps ahead of them and sends his monstrous angelic minions to intervene . . .
I received my copy of this novel directly from 01 Publishing through bookreviewdirectory.wordpress.com.
The god portrayed is not the typical of the modern era. He is a throwback to the raping, vengeful cruel gods of ancient Greek myth. Lori, one of the 2 women, just wants out of her abusive relationship with the possessive, rape-y god that claims her for his own. The driver of her tale is her relationship with her mother who doesn't believe Lori's claims and would rather shuttle Lori off to psychiatric hospitals every few months, rather than get to the root of her ongoing problems and torments.
Ellie's problems are more internalized. Not only does she not love her complacent, devout husband, but she's a closeted lesbian full of self-hatred in large part due to the Christian faith she adheres to. She sees suicide as her only escape and no less damning that what she's already brought on herself.
Two women, not being supported and protected by the families and communities they are a part of, plan a dual suicide with the ultimate goal of freedom from their torment. The god, being an omniscient god, is many steps ahead of them and sends his monstrous angelic minions to intervene . . .
I received my copy of this novel directly from 01 Publishing through bookreviewdirectory.wordpress.com.
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