The Unfleshed: Tale of the Autopsic Bride

by Lisa Vasquez

A plague has washed upon England’s shore, bringing death in its wake. While the sickness plucks the lives of the victims indiscriminately, something else moves in its shadows, using it as a cover. Victims without signs of infection have been brutally murdered and dismembered. Suspicions already surround the infamous Doctor Wulfe when his eccentric behavior takes a more sinister turn. His interest in the young Morrigan spirals into an unhealthy obsession. Angus manipulates her father, giving him hope of a cure in return for his daughter’s hand in marriage. But, when his bride-to-be awakens with an insatiable appetite, will she be forced to go through with the arrangement? Or will the plague save her from a deal made with a devil?

Genres: Horror

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2017

About the author

Unveiling the Darkness: Lisa Vasquez, owner and editor-in-chief of Momento Mori Ink ezine

With roles encompassing CEO, editor, author, and mentor, she has left an indelible mark as a versatile creative force.

Previously at the helm of Stitched Smile Publications, Lisa's visionary leadership transformed the publishing house into a haven for emerging horror authors.

As the editor-in-chief of House of Stitched magazine, Lisa unveiled the unsung heroes of the horror industry. Her discerning eye brought to light the behind-the-scenes contributors that make the genre thrive. Having retired from her role at House of Stitched, Lisa's editorial legacy stands as a testament to her dedication the art of storytelling.

In her role as a mentor, Lisa guided aspiring writers through the labyrinthine paths of the horror genre, imparting her wisdom and nurturing their talents.

Lisa's talents extend to the realm of multi-media artistry, where she wields acrylic, charcoal, and watercolor to create captivating works. Her artistic vision adds yet another layer to her creative tapestry, intertwining her love for horror with visual expression.

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The monster created a monster,’ is one helluva line! Now I was going to score this with 4 stars, but the entire ending sequence was so intense and elaborate, that it put me over the top. There were so many fantastic callbacks in this, whether intentional or not, ranging from Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, to Hannibal, Night of the Living Dead, etc, but at the heart of this story was Frankenstein. This was mainly a very imaginative and original reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic tale. The first half of the book, I’ll be honest, I had some trouble sticking with, because it was slower, the setting was hundreds of years ago, and, at times, was a bit historical. But by no means was it not done well. The author took some liberties here with some of language and such, which was fine and just enough to keep me interested. But at the halfway point, it all paid off and it rapidly turned into a really ugly, fast-paced, gorefest. The author just kept diving deeper into the mind of the sick and twisted Dr Wulfe, and just when you thought his awful deeds were done, it plunged further. And none of it was overdone, but rather all balanced, ending with a gigantic, satisfying finale. This was my first book by Lisa Vasquez, but damned sure won’t be my last.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow this was really bad. At first I thought it was YA, but then came rape and torture and I was all wtf?

Then I thought it was the 1800s but then I was told it was 1349 *headdesk* Even worse. I guess the author know one thing about the middle ages and that is black death. There were SO MANY things wrong. Please, at least read one wiki page!

Oh and the writing was nothing to cheer for.

It was never horror, it was more disturbing and gross at times.

Omg the things wrong *shakes head* I feel like I knew more about the middle ages when I was 10

[Phrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a few Lisa Vasquez short stories, but never dove into one of her novels before. As usual, I’m kicking myself for that now. The Unfleshed: Tale of the Autopsic Bride is one of her most popular books & I can totally see why now. A grim, gory historical epic that features grotesque beauty, palpable body horror, and all the comeuppance a reader could ask for? Sign me tf up.

Not-so-quick synopsis:
The plague is beginning to spread, & it just landed on the shores of not-so-jolly Ol’ England. While it is rampantly devouring its victims, another monster is doing the same; with a lot more bloodshed. The city is in distress. A number of its damsels are coming up either missing or mutilated. Doors are remaining locked for fear of what or who could be breathing on the other side of it. Which leaves a crazed doctor hellbent on landing the girl of his dreams & gaining notoriety in the medical field with the most opportune time to perform unspeakable acts while the world keeps its eyes shut tight, cowering in fear.

Wow, so I just said “I’ll take it from here Lisa,” and spent half the review in the synopsis & barely left any room for my shtick. Welp. I usually don’t like historical horror for whatever reason, but this one slapped the taste out of my mouth. There was no dust nor hard-to-follow, antiquated prose that left you scratching your head half of the time. Vasquez has revived gothic horror for me, weaving beautiful lines in with some of the most repugnant imagery I’ve read to date. For being a blast from the past, this felt like a timely tale, sharing a few similes to covid and the crumbling rights of women. Nothing was heavy-handed though, even tho the sense of dread was near suffocating. Which was intentional & expertly done. The writing was beautifully poetic & haunting, but when Lisa wanted to make you wince & squirm…she DID that shit. An exciting plague tale with touches of Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde, Jack the Ripper, Frankenstein. I recommend this one to all & just wish the greats of literary horror were alive to read how far we have come with this one. 🖤

[Nev Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lisa Vasquez has taken some interesting facts from our history and given them a distinctly evil twist, turning this story into a style of horror that some of our ancestral horror writers would be very proud of, if they had written it."

See here for the full review:

The Unfleshed

[Robin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Madman and Beloved Monster.

From the moment, I opened this novel and started to read, I couldn’t put it down. I was so engrossed in this world and the wicked horrors surrounding the situation, that I was up to 4 AM finishing it. If you love Gothic/Horror stories you will love this one. It’s a mix of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, Victor Frankenstein, and evil, Jack the Ripper. (In fact, at one point in the story I thought that maybe this was how “Saucy Jack” got away so quickly without being caught). Author, Lisa Vasquez’s narrative just keeps the story moving along seamlessly. The perfect research and vivid descriptions of the year 1348, transports the reader into the middle of England with the Black Plague slowly taking over. Now title was perfect because it stands for the Black Plague where the readers actually get to see the afflicted’s flesh, turn black gangrenous and melts or oozes off. Plus, she shows that even back then, the torturous treatment of a child will lead to severe dysfunction and mental illness. Then you have the one-sided love between older, Dr. Angus Wolfe and very young maiden, Morrigan. Where Morrigan knows, she is constantly being watched and is repulsed by the Dr. This became the "WTH" moment, when three-quarters into the story there is this very unexpected twist and turn around, which now you're asking who the true monster is? (Then finally you understand the great cover artwork). It doesn’t matter though because in the end the Dr. will go to any means possible capturing her. Finally, the ending is shocking and I found to be a little sad.

Dr. Angus Wolfe is a madman, scientist, and a murderer. Wanting to be the one to become famous in finding a cure the for Plague, he needs fresh bodies to experiment on. Once he takes care or is called to a house with a person afflicted, then England has a rule of one month quarantined. It is then when the Dr. starts to hallucinate at times and old memories of his childhood resurface. So, he keeps himself locked in his basement that is off limits to all. No one can see his depravity, severe cruelty and one true obsession. Yet, his trusty servant, Marshall starts to become suspicious when the good Dr. doesn’t even want food. Then besides the plague, women’s mutilated, dead bodies are being found out on the street. Now all of England is on high alert and social, economic, and religious uprising begins. Dr. Angus Wolfe will finally get his chance to ingratiate himself with Kingsley Family by promising them a cure for Morrigan, who is now suffering from the plague herself. All he wants is to have her hand in marriage and he will get it. The cure works and what he creates is beauty in his eyes, yet monstrous to others. Now they are the perfect couple.


“In sickness and health, till “Death” do us part.

Reviewed by robinleesdarkside.com/

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an utterly disturbing book...I loved it. England being part of war torn Europe now has to contend with the plague running rampant in the streets but there are other horrors that the people don't know about. Dr. Angus Wulfe has developed a very sick and twisted obsession on the young Morrigan and will do anything to possess her. I don't want to give anything away so let me just say that the character of Wulfe is a combination of Dr. Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, Marquis de Sade and any other notorious, evil and insane man that you can imagine. Also a child's upbringing can have a very lasting effect on how they grow up. If you are looking for a good old fashioned horror story then this is the book for you. I will definitely continue to read Lisa Vasquez's books as she sure has a way with word

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I almost never review books, but a new year/new habits. Plus I found this book so baffling I need to make an exception. The concept of this book, a take on the Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein story was an interesting idea. However, it was never successfully realized. There were formatting errors throughout the book and a very strange style of page breaks and an illustrated header on every page that was distracting. The sex and violence felt oddly disconnected to the largely narrative with characters floating in and out of the story. But, most egregious was the anachronisms. If you want to set your book in a fixed point in history, you absolutely need to do some research about that time period. There was nothing in this book to set it apart from 14th century England, 16th century, or 18th century. I'm just baffled by this book.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn to this book by the cover, I know you should never judge a book by its cover but it is a great cover!

Luckily the story lived up to cover and I read it in 1 sitting not wanting to put it down!
Lisa Vasquez has taken some interesting facts from our history and given them a distinctly evil twist and has staked her claim in the masters of horror genre.

There are dwindling numbers in new horror writers so when 1 does come along like this, every horror fan will soon become a fan of Lisa Vasquez as well.

I look forward to reading more from this author 🙂

If you love a good horror book – grab your copy now – seriously!!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this one down!
 
This was one of those books that drags you in and you just can't put down! Great story line, awesome character descriptions, and it made me want more chapter after chapter. Quite twisted as the author put it, and in such an amazing way. Can't wait to read more from this author and Stitched!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. This book was awesome! I have been telling everyone I know about this book and how good it was. I was drawn in from the first page until the very last page. The characters were written so well. You got to know each of them and were sucked into the story. This is one I'll buy so I can read it again and again.

[=^._.^= · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I loved about this book is the cover, it is beautiful and haunting, made me want to read it even before reading the summary. I enjoyed this book thoroughly, even though I am not a fan of horror stories. Vasquez's book was disturbing and intriguing at the same time, the characters and the plot kept me reading into the night.

[Larissa Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect, but I was not disappointed! This horrifying story grabbed me from the first page and never let go until the end. A well told story with characters that stayed with you. Truly disturbing and I loved it. A great play on the plague and the horrors that came with it!

[Nicholas Paschall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great attention to detail and character development. Easy to lose yourself in the story.

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 8%, while it does have the creepiness, and the darkness as well as the gruesomeness in that I love about horror ,it's like I'm reading or trying to read a new take on Frankenstein ,which even though is a classical gothic horror , is not one of my favorite books to read. If I wanted to read or even re read Frankenstein I would and have but this unfortunately has some things in that is Frankenstein all the way but is a some what New take.On that note I'm not saying not to read it that's up to you but unfortunately this is not for me. Thanks Netgalley for letting me read and review it in change for my honest opinion.

[Stacey]

Oh my...

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Peter Topsides' review I decided to give this one a try. It should come with warnings and it will not be for those readers with delicate constitutions.
A horrible lovestory full of everything horror should have. I too was going to give 4 stars until I read the end. A great read for a little old lady with strange tastes in books.

[Dsjm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jetana Mutter

*This book was provided for an honest review

The Black Death, or the bubonic plague if you want to get technical, was one of the worst killer diseases in recorded human history. What started on something as small as a flea on a rat had the power to knock out a massive amount of the human population- roughly about sixty percent. This disease came so quickly that most doctors were not able to come up with a cure fast enough, leaving the general population to fend for themselves until death finally decided to show mercy and end their torture. When the Plague makes its way into London, nobody has a clue about what is going on or how to stop it; there were no such things as antibiotics, no hospitals with modern things we take for granted to help when we’re sick. So, what is the top doctor in the area at the time to do as the plague sweeps through, threatening the population… and more importantly, his obsession?

The Unfleshed starts us in 1348 London with the main male character, Angus Wulfe- leading physician of the time. Dr. Wulfe has quite the reputation, having earned it over the years and reaching as high up as being called for from Lords and such. The one thing that Dr. Wulfe had never had before was love in the form of a wife. Never had he found the one to make him want to pursue another in that fashion, until Morrigan Kingsley. Morrigan is young, decently up the on the societal ladder, and everything that Angus believes he needs. When the doctor is called away in the middle of the night for the King’s Herald to tend to his sudden onset of sickness, he comes across something in which he has never seen before. With a quick expiration date and a new sickness that nobody knows how to cure, Angus sets himself to the task of finding a cure before his beloved Morrigan comes down with this sickness. When Morrigan does get sick, Angus sees this as the perfect opportunity to achieve his ultimate goal- to wed the lovely Ms. Kingsley. He offers her parents to save her with what he believes is the cure if they will give him their permission and her hand in marriage should she make it through. Will Angus be able to save Morrigan from the plague threatening to take her from him? Will Morrigan be able to save herself from an unwanted marriage after being on death’s door? What will be the consequences if either get to achieve what they want? Pick up a copy of The Unfleshed today and find out.

The Unfleshed is the first book from Lisa Vasquez I have read and it did not disappoint me. A wearer of different hats- one being the main figurehead of Stitched Smile Publications (who boast such authors as Mike Duke, A.J. Brown and Brianna Robertson) the bar was set pretty high for Lisa and she delivered. The Unfleshed delivers the perfect creep factor with horror and terror mixed into it that it turns your stomach a little bit as you sit on edge, waiting for the next piece of the puzzle to be dangled in front of you. When I sat down with this book, I did not know what to expect and I ended up reading half of the book in one sitting, on edge as I flipped through the pages- eager to know what happened next. I look forward to seeing more from Vasquez in the future.

[Lisa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many other popular writers, Lisa Vasquez presents us with a twisted alternate history tale. At least one would like to assume it is alternate history. If such a monstrous thing occurred, well, we would not have any way to know for certain if it did or didn’t and that is a bit terrifying. But it is definitely twisted.

I will state for the record that I find the official synopsis to be an oversimplification of the book. For example, people say there is a fine line between love and obsession and this book not only plays on that line, it plays with that line. I feel that more accurately describes how the main story line plays out. Additionally, the characters within the book are so well fleshed out that one can feel and almost empathize with the madness, the emotions, and the thought processes presented throughout the story. The Unfleshed has many twists and microplots and I found it as a whole to be delightfully more complex as it progressed than I anticipated based on the synopsis. This is definitely a story that builds.

I also have to say that I found the book to be more horrific than scary, and I mean that in a most complimentary way. While the graphic nature of some of it is shocking, it is shocking in a horrific way because it is graphic and well done. The well-presented characters and unexpected follow through of the story keep it from being shock-effect scary, so don’t look for that.

The most horrific part of the story for me was the completely unexpected ending. Full marks to Lisa Vasquez for that ending. It is one of those endings that causes one to exclaim out loud and hope no one heard. To be crude, I fornicating love that ending!

The only drawback to the story for me was the unclear setting in time, and I deliberated reducing this to 4 stars because of it. The story was explicitly set in the plague years of the 1300s, but the descriptions and overall tone mix in things from the outbreak a couple of centuries later. If you don’t know, then you wouldn’t know and much of it does make for easier flow and reading. I decided finally that this was obviously alternate history and my brain resolved the issue on that premise. So, if you have entirely too much historical information in your head, read this as alternate history and enjoy! If you do not know the difference, well then just read it and enjoy!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars**
Trigger warning for violence and rape.
This novel is not for the faint of heart.
The Black Plague wiped out thousands of people during the 14th century and this novel is no different. Angus Wulfe is the town's physician, although he has a bad reputation with his horrible bedside manner and creepy ways, because he is the only one in the town that can cure people of illnesses, he is able to be excused for this behavior.
Angus lusts after Morrigan, wanting her to one day be his bride. He will do anything to accomplish that goal, anything. When Morrigan falls ill and needs the doctor's help, he is there in a heartbeat, with his own concoction that is supposed to save her.

Rather than following Morrigan, the supposed damsel in distress, the novel turns and follows Angus for the majority of the novel. The reader can hear his inner most thoughts, many of which are disturbing and frightening.

This novel took a turn that I was not expecting, which I actually really enjoyed. It went from a creepy tale to one that became even more twisted and sinister, which I loved. It's rare that you find something that is this full of horror and twisted ideas.

A few things that, for me, were a problem was that at times there was no context of time passing, it would just be another paragraph and the reader had to realize that time had passed. Another problem was that, at times, one would not be aware of who was appearing in the story/ what was the past and what was present. It took a bit to follow, which did make the story less immersive.

I felt that when there was time passing in the novel, there should have been indicators of this time being passed. (This is done once in the novel when it says (2 days before) but otherwise, the reader has to figure out the passage of time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookgosocial for allowing me to read this novel!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angus Wulfe is a medicine and is trying to find a cure for the plague. The doctor had a violent childhood
where he was abused and beaten by his father and housemaster. So his behavior against other people and his
understanding of love and pleasure is strongly disturbed.
He abducts women, mutilates and threatens his staff. When the girl, he is madly in love with, also is suffering
from the black death he does everything to save her life.

I really liked the book cover and the synopsis of the plot sounded interesting. But i didn't expected the turn this book
took. It was something totally different from what i usually read but maybe its why I liked it so much. Angus is not the typical positive good hero - he is vicious and twisted, but somehow you feel really sorry for him.

The book is a dark read , full of violence and abuse. The story is a mix between Frankensteins bride and zombies in a historical setting. Nothing for sensitive readers.

I really enjoyed this book and can recommend it for lovers of dark fantasy reads.

[Judith Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disturbingly excellent read

The author pulls us through a tale of horror with a heart-stopping nastiness that will make your toes curl in pain for the victims. The scenes are set in old England, and the author sets them with precision. Dr. Angus's character is so twisted that the human consciousness will be pressed to comprehend such madness. Angus, a delicious unpredictable villain.

I've read many horror genre novels, and this one had me swiping pages on my Kindle app. With tangential storylines, the plot grips you from start to finish in an immersed world of evil.

Will be following this author for new releases.

[Melissa Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first full-length book by Lisa Vasquez and I will definitely be reading more! Set in the 1300's in plaque-ridden England, the plague is the least of this town's worry. A psychopathic doctor who is one of the few people that can treat people, but who only wants the one object of his desire. You feel for awhile that your watching as he slips further into depravity, but find out later this was at no point a catalyst for him. He's always been a psychopath. I found this book so refreshing with a very original story line. Plus, she never holds back on the violence and gore, in fact she embraces it. And the end, the last three chapters or so, were just brilliant.

[PJ Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shiver inducing tale.

A deeply disturbing story, a real horror book. A doctor with unrequited love who will do anything, including using the plague that is spreading across Europe, to gain his bride.
Reminiscent of many Victorian novels, it is evident that the author has researched her subject, and it shows in how good the story is.
I liked this book enough to read it twice in case I missed any detail. I was horrified and appalled by the main character so for this it had to have 5 stars.
An author to watch out for in the future.

[Lisa Swearengin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frankenstein meets the Plague....

This is the first book of Lisa Vasquez's that I have read and I have to tell you that I am hooked!

Not only is the story deliciously horrifying, but Lisa's raw descriptiveness totally brings you into the story.

Here is how I loosely describe this story: unrequited love on several different levels, murder and torture all during the time of the plague.

Like I said before, this was my first Lisa Vasquez book but it definitely won't be my last! I am a new fan!!!

[Donelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of not only reading this book, but also being one of Lisa Vasquez's editors.
Lisa Vasquez tells a fantastic tale set in plague-ridden England. It is a story of a young woman caught up in the web of a doctor's obsession and lust, and his monsterous experiments.

With a blend of a vivid imagination, descriptive details, believable characters the reader wants to love and hate, and an accurate historical details, Lisa takes the reader on one hell of a wild ride. Definitely worth the read.

[Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well written and kept me entertained. I would recommend it to a friend who likes Horror

[WhatisAshreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was sent this ARC by the publisher and NetGalley. I almost DNF’d it, but decided to see if the ending had any redeeming qualities. It didn’t. The entire book felt disjointed and there were lots of pointless “scenes.” I love horror books, but this one was just gross versus being horrific. I feel like the plot had potential, but fell flat.

[Tanya W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like other reviewers have mentioned this book is rather on the gore side, and agree that it should come with some sort of warning label. I love scary books, but not like this. If you love Saw & Hostel movies then you may like this book.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. It's my first to read of Vasquez, but not my last. She does a great job developing interesting characters that hook your attention from start to finish. For anyone who enjoys horror, this should be on your list to read.

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey there, book lovers! It’s your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes Loves Books Headquarters. Today, I have for you my review of Lisa Vasquez’s The Unfleshed: Tale of the Autopsic Bride. I have coffee in my system and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

I am going to put a name on your radar for quality horror. Get a pen and paper, I will wait. NOW PEOPLE!!! Chop chop!!!!… Okay, that’s better, the name is Lisa Vasquez. WRITE IT DOWN! LISA VASQUEZ. Now, let’s get to it!

A friend of mine recommended this book to me. I saw the cover, and I was totally down for it. Take a moment and look at it. LOOK AT IT! See what I mean? I had to dive in and see what it was about.

The year is 1347, and the Black Plague has its hands wrapped tightly around London. Morrigan is a beautiful young lady, and she has several admirers. Among them is Angus Wulfe, the town physician. He will do anything to make Morrigan his and his alone. He will even broker a deal with her father for the cure to the plague to save his family. Did the father make a deal with a future son-in-law or with the Devil himself?

I had a major problem with this book…life got in the way! I had to eat, spend time with my family, and sleep! Oh, I did NOT want to put this down! Ms. Vasquez took me by the hand, put a razor to my throat, and took me on a ride to the very bowels of Hell. Angus Wulfe is one of the vilest characters I have encountered in a long time. There is nothing good about this man. There was a shred of goodness that quickly got snuffed out as fast as I saw it. Morrigan is the kind of beauty and innocence you would encounter in a Disney movie. However, what happens to her is more from Frankenstein than Disney.

When I got into Wilfe’s experiments, they were the kind of thing that would turn stomachs in a meat packing facility. The more I glanced into his depravity, the more I wanted to wash my eyes and brain with bleach…and this is a good thing! This is a no-holds-barred look at medical experiments during the time of the Black Plague. I even learned something: physicians had masks made that had a long beak, and the beak held strong herbs to counter the stench of decay and death.

This book is as close to perfection as I have encountered in a while, and here is why: it is historical fiction, horror, and every human emotion from love down to revulsion all wrapped up in two hundred and seventy pages, and the pages move by so fast you might very well get burned.

Do I have any regrets about this book? Just one; I did not find it sooner. Seriously, it has been out since 2017 and avoided my radar!

This book is perfect for fans of historical fiction, horror, blood-gore-and-goo, and a great story!

I give this one 5+ bookmarks out of 5 and a major bookgasm!

Happy Reading!