Carnivore

by Jonathan Lyon

Shortlisted for the Polari First Book Award 2018



‘So you liked Irvine Welsh? Read Carnivore’ Cosmopolitan


Meet Leander: lover, fighter, liar.



He learnt a long time ago that nothing is as intoxicating as blood. But whether it’s his or someone else’s doesn’t matter any more. There’s a mysterious pain in every muscle of his body – and it’s got so bad that he’ll do anything to escape it.


Up to now, it’s been his secret. But it’s hard to remain invisible when you leave a trail of destruction everywhere you go. So, when he comes to the attention of one of London’s most infamous criminals, Leander decides to put his appetite for violence to the ultimate test.


Let the villain win.

Genres: Thriller, LGBT, Fiction

306 pages, Hardcover

First published August 24, 2017

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3☆  A dark and Raw Thriller

Carnivore is a story about a young man with Fibromyalgia a debilitating invisable illness and his coping mechanism which is basically self destruct mode.

This book is aimed to shock with some gruesome and pretty graphic scenes of violence, sex, rape, prostitution and drug abuse.

The first 60 or so pages I was confused and the story is fairly disjointed and up and down. I didn't have a clue who anyone was I was basically guessing.

Leander is a dark sadistic character who feeds his pain by inflicting manipulation, sexual torment and violence on people.
He craves being in control and loves the power and buzz he gets hurting people.
His craving for drugs to hide and control his pain is very obvious right from the start when he demands heroin.

Leander is very intelligent and his love of literature and poetry shines throughout the story.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I too live with chronic pain for last 12years I have rheumatoid arthritis.

I just found that it lacked story.
Leander is a fascinating character who has so many sides to him we never really see the real Leander. He isn't a likeable character. But he is meant to shock!

Hats off to Lyon' s for writing such a raw and graphic portrayel of chronic illness.

I completely appreciate Lyon's graphic use of sex, drugs and violence I would of just loved more  depth to the story. I wanted to know more about his life.

I do believe that some readers will absolutely love Carnivore. If you enjoy shocking, raw, Minipulative thrillers you will definitely enjoy Carnivore.

Thank you to HQ Digital for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carnivore, Jono, Weird that's why I'm still stunned Lyon dug down deep into some kind of depraved physco traumadrama world that he lives in and came up with this unique story it's a take what you want. I don't know how? or can you even pigeon hole this, best I can do is It's a cross of disease of the week with trainspotting, hooliganism and loopy eye drug fueled kaleidoscope vision gangster land. Its bloody brutal beastial bash smash crash freaky piece of work. Jonathan suffers from fibromyalgia and he wrote Carnivore to tell the rest of us about it and this is what he came up with, woah, ...so what's next?

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw, brutal and capable of turning even the most cast iron of stomachs, Carnivore is a debut with a serious punch. Lyon's lead, Leander, is a carnival monster of epic proportions and it's unsettlingly easy to root for him as he manipulates, tortures and emotionally devastates his 'victims' whilst perpetually seeking out his own form of therapy via physical pain, sex, control and class A drugs to help him mask his physically and emotionally crippling chronic pain. Pitching this darkly elegant fallen angel against a gang lord was always going to end in some scarring, nasty visuals and Lyon does not disappoint. With echoes of Irvine Welsh and Chuck Palahniuk this is not a novel for the faint of heart and don't say I didn't warn you.

[Liz Barnsley]

Review to follow.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is now nearly six years since I read this novel and I still remember it for the tremendous fun I had reading it. How can you not love its young hero, Leander, who manages to stumble into so many situations which result in the loss of his, usually not very extensive, clothing. The scene were he he gradually stripped naked by a couple hired thugs searching for the huge wad of cash he got for sleeping with an old dude is both sexy and hilarious - particularly when Leander's rampant hard on is revealled and the would be muggers flee in fear and awe (I can't remember if it was awe, they certainly had a reaction to the idea they might have inspired it). That the two thugs were hired by his mother, or rather the person pretending to be his mother who he later accompanies to a meeting with a major criminal, wearing a dress, which he loses (need I say it was he was wearin g except for Channel No. 5) climbing out a window, while the-woman-who-is-not-his mother OD's and he goes to the police who protect him by sending him back in amiongst the criminals...seriously it is all the most glorious fun but utter tosh.

Young Leander suffers from Fibromyalgia, as apparently does the author, but Leander feels this justifies him behaving in some really outrageously anti-social ways. It didn't bother me, I've known too many real shites to get upset by fictional ones.

The novel doesn't lack vevre or pace or memorable characters but there are vast inconsistencies in the way Leander is both crippled by pain such that he uses heroin for pain relief but doesn't seem to be incommoded by either pains of Fibromyalgia or the withdrawal from heroin others experience. Indeed if I read it again I could probably draw up a lengthy list of the utterly improbable events but I can't help being charmed by Leander's naked jaunts through the streets of London flashing not only his cute tush and fear inspiring todger but his incredibly optimistic outlook which, no matter how often it brings him close to death, and to complete nudity (and in the middle of a London winter with copious amounts of snow - that todger of his gets more impressive all the time!) I can't help admiring his self centered and frankly obtusely stupid joie de vivre.

I have given the novel four stars because some of it just wonderful and even the stupid bits are wonderful.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, What a journey (but not for the faint-hearted)

Leander enjoys pain and violence and has seen more of life in his twenty odd years than many people see in their entire lifetime. He suffers from chronic Myalgia which colours his lifestyle. He is wise and manipulative beyond his years and enjoys quoting copiously from his favourite poets. He is probably the most amoral character I have had the pleasure of coming across in many years.

Leander crosses the path of a notorious, violent criminal in his home city of London and their lives from that point on becoming intertwined to the detriment of all who become involved with the pair. To try to describe the plot in any more detail is frankly impossible as it is more of a holistic experience than anything which can be explained.

Drugs, murder, anal rape and sex – it’s all here but it’s never salacious or pornographic although certain scenes will no doubt make you wince. It’s just what it is – part of Leander’s life. Think of the unemotional and detached violence in “Pulp Fiction” and you’ll have a general idea. The text is full of metaphors and what appear to be general ramblings which suggest it’s disconnected and doesn’t flow. It’s not and it does but doesn't expect for one moment that you will be able to understand every sentence. Taken alone and in isolation no paragraph makes sense. The only way to understand anything is to just read and let the sensations wash over you. The last book which gave me anything like this experience was Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum which remains one of my favourites.

It’s an amazing if jarring read. Heartily recommended.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finally gave up on this. DNF at 56%.

This is the single most disturbing and twisted thing I have ever read. This book is psychologically upsetting, weird, and sometimes just downright disgusting. I love anti-heroes, and even complete villains can be written in a way that makes the reader connect with them on some level. Mark Lawrence successfully accomplished this with The Broken Empire series, for example. But the characters in this story are all so repugnant, I couldn't feel any amount of sympathy for anyone except Francis, and even that was a begrudgingly small amount of sympathy for his sheer stupidity and poor choice of companions.

This book is a cycle of drugs, violent acts, rape, and manipulation. It seems to be violent for the sake of violence alone. I kept reading hoping that a plot would develop, that maybe there was some reason for all the viciousness that would be revealed. Unfortunately, past the halfway mark there was no hint of any plot. The only point to the story seems to be Leander getting high as a kite off of hard drugs and then intentionally involving himself in increasingly dangerous and sadistic situations one after the other - all while describing his pain in long soliloquies filled with annoying but colorful metaphors.

While disturbing, the writing is extremely intelligent. The imagery is certainly vivid, but with all the brutality, I almost wish it wasn't. Every vile thing you can imagine one human being inflicting upon another is laid out in gruesome detail in this book. Being inside Leander's head was unsettling enough that I couldn't read this before bed, because it gave me actual nightmares. In the end, it was just overwhelmingly sadistic, and I couldn't stomach it.

[I'mogén · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was recieved as a read for review, early access e-copy, via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

What an incredible debut that was... I wasn't expecting anything that this book gave me, but I was left in awe at the themes this book explored, the raw and gritty vulnerability to it and just how exposed the writing was. It's left me feeling even more open to different genres and exploring my reading tastes.

I would say that if you don't sit well with disgusting, grotesque scenes then this probably isn't for you. I was surprised at how well I handled this, and I would like to say it's because the majority of the scenes were in our main character's head and so weren't really happening, which made me disassociate myself from it and read it for the unique and oddly beautiful way it was written, but in saying that, the horrible scenes that were really happening only made me cringe in the slightest. Perhaps that says something about my character. It's a twisted thing to say I enjoyed this story for it's gruesome, morbid descriptions, but it was done in a... Interesting, well read way.

It's funny really because I felt up until the last 20℅ that I still didn't know Leander... Most, if not all, he's told us is a lie, a fantasy... Who is he and what was his life before 2 years ago when he met Dawn in the shelter? We remove his layers nearer the end and scratch the surface to his true form, seeing his inner vulnerability, which was equally unnerving and inspiring.

At times the writing felt sort of pretentious and I was lost in the conversation, or maybe that was the just the voice of Leander, the character I never truly got, but generally the writing was beautifully worded and rather lyrical. There was a whole metaphor about being an Arctic fox and it felt so random in it's connection to Leander's feelings but clearly fitting for him. It was really beautiful. The thing that confused me though was how everyone seemed to be on equal or just below equal level of Leander's wavelength. I found it improbable that everyone would speak so lyrically as he does. At times the writing made me feel like I was over thinking connections and was really trippy, which made me, myself, feel manipulated by Leander. It was a very strange experience.

There were a lot of unfamiliar words in this book that I feel added to that pretentious narration, so that both repelled and fascinated me. It didn't alter my reading experience too much as I didn't always feel the need to look up meanings, as quite a few times the word explained itself in the greater text. There were two words I just had to look up though, and they were what Leander suffered from; myalgia and synaethesia. The latter really gave me an understanding to the colourful way he articulates himself and made me less confused, even though I still struggled at times to differentiate what Leander was really seeing/smelling etc and what was fantasy.

This book brought to my attention more books/poems, etc that appeal to me, such as A sorrow beyond dreams by Peter Handke. Our main character seems to know a lot about everything, particularly literature and being quite a twisted minded soul, I'd like to see what the tastes he mentions are like.

This book kept getting crazier and crazier and the plot thickened into more twisted and frantic outcomes which equally made me sickened and compelled, to result in a sort of redemption love story- but non of the fluffy stuff, so don't let that put you off. I've got to say this was a really interesting read and as weird and twisted as it was, I'm not ashamed to say it will most certainly stay with me for a long time.

Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy!
Gén

[Ointlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

devastating. astonishing poetic prose. the most accurate representation of chronic pain i've ever read. ( i have fibromyalgia too). i guess it's controversial because people think the violence is gratuitous - honey i promise you, if you had fibromyalgia/chronic pain - or wanted to imagine what it's like - i promise you the constant daily pain is a kind of violence far exceeding anything in these pages. read this book to feel what that really feels like - and to feel what it's like to be young and to be ill and to be in desperate search of love. lyon is a capital R-Romantic at heart I think. reminds me of shelley or blake in his intensity and vision.

[Hpstrangelove · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook review. Narrator: Andrew Wincott

This book had way to many boring parts which made me completely lose my interest in the story. I like dark fiction, but although there was a lot of violence, this didn't meet my expectations of a dark read. I just wanted it to end so I could move on to my next book.

The narrator did a decent job, although he came across as sounding too old for the main character. I was interested in what happened to all the characters, which is why I probably persevered, but I just wish it hadn't taken so much time to tell their story.

[Ionarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this. I think the reviews and publicity it's been getting that focus on the violence and sex - and, to an extent, even those that focus on the depiction of myalgia, which I loved and although a bit on the nose at times was done very well (you can tell it was written by an author who actually knows chronic illness first hand) - are doing this book a huge disservice. There is a lot of violence and sex and death, but it's all well done and part of the story. I wouldn't consider any of it superfluous, or violence for violence sake (from the point of view of the reader - it is for violence' sake from the point of Leander, which is sort of the point.) My main take away from this book was that it was really sweet. From the first couple of chapters it hit me that it was very sweet. Ultimately it's a love story about vulnerability and opening up and how to do that with a chronic disease, which are all things it does spectacularly well. It also means that it has a whole other level than other books about angsty young men and violence and rape etcetc, which I think makes it far better than them. It also is more generally better - the narrative is fantastic, the characterisation is top notch (really, really good), and somehow even the most repugnant characters are highly empathetic - while still being awful characters.

I didn't give this 5 stars because I did have some misgivings. My main problem was the writing style, which I thought was somewhat self-indulgent and needlessly pretentious. Normally, that kind of writing needs to make it clear that it's happening for a reason, or is taking the piss out of itself - although it is catnip to angsty teenagers, ie the people who will devour this book after sneaking a copy in under their parents noses and will therefore make it a cult classic (which is something I 100% agree with from the blurb.) As a teenager, I would've been blown away by its professed brilliance. Now, I didn't like it. It was fine in general, but at time it was a bit much to the point I'd put the book down for a couple of days because I couldn't be bothered. Reflecting back having finished it, I think it is abundantly clear the writing style, the skipping tenses, the massive asides that leave you unable to remember what was happening in a conversation, the unbearably ridiculous word choices and the fact almost every person spoke the damn same was working as part of the unreliable narrator trope more than as sloppy pretentious writing; however I still think at times it went just a little too far to be really well done, and the book is less good than than it could have been otherwise.

Back to the violence, although I do think it is dealt with very well (I think the way the book writes and reacts to rape is very, very good) there is one - almost throwaway - sentence on page 287 that I was less keen on, not least because I didn't really get why it was necessary (other than to maybe include an edge as everything seems to be softening slightly?) Either way, it involved children and I thought it was jarring and detrimental to the rest of the story arc(s). You have been warned.

I did like the ending a lot, which I was worried about. An ending can make or break and completely change a book, and this one was well done, which I think is always worth noting, and pushes the book up closer to 4.5 stars.

This is also going on my to re-read list. I hope to read it again in a few months and see how I like it second time around. It may push my review up to 5 stars.

[Yzabel Ginsberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]

A dark thriller set in modern London, following Leander, a young man (20ish I’d say) who’s been living for years with a chronic illness that causes him constant pain, and isn’t properly recognised nor treatable. Tired of useless diagnostics and trips to the hospital, Leander has decided to give the finger to all this, and embarked on a life of drugs, sex, and mixing with more or less unsavoury characters who fuel his descent, and whose addiction he fuels in turn through constant games of sadistic/masochistic manipulation.

To be honest, I’m not sure where exactly this story sits on my spectrum. The first chapters felt rather disjointed and meandering (which in itself matched the narrator’s mental state, I’d say, since he’s pretty much doped on something or other almost all the time), and while there is a plot, it took some time to emerge and be recognisable as such. I guess it was somewhat lessened by the shock factor, and the many scenes of violence and rape (one may argue that Leander was somehow consenting, since at least some of them were the result of some of his manipulations, but that’s a very slippery slope here, so I prefer to call that rape). It felt like the characters as well as the underlying message had more potential than that, and perhaps weren’t given all the limelight and development they would’ve deserved, instead of being shadowed by the grit element.

On the other hand, said message—chronic illness, the way many of those ailments are still relatively unknown and not treated, not to mention considered with disdain by many people—was still a powerful one, carried by a poetic writing full of strange but curiously endearing metaphors. While I do not suffer from such an illness myself, I know a few people who do, and who keep struggling day after day not only to live with their symptoms, but also to make other people understand that, no, they’re not “faking it”, that it’s not merely a matter of “think positive, go out more and make more efforts”, and that because you can’t necessarily see their symptoms easily doesn’t mean they’re not there and causing constant pain.

As a result, in spite of Leander’s twisted games and of the way he treats most people, it was surprisingly easy to root for him nonetheless, because deep inside, he’s more broken than breaking, and all in all, most of his actions are the only way he’s found to bear his pain. In the end, it’s hard to know what is true and what is lies about him, whether’s he’s completely bound for a path of self-destruction or can still find a better life—his schemes sure don’t make the way easy for him.

I’m not giving the story more than 3 stars because I found it hard to really care about the characters: we get to be in Leander’s mind, but considering how much he also lies to himself, it’s difficult to really get to know him; and the rest of the cast is mostly seen as either prey or predator, as people he can use and harm or who can use and harm him. The few decent people he meets don’t necessarily last long in the movie of his life, and the ones who do have the potential of helping him destroy himself rather than bring him some healing.

Conclusion: An interesting theme, and if you want grit and rotten human beings, you’ll get that for sure, but I feel that the latter may have been just a little too much, and didn’t give the characters enough room to breathe.

[Lauren (Northern Plunder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review was first posted on Northern Plunder, you can read more of my reviews there too.

Wow.

I’m speechless. Honestly I am.

I loved this book even though it wasn’t easy to read.

If the synopsis of this book intrigued you I want to go ahead and give you a few CW’s because I do kinda wish it had some to have made this reading experience a bit easier.

– drug abuse
– death / murder
– violent rape
– prostitution / forced prostitution (?)
– abuse: mental and physical
– ummm probably a lot more?

Carnivore is so poetically written but at the same time very intense and brutal.

Like I said definitely not for everyone.

However it did end up being for me.

Its an understatement to say Leander is a bit of a mess. He definitely thinks he has total control of his life by manipulating and emotionally blackmailing everyone in it but its clear that isn’t so.

Its been so long since Leander wasn’t portraying a version of himself that best suited the situation that realistically its not until the very end we are provided with the chance to know him.

He is trouble and in need of help.

Living in a shelter with his “adoptive” mother by day, prostituting himself by night, and enjoying his (more than fair) share of drugs and violence in between is how he spends his days.

Until his mother gets involved with a huge crime lord and Leander finds himself in the middle of a plot he hadn’t fully realised was possible.

He finds himself faced with a planned mugging that almost kills him, a lovers spat, trying to gain control in his friendship group, the chance to become a star, and, being tortured and raped. All whilst making sure he knows where he’ll find his next hit.

I think what impressed me most about this book is that it doesn’t try and gloss over anything. It really gets into the nitty gritty and I definitely found it a bit triggering at times.

But on top of this the portrayal of chronic pain is outstanding. Leander has a lot of (internal and external) monologues filled with poetry and metaphors, a lot of which are on the topic of his hidden illness and they were really impressive.

Leander uses the violence and drug abuse as a way to cope with his illness which is why its such an integral part to his story(definitely not something I’d recommend here guys).

The book is split into parts which really helped me as I’d take a breather from it after each one as it wasn’t a book I could consume quickly. I think the book is aware of this as the last part had a much quicker pace as it raced towards its climax. Which suited this book perfectly.

The ending made me really happy too. Leander definitely has to face his consequences but in the final chapters it seems he’s ready to face reality and learn from all the devastation he’s caused and had happen to him. Though we don’t know for sure Leander changes his ways, we at least get a nice tidy ending with the possibility of him having a acceptable lifestyle with a support system that might not encourage all the danger and violence he’d grown accustomed too.

I do think that perhaps there could’ve been more answers to what happened after with a certain journalist but its only upon writing this review I realised this.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

This is a hard one to review, not because it’s not good (it is!) but because I felt once I started reading it that I may be the wrong reader for the book. I was very surprised by it, because I usually enjoy this kind raw and gritty stories. Then I realised that I most consume this type of stories by a different medium, either in film or TV show format. When watching it on a screen, you can usual look away during any scenes that are too gruesome for you, but with Carnivore the only option is to keep reading.

Carnivore takes you on a journey. The type of journey that if you have a weak stomach, then you best stay clear from. It’s a very impressive debut by Jonathan Lyon, his writing is brilliant. To the point that is too good at giving you vivid images of all the twisted and downright disgusting world that our main character Leander belongs too. In my 13 years of watching Criminal Minds I have never felt as disturbed as I felt reading this book.

However, Carnivore also shows some vulnerabilities in between all the weirdness. The plot just gets crazier and more grotesque as you go along, but for some reason you can’t stop reading it. I’m still trying to figure it out if I enjoyed it or not, all I can think is how twisted it was.

Psychologically this book can be upsetting for some readers, so unless you can enjoy very explicitly morbid and grotesque scenes you are probably not the right reader for it. Even though I enjoy those types of scenes, I’m still not sure if I was right for it.

This is the type of book that even though is fantastically well written, it will only please a very specific type of reader. If you think you are that reader then I really recommend you picking up a copy of Carnivore by Jonathan Lyon.

Rating: ★★★✬☆

Carnivore by Jonathan Lyon is available in paperback and you can get it now on Amazon.

Thanks HQ Stories for sending me a paperback copy of Carnivore in exchange for my honest review.

*FangirlSince1988 xxx

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leander is like a ticking time bomb with a propensity for violence and a tendency to bury any emotional response, which may appear to the mere human eye to be a humane reaction or at least one deemed suitable by society. He hides behind the games. Fighting pain with more pain, regardless of whether it is inflicted upon others or done unto him.

To be completely frank I think Lyon has carved out a large piece of his soul and woven it straight into this story.

Leander may describe himself as a psychopath, but perhaps his coping mechanisms are just a little more extreme than those of other people. His physical pain has become the demon wailing inside him and battling to take over. To combat the demon he must distract it by any means necessary. Which means hurting those who purport to love him, destroy and play mind games with the shallow ones merely craving his physical appearance.

It’s a riveting combination of literary fiction meets noir, which brutally kicks the characters aside on occasion to allow for some brash contemporary reality. It is marmite toast served with a chilled glass of champagne. It is the kind of read that ends up on the tips of wagging tongues and achieving cult status.

Jonathan Lyon devours himself, his desires, his fears and his pain whole in this ode to the black hole and Shakespearean play of millennialism. Carnivore is perfused with the wealth of an intellectual mind in constant battle with itself, refusing to be taken prisoner by the borders and boundaries of society or literature.

Are you a carnivore, am I? Are we all destined to be devoured by the hidden insanity and self-destructive tendencies of others or ourselves, whilst sailing along in the interim in our self-inflicted state of stasis, coping and yet barely living.

Yes, it is that kind of read.
*I received a copy courtesy of the publisher.*

[Charlie Oldfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 pages in, I can say with confidence that Carnivore is unlike any book I have read before. Delving in to the depths of human misery, evil, and sexuality without once being pretentious, this tale of a rent boy who lives to manipulate the lives of others is beautifully disturbing. Unlike many stories that feature a 'villain'as the lead, Leandor is a multi-layered and totally believable person. It is an honest portrayal of a vile(yet endearing) human being dealing with other vile human being, containing a clarity that makes it seem the author must be familiar with the book's events in their own life.

Another review here says, "This is the single most disturbing and twisted thing I have ever read. This book is psychologically upsetting, weird, and sometimes just downright disgusting," and while they used this as an attack, I think it is high praise. It's unpredictable, original, and massively intense.

The only slight annoyance would be about once every three pages the character says something like, "Argh my myalgia," which after a while is hard not to read in a stereotypical and slightly racist Jewish voice.

[Laura Newsholme · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a mind bending novel this is. It tells the story of Leander, a pretty despicable individual who forces his way through life seducing individuals and selling himself to garner heroin with which to alleviate his constant pain from an unnamed chronic illness. The author has taken a virulent pleasure in creating sentences of such horror and beauty and madness that the reader just has to let them wash over them. The plot is like a mash up of American Psycho, A Clockwork Orange and Trainspotting and there are flashes of dark humour surrounded by unrelenting depravity and horror. Nearly all of the characters are decidedly unpleasant and yet, they have been crafted with a soul and warmth that ensures you cannot turn away. There are drug fuelled dream visions here and exciting action scenes. It is a truly kaleidoscopic offering and it most certainly isn't for everyone. For me though, it was a revelation.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Gem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drug-fuelled, unreliable, devious Leander is the protagonist (anti-hero) of Jonathan Lyon's transgressive read 'Carnivore'. Perhaps sitting somewhere in between a Palahniuk novel and Trainspotting - we are dragged along by Leander as he winds himself up in and manipulates the lives of others, with a narrative washed along on plenty of pain, tears and a lot of blood shed.

Although at times his twisted internal monologues were a little too long winded for me, I enjoyed Leander's character and have rarely happened across another one like him; his weakness and strength both being rooted to chronic illness as the base for extreme actions. Lyon's sub-characters are fleshed out with just the same amount of quirk and individuality.

'Carnivore' is for anybody looking to read fast, furious, shocking fiction - perhaps one to put on your autumn reading pile...

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fucked up read.
And I loved it 🤣 concerned for myself…

I thought this was well written, completely disturbing, but well written nonetheless. Probably the weirdest book I’ve ever read and from reading the synopsis, not what I was expecting at all. I mean it starts rough and sets the tone for the rest of the book, and I didn’t like Leander, but I wanted to know how it would end for him.

Fair warning: if you’re not into any sort of 18-rated graphic descriptions or are easily triggered, this book is definitely not for you!

[Lisa Harte · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautifully written, I couldn’t put it down. I think I’ll probably read it again before the year is out.

This book isn’t for many people, but I didn’t find it disturbing as much as thought provoking.

[BookWormBabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚 REVIEW:

This book contains

drug abuse
Death or murder
Violent graphic rape scenes
Prostitution or forced prostitution
Abuse: both mental and physical

Carnivore by Jonathan Lyon follows protagonist Leander, a man with a seemingly normal life who becomes entangled in a dangerous game of deception, betrayal, and violence. After losing his job and struggling to make ends meet, Leander becomes involved with a group of wealthy and powerful individuals who offer him a lucrative opportunity. As he delves deeper into this dangerous world, Leander is forced to confront his own morality and question the very nature of humanity.

The novel is skillfully written, with vivid descriptions and a fast-paced plot that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. Lyon's writing is intelligent and thought-provoking, challenging readers to consider the darker side of human nature. The character development is also well-done, particularly in regards to Leander who undergoes a significant transformation throughout the story.

However, I must give a trigger warning for graphic violence and sexual content. These themes are central to the story and may be uncomfortable for some readers. Additionally, some scenes may be disturbing and may not be suitable for readers who are sensitive to these topics.

One aspect of the book that I particularly enjoyed was the intricate plot. Lyon weaves together multiple storylines and cleverly connects them, creating a complex and compelling narrative. It kept me guessing until the very end and I found myself constantly on edge, unsure of who to trust and what would happen next.

The exploration of morality and the dark side of human nature is also a strong point of the novel. Lyon poses thought-provoking questions about the lengths people will go to in order to satisfy their desires and the consequences of their actions. These themes are relevant to current societal issues and add depth to the story.

On the other hand, there were a few aspects of the book that I did not particularly enjoy. The writing style, while impressive, could occasionally become too flowery and overly descriptive, bogging down the pacing of the story. Additionally, there were some plot points that seemed too convenient or unrealistic, which took away from the overall believability of the story.

Overall, I would highly recommend Carnivore to fans of dark and twisted thrillers. Lyon's writing is expertly crafted and the story will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. However, due to the graphic content, I would not recommend it to all readers. If you are uncomfortable with violence and sexual themes, this may not be the book for you. Otherwise, Carnivore is a must-read for those who enjoy dark and complex thrillers.

[Brigitte · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not what I expected at all. Someone who has chronic illness uses extreme physical pain, sex, drugs and violence to overcome the effects of his illness.

Leander lost his parents at a young age and two years ago, he met Dawn who became his "mother". Their relationship is certainly unconventional.

This story is written to shock! The drug abuse, rape and human trafficking are taken to an unnecessary and incredible level. The manipulations and violence are sickening. It emphasises the most appalling aspects of human nature. It's one of the most horrendous story I have ever read. It might appeal to some readers, but I can't say that I found anything positive about it.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first time in my reading history when I have literally not finished a book. I stopped halfway through the first chapter because it was just too painful to read. It is over-intellectualised, self-righteous drivel and certainly NOT EVEN CLOSE to being the 'thriller of the year' as advertised.

The writer makes out that the protagonist's mental and physical disorders give him the freedom to simply be a complete a**hole, which is not how real life works. I also found the flowery language and over-use of adjectives tedious to read and enjoy. By all means, use interesting words and imaginings, but not in EVERY SECOND SENTENCE!! We get it, you have fibromyalgia and synesthesia but mentioning this every time something 'happens' (and not much does) is simply lazy writing.

All in all, do not waste your time with this waste of paper.

[Steven Pilling · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to review, it feels like the author is trying too hard to shock .

The characters are well drawn but the sense that they are transgressive overwhelms the book , it feels like its a list of what can i make the characters do to shock and the shocks wear off and start to make the reader try to guess what is the next thing we are going to discover which is a fun guessing game but not how i want to spend my time .

The writing is impressive and i think the author will write something better maybe he just needed to get this out of his system . It does remind me a little of early Martin Amis (Dead Babies)

[Lex · Rating 1 out of 5]

First dnf of the year

It wasn't what i expected at all, it was marketed as a thriller... this book is anything but thrilling. The main character is a pompous man that believes his intelligence is much higher than everyone else's and when describing his illness he sounded like a complete and utter self pitying baby (this is coming from someone that is chronically ill and suffers with chronic pain - if I see him as a self pitying baby I hate to think how he's perceived by healthy people)

Don't recommend at all... unless you like unlikeable main characters that are high pretty much all the time

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this and requested it from NetGalley.

I was a little disappointed, I didn't really get stuck into the storyline as I had hoped. I found the dialogue stilted in places, and it didn't really hit the spot for me. The descriptions about the chronic illness were the most engaging, and the author did the explanation well, flipping the pain on its head like this for the main character was the part that got me interested in the first place, but sadly I didn't really enjoy it as I expected to.

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books you're like... why the fuck would you think to do that. But with how well written it is and how the plot just keeps going.

I dont think anyone in this book doesn't have several screws loose. The whole, I'll let them kidnap me, whip me, R me and everything then I'll kill them and piss myself and get someone to call the cops was like wtf has just happened. Everything seemed to just workout which annoyed me a little but I guess it is a story 😅

A well written story but fucking messed up 😂

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmmmm this was such a weird one and a hard one to review. I didn’t enjoy it tbh and found it hard going (yet my friend loved it). I hated the main character and just found even the gory-ness all quite boring and try hard? He basically just goes through life selling himself to buy heroin for his mystery illness, it’s brutal and sexually explicit but all the same very samey and boring 😓

Sorry even struggled to finish it.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*
I really wanted to like this book. I appreciate shock value and depravity, but there were an annoying amount of typos (missing words) that took me out of the story and made me wonder how a book with so many errors could be published. While some of the descriptions were fascinating, others came across as pretentious for the sake of it, and it became a tedious read. Overall, it could have been a great story, it just wasn't masterfully executed.

[Cookie's Comforts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shocking, disturbing, interesting, heartbreaking and so many more emotions 🙃

Very hard to sum up this book, never read anything like it. Part of me enjoyed this read and the other part has been left completely confused 🤷‍♀️
On a positive, it’s the first book I’ve read that mentions fibromyalgia and CFS ( which I suffer from both).

Warning ⚠️ many triggers throughout this book.