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The Dark Side of Red
Every city and big town has a notoriously seedy district. Anything can be bought or viewed on the Internet. But sometimes, this isn't enough for a certain type of person. 'The Dark Side of Red', commonly known as 'The Dark Red' is a hushed whisper in the dingiest corner of the sleaziest nightclub. It is the click of the mouse in your blackest moment. It is what you seek out when the last traces of humanity have deserted you.
The urban legend goes that 'The Dark Red' is also a real place; a place where love and compassion come to die.
But you don't find The Dark Red. The Dark Red finds you. This is the story of two women, a hairdresser and a freelance journalist. This is their story of how The Dark Red found them...
The Dark Side of Red is an extreme horror novel. Please proceed with caution.
The urban legend goes that 'The Dark Red' is also a real place; a place where love and compassion come to die.
But you don't find The Dark Red. The Dark Red finds you. This is the story of two women, a hairdresser and a freelance journalist. This is their story of how The Dark Red found them...
The Dark Side of Red is an extreme horror novel. Please proceed with caution.
- GenresHorror
101 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2017
87 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Sam West
62 books232 followersSam West is a British, extreme horror author with more than forty books to her name. If you like your fiction dark, gritty, gory, perverse and truly terrifying, then you're in the right place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 29, 2021
With this novella Sam West takes you to the reddest red light of the dark net. A hairdresser is kidnapped. She has to start a new life as a sex slave. Then we have Joan, a journalist trying to find out what The Dark Side of Red is all about? What about Dave who spies on Joan via malware on her laptop? What about Tristian, the good looking mysterious guy in black with his awfully good looks? As you can imagine you'll get many nasty details here and hear about strange sexual practices. The most horrific aspect in this book might be that it probably is all true in reality. Hard reality horror!
July 7, 2024
This book had it all and Sam West done a bloody good job when she produced this little gem!
It was pure evil, violent, extremely disturbing to say the least and full on with hardcore brutality.
The story focused on four main characters Stacey (Hairdresser), Tristian (Evil Stranger), Joan (Don't Poke Your Nose Into The Dark Web) & Dave (Pervert) and they came together so well that it became twisted and horrific.
I loved this book and it didn't take me long to get through it.
The ending was just...Wow💥and totally unexpected.
Excellently well written and totally gripping all the way to the end.
5 Dark Red 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟's
🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
It was pure evil, violent, extremely disturbing to say the least and full on with hardcore brutality.
The story focused on four main characters Stacey (Hairdresser), Tristian (Evil Stranger), Joan (Don't Poke Your Nose Into The Dark Web) & Dave (Pervert) and they came together so well that it became twisted and horrific.
I loved this book and it didn't take me long to get through it.
The ending was just...Wow💥and totally unexpected.
Excellently well written and totally gripping all the way to the end.
5 Dark Red 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟's
🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
June 28, 2017
I received an advanced copy of THE DARK SIDE OF RED, cuz we're just tight like that ;)
It's sooo goood!
Full review to come
It's sooo goood!
Full review to come
February 4, 2019
“You don’t find The Dark Red. The Dark Red finds you.”
Welcome to The Dark Red. Women unfortunate enough to be brought here quickly learn to abadon hope and submit themselves to a life of torment and sexual servitude. But they better make sure that they stay youthful and beautiful; once they are no longer attractive, they have no place in The Dark Red. Sadly, there’s just one way out for them.
“The Dark Red is an institution. It is a myth, a legend. It is the whisper on the lips of perverts…[i]t is the sickness of the human soul. It is death….”
When journalist Joan Brown hears about The Dark Red, she can’t resist embarking on an investigation. What she finds will be far more than just a juicy story. Will she live to spread the word?
Chock full of violence, sex and depravity, this story definitely qualifies as extreme. It is well-written and entertaining. A bit more character development would have been helpful, though, as I felt detached from the characters and wasn’t fully invested in all of the horrible things that happened. Overall, a great story with a ‘satisfying’ ending.
Welcome to The Dark Red. Women unfortunate enough to be brought here quickly learn to abadon hope and submit themselves to a life of torment and sexual servitude. But they better make sure that they stay youthful and beautiful; once they are no longer attractive, they have no place in The Dark Red. Sadly, there’s just one way out for them.
“The Dark Red is an institution. It is a myth, a legend. It is the whisper on the lips of perverts…[i]t is the sickness of the human soul. It is death….”
When journalist Joan Brown hears about The Dark Red, she can’t resist embarking on an investigation. What she finds will be far more than just a juicy story. Will she live to spread the word?
Chock full of violence, sex and depravity, this story definitely qualifies as extreme. It is well-written and entertaining. A bit more character development would have been helpful, though, as I felt detached from the characters and wasn’t fully invested in all of the horrible things that happened. Overall, a great story with a ‘satisfying’ ending.
May 8, 2021
This is darkweb done right. I immediately liked Tristan when I first came across him in Gary's Girls. I had no clue what I was in for. His story turned out to be much more than I hoped for. I also loved how West tied another book I read into the story (just a brief mention and the same house). This read was brutal and awesome
June 30, 2017
When sex and depravity is no longer enough to satisfy sexual urges, there is a place you can go called the deep web. Pray they don't find you first.
April 1, 2023
Another interesting novel by Sam West.
So what is the Dark Red - well go watch some information on red rooms on the dark web and all the depravity within, up tenfold and voila you've got the dark side of red.
This is step up on the previous novel I've read by her and it was good. I've read in one day so that's something.
In this novel, you follow several characters, to be honest this could have divided in two short novellas. The first you got this hairdresser that for no appearing reasoning is kidnapped and put on some stuff that will make you think humanity should just die. The second part we follow a reporter as she investigates the dark red, but as she founds out you don't find the dark red, the dark red finds you.
Some Spoilers Ahead/rant? skip to the other bold statement
I didn't enjoy the all the all satanic / hell stuff... Humanity is not evil or good. We are what we are. Why the need to included satan/demon stuff? Are we so corruptible that need some higher intervention to do depictable things to one another? Unfortunately I don't think so... In war humanity do awful things, after all it's stressful upon stressful situation. You are fighting for your life and maybe it's a escapee. Now a person, in a normal country committing a crime like rape or killing, probably that person has problems in the head OR they are evil. Even killing you can find justifications, like oh he killed my wife and so on.. (that's why you have degrees of murder). But per example rape? What's the justification? go pay a hooker if you wanna have sex, some people like fetishes. Find those people. But rape for rape? There is no justification and no forgiving. (again, everything must be investigated and so on, no public square lynch mob)
It is my believe that some people tend to do the "good", some tend to "evil. But the vast vast majority, follows the rules, laws and society. That doesn't mean that they don't have some fetiche, some hidden evil thoughts but for the most part they are goodish. If you would ask 100 people from different backgrounds/races/cultures, would you be able to kill someone (without any context) I bet the vast majority would say no. But if you put some context like you would do it for your son/daughter OR even better for yourself. I bet the answer would change and yo would get half/half. BUT if you put that same person in a stressful situation which she/he would have to choose with a gun I bet the vast majority would fire against the stranger. That's not evil. That's human condition.
Another thing I've see is some criticism and the all feminism/man are more evil and crap. When are these stuff going to end? Do you think males are more proponent to evil than the woman? LOL if you think that, good luck on your relations. If you ask males are more proponent into doing phyisical harm, yes. Psychological? I highly doubt it. Sam West said that she was "attacked" of not being feminist and doing awful things (and making woman do awful things) to woman and by woman. Sam also said she is a feminism. What a comic situation. What is a feminist? I don't even know nowdays. Women can do awful/evil things. Men can do awful/evil things. Women/men can be the source & recipient of awful/evil things.
end of rant
Either way, I enjoy the novel, thought that at some times you have a writer than is going one way then went another altogether. The same with politics, his two female characters are distrustful of men, they think they are evil (one even says so) but in the end the evil guy says, well we are mostly man BECAUSE... and he explains why. You should read to understand. And I saw/understood the reason. I will buy more of her books. They are short. They are entertaining and good to read inbetween more dense novels (fantasy per example). If I Had to give a rating I would give 7.5/10. That ending/justification of the evil stuff .. meh.
So what is the Dark Red - well go watch some information on red rooms on the dark web and all the depravity within, up tenfold and voila you've got the dark side of red.
This is step up on the previous novel I've read by her and it was good. I've read in one day so that's something.
In this novel, you follow several characters, to be honest this could have divided in two short novellas. The first you got this hairdresser that for no appearing reasoning is kidnapped and put on some stuff that will make you think humanity should just die. The second part we follow a reporter as she investigates the dark red, but as she founds out you don't find the dark red, the dark red finds you.
Some Spoilers Ahead/rant? skip to the other bold statement
I didn't enjoy the all the all satanic / hell stuff... Humanity is not evil or good. We are what we are. Why the need to included satan/demon stuff? Are we so corruptible that need some higher intervention to do depictable things to one another? Unfortunately I don't think so... In war humanity do awful things, after all it's stressful upon stressful situation. You are fighting for your life and maybe it's a escapee. Now a person, in a normal country committing a crime like rape or killing, probably that person has problems in the head OR they are evil. Even killing you can find justifications, like oh he killed my wife and so on.. (that's why you have degrees of murder). But per example rape? What's the justification? go pay a hooker if you wanna have sex, some people like fetishes. Find those people. But rape for rape? There is no justification and no forgiving. (again, everything must be investigated and so on, no public square lynch mob)
It is my believe that some people tend to do the "good", some tend to "evil. But the vast vast majority, follows the rules, laws and society. That doesn't mean that they don't have some fetiche, some hidden evil thoughts but for the most part they are goodish. If you would ask 100 people from different backgrounds/races/cultures, would you be able to kill someone (without any context) I bet the vast majority would say no. But if you put some context like you would do it for your son/daughter OR even better for yourself. I bet the answer would change and yo would get half/half. BUT if you put that same person in a stressful situation which she/he would have to choose with a gun I bet the vast majority would fire against the stranger. That's not evil. That's human condition.
Another thing I've see is some criticism and the all feminism/man are more evil and crap. When are these stuff going to end? Do you think males are more proponent to evil than the woman? LOL if you think that, good luck on your relations. If you ask males are more proponent into doing phyisical harm, yes. Psychological? I highly doubt it. Sam West said that she was "attacked" of not being feminist and doing awful things (and making woman do awful things) to woman and by woman. Sam also said she is a feminism. What a comic situation. What is a feminist? I don't even know nowdays. Women can do awful/evil things. Men can do awful/evil things. Women/men can be the source & recipient of awful/evil things.
end of rant
Either way, I enjoy the novel, thought that at some times you have a writer than is going one way then went another altogether. The same with politics, his two female characters are distrustful of men, they think they are evil (one even says so) but in the end the evil guy says, well we are mostly man BECAUSE... and he explains why. You should read to understand. And I saw/understood the reason. I will buy more of her books. They are short. They are entertaining and good to read inbetween more dense novels (fantasy per example). If I Had to give a rating I would give 7.5/10. That ending/justification of the evil stuff .. meh.
July 24, 2017
This book was all kinds of; brutal. disturbing. evil. horrifying. And twisted. Scared the crap out of me! I swear, after reading I thought Tristian Fiennes was going to appear in my room and take me to "The Dark Red!"
Very extreme, graphic and gory. Not for the faint of heart! Many triggers:
Very extreme, graphic and gory. Not for the faint of heart! Many triggers:
July 4, 2017
Very dark but really needs a good editor. None of the two or three authors in this genre (Sam West, Matt Shaw, etc.) do an adequate job of editing their work. They just fling the gore onto the paper (pun intended) with no regard to the writing quality. As for the story, it was unique and suitably disturbing without being over-the-top.
August 7, 2019
A very disturbing, bloody, but beautiful story about the darknet and torture. I loved that the information it gave regarding how to access the darknet is mostly true. If you’re are looking for a glimpse of hell with a lot of sex..look no further.
Read
February 20, 2018DNF. There is only so many times I can read the 'C' word.
July 31, 2017
Another fun read from Sam West! My only criticism is that it was too short, but very enjoyable regardless.
October 29, 2017
Macabre
4 stars for this truly well written & intensely dark novel.
Interesting characters, the twists towards the end was a bit different, not good not bad, just different.
The dark web or dark internet truly is a scary place to be looking.
Extremely graphic & not for the faint of heart.
4 stars for this truly well written & intensely dark novel.
Interesting characters, the twists towards the end was a bit different, not good not bad, just different.
The dark web or dark internet truly is a scary place to be looking.
Extremely graphic & not for the faint of heart.
December 15, 2023
love Sam west
Not much more to say other than if you’re a Sam west fan you get what you’re expecting
Gory AF
Not much more to say other than if you’re a Sam west fan you get what you’re expecting
Gory AF
May 9, 2022
This was a quick read right out of the gate, as it comes in at 173 pages. This is only the second book I've read from Sam West and so I've come to realize also from researching her other books that most of them are relatively short. Not that I mind that. It just means that she likes to launch right into her stories and bite your face off.
Now, if you've done your research into her books, you might have discovered an underlying subject in most of them and that is her delving into the psych of the human mind and the sexual brutality it can Dish out as well as accept it.
At first, upon reading this book, iymay seem like simple pornography, but there's nothing simple about it. Sam West, you will realize has different ideas for her characters. You will find that she has a way of fooling you, of deceiving you into who the main protagonist really is and is the antagonist who they really are. West likes to push the boundaries of the human spirit and inhuman spirit as well.
The Dark Red is more than a club, a place to realize the worse dreams and realities without consequences. But even considering that, it's so much more. It can draw you in, take you, use you and fill you with things you could never dream of. Nor in most cases want to. This is the story of some of those people.
This story, like many of her books are not for everyone. Not for the squeamish or the prudes. But if you can put aside any of that, you might find something else in these stories. Something that keeps you turning the pages. And maybe you might be glad you get to the end, you might find yourself thinking, you wished there was more.
Did I like it? YES I did.
Now, if you've done your research into her books, you might have discovered an underlying subject in most of them and that is her delving into the psych of the human mind and the sexual brutality it can Dish out as well as accept it.
At first, upon reading this book, iymay seem like simple pornography, but there's nothing simple about it. Sam West, you will realize has different ideas for her characters. You will find that she has a way of fooling you, of deceiving you into who the main protagonist really is and is the antagonist who they really are. West likes to push the boundaries of the human spirit and inhuman spirit as well.
The Dark Red is more than a club, a place to realize the worse dreams and realities without consequences. But even considering that, it's so much more. It can draw you in, take you, use you and fill you with things you could never dream of. Nor in most cases want to. This is the story of some of those people.
This story, like many of her books are not for everyone. Not for the squeamish or the prudes. But if you can put aside any of that, you might find something else in these stories. Something that keeps you turning the pages. And maybe you might be glad you get to the end, you might find yourself thinking, you wished there was more.
Did I like it? YES I did.
July 30, 2018
Oh dear. This book is not for the easily offended and definitely not for the faint-hearted. The darkest and most sadistic fantasies of human beings can be found in this book. It is brutal, cruel, and fucked up. But as a Splatterpunk fan, I really liked it. This book is definitely not something that i can recommend to anyone and I'm not even sure if I should be proud that I like stuffs like this. I just like extreme horror, what can I say. It breaks the boundaries of conventional horror and makes use of its limitless devices to terrify and terrorize our poor souls. Just like how this book terrified me. As I said though, I LIKED it, not loved. I'm quite disappointed how quickly the story progressed in the first chapters that I didn't even have the time to properly take in the things that are happening. I think it might also be the reason why I didn't care that much for Stacey, one of the two protagonists. But the part where I was really disappointed with and probably why I'm only giving it 3 stars was the ending. Oh the ending. What a terrible way to finish so abruptly. The ending would've been alright (I guess?) if it weren't for the half-assed plot twist. It wasn't exactly a "twist" but a turn in the story where something happened near the end that I really didn't like. But overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you like extensive amounts of blood, gore, despair, and hopelessness in your books, you won't be disappointed (I know I wasn't lol). Let the guts spill! Welcome to the twisted mind of Sam West.
July 15, 2023
This was a super fast read and I enjoyed the writing but it was over the top when it came to a lot of the torture scenes so if you get triggered at all by sexual violence I wouldn’t read this. It almost felt I was reading a mix between Hellraiser and Hostel. There are a lot of references to hellraiser when it came to the scenes where it was describing the place. I thought it had the same vibe though as hostel and I also I liked the twist at the end. But it was just too short, it really needed an extra chapter or two because of the ending. Or maybe a part two? Overall, a decent read.
4.0 for plot
3.5 for overall story and ending
And 4.0 for the writing itself.
But it doesn’t deserve more than 3 stars overall.
Edit: so I previously posted this review but the more I thought about the book the more I think I made it sound better than it was. I don’t like how the main character that’s running the organization is looked at as some sort of god and even when he’s doing horrible things everyone still finds him attractive. And again it was just so short. And it ended with just so little.
So the writing I’ll give a 3.5
The plot I still give a 4.0
But I change my rating completely for overall story and ending. It gets a 2.5.
Overall, I’m changing my rating from a 3 star read to a 2 star read.
4.0 for plot
3.5 for overall story and ending
And 4.0 for the writing itself.
But it doesn’t deserve more than 3 stars overall.
Edit: so I previously posted this review but the more I thought about the book the more I think I made it sound better than it was. I don’t like how the main character that’s running the organization is looked at as some sort of god and even when he’s doing horrible things everyone still finds him attractive. And again it was just so short. And it ended with just so little.
So the writing I’ll give a 3.5
The plot I still give a 4.0
But I change my rating completely for overall story and ending. It gets a 2.5.
Overall, I’m changing my rating from a 3 star read to a 2 star read.
February 8, 2021
Not bad, not great. I was in the mood for something horror-like, and this had flagged up on kindle unlimited as I’ve read previous work by Sam West.
This was very reminiscent of the Hostel film series; depraved people pay richer depraved people to kidnap girls to order so they can carry out their most twisted thoughts and fantasies.
Good concept for a horror; dark web, snuff movies, greed etc. However I just found the characters lacked any depth, you couldn’t get attached to them even if you wanted to.
The first 2/3 focus on one girl; Stacy, then all of a sudden we are introduced to a random person and poor Stacy is just cast aside, almost like the author had a different idea but forgot to edit the preceding bits to incorporate it.
From what I remember of West’s other books, I think this is a recurring theme, a decent plot that just ends abruptly; as if he’s been given a word count and has to wrap the story up.
This was very reminiscent of the Hostel film series; depraved people pay richer depraved people to kidnap girls to order so they can carry out their most twisted thoughts and fantasies.
Good concept for a horror; dark web, snuff movies, greed etc. However I just found the characters lacked any depth, you couldn’t get attached to them even if you wanted to.
The first 2/3 focus on one girl; Stacy, then all of a sudden we are introduced to a random person and poor Stacy is just cast aside, almost like the author had a different idea but forgot to edit the preceding bits to incorporate it.
From what I remember of West’s other books, I think this is a recurring theme, a decent plot that just ends abruptly; as if he’s been given a word count and has to wrap the story up.
September 23, 2020
Wow! I have read that the dark net exists but something deeper? Who knew? I wonder if it is possible that a place like The Dark Side of Red actually exists somewhere. A lovely young journalist wants to write an article that would capture attention and enlists a friend to help her find a place. She emails The Dark Side of Red asking for their help to find someone to satisfy her supposed depravity. Enter Tristian and the next thing she knows she is at The Dark Side of Red. Can she handle the horrors to come?
September 15, 2017
Extreme is the right word
This was the first time I've read this genre and it was pretty sickening. I had read the reviews saying it's not for the faint hearted, believe me some of the scenes were not even for normal hearted especially if it is your first time with this genre.
And yet I was intrigued enough to complete the book to find out what happens next. This is the only reason I am giving this one a 3 star, otherwise I might have given it 1 or 2.
This was the first time I've read this genre and it was pretty sickening. I had read the reviews saying it's not for the faint hearted, believe me some of the scenes were not even for normal hearted especially if it is your first time with this genre.
And yet I was intrigued enough to complete the book to find out what happens next. This is the only reason I am giving this one a 3 star, otherwise I might have given it 1 or 2.
April 4, 2023
Another enjoyable quick read from Sam West. The ending was satisfying and I liked seeing everything come full circle. I just wish we had a little more character development as I felt super detached from everyone and as a result, didn’t really feel anything when bad things happened. The story was fun though, I feel like it gave me a little bit more of what I actually wanted from The Flesh Factory.
June 15, 2023
Kindle
It’s kind of weird for a book to throw a character at you 3/4 of the way through & say, forget everything you just read, this is your protagonist. What can I say about the gore? It was plentiful & was what I thought was the main plot line. I do like that Sam’s books so far have had plots, it’s not just gore. Pretty good. I will definitely read more of Sam West’s work.
It’s kind of weird for a book to throw a character at you 3/4 of the way through & say, forget everything you just read, this is your protagonist. What can I say about the gore? It was plentiful & was what I thought was the main plot line. I do like that Sam’s books so far have had plots, it’s not just gore. Pretty good. I will definitely read more of Sam West’s work.
February 2, 2018
Decent but not sure extreme
Well written but not the kind of horror most of us are looking for... rape, brutality and a torture scene. Well detailed but almost anti climactic ... was waiting for something more. Quick read.
Well written but not the kind of horror most of us are looking for... rape, brutality and a torture scene. Well detailed but almost anti climactic ... was waiting for something more. Quick read.
September 8, 2023
Ugly side of humanity artfully
Sam West has done it again. This story takes a dark grotesque subject and puts a spin on it, writing it in a way that keeps you intrigued and turning the page till the end.
Sam West has done it again. This story takes a dark grotesque subject and puts a spin on it, writing it in a way that keeps you intrigued and turning the page till the end.
November 6, 2019
The Redist Of Red
This book is extremely filled with horror and deeds that are unimaginable to even the most evil person that one would imagine.
This book is extremely filled with horror and deeds that are unimaginable to even the most evil person that one would imagine.
February 24, 2020
Gory but So Good
I read it all I'm one night. Love it!!! Will be looking for another like it from the same author.
I read it all I'm one night. Love it!!! Will be looking for another like it from the same author.
March 23, 2020
The Dark Side of Red
I was eager to learn more about the character Tristian in this story. I definitely enjoyed this and will be reading more by this author.
I was eager to learn more about the character Tristian in this story. I definitely enjoyed this and will be reading more by this author.
May 7, 2020
Extreme with a good twist ending.
January 4, 2021
Good read
Good read well written. Twisted dark and descriptive. Ticks all the boxes for the horror fans. Needs a proof reading.
Good read well written. Twisted dark and descriptive. Ticks all the boxes for the horror fans. Needs a proof reading.
March 24, 2025
4 STARS!
The first thing I'd like to say is this book was quite disturbing and repulsive and terrifying at less than 200 pages its a quick read I definitely recommend
The first thing I'd like to say is this book was quite disturbing and repulsive and terrifying at less than 200 pages its a quick read I definitely recommend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews