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Gods of the Dark Web
From the author of Engines of Ruin, comes a dark suspenseful novel for fans of Black Mirror, Edward Lee and cosmic horror.
The internet is a scary place. Beneath Facebook and Twitter is another world. One in which anything can be obtained—for a price. A community of black markets, depraved pornography, and death. This is the dark web.
Leon was just curious, he heard the stories of the secrets and forbidden fetishes that the dark web offered. He was an activist, protesting against war and hate. But after a protest became violent, he felt he needed protection. Being a teenager with no way to buy a gun legally, he had no choice but to turn to the dark web.
This rash decision sends Leon spiraling down into a dark side of humanity that most don’t know, or even want to know, exists. A world of murder, torture, and cannibalism. But behind all that there is something worse, something stalking him and intent on ruining every aspect of his life. Now Leon is fighting for his life and reputation as he is being hunted by vile and arcane forces. They are…
Gods of the Dark Web
The internet is a scary place. Beneath Facebook and Twitter is another world. One in which anything can be obtained—for a price. A community of black markets, depraved pornography, and death. This is the dark web.
Leon was just curious, he heard the stories of the secrets and forbidden fetishes that the dark web offered. He was an activist, protesting against war and hate. But after a protest became violent, he felt he needed protection. Being a teenager with no way to buy a gun legally, he had no choice but to turn to the dark web.
This rash decision sends Leon spiraling down into a dark side of humanity that most don’t know, or even want to know, exists. A world of murder, torture, and cannibalism. But behind all that there is something worse, something stalking him and intent on ruining every aspect of his life. Now Leon is fighting for his life and reputation as he is being hunted by vile and arcane forces. They are…
Gods of the Dark Web
102 pages, Paperback
Published February 22, 2018
9 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Lucas Mangum
51 books129 followersLucas Mangum is an author currently living in Austin, TX.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
February 6, 2021
Let's get this out of the way - the author's surname is MAN-GUM, and not MAG-NUM, as I have been reading it for more than a year. It's not a form of lysdexia, it's just the brain taking liberties - something I'm usually good to catch. I've read a study a while ago where they state your brain recognizes the first and last letter and fills in the rest according to context. I watned to call bullhsit, but I guess the joke is on me.
Moving on:
The Dark Web - apparently it is not exactly the same as The Deep Web, another thing I wasn't aware of. Either way, though, I'm too much of a wuss to go there. Why - you ask?
Well, I may not have much, but I am totally paranoid about getting hacked and losing the little I have. So, yes, while I understand the need for secrecy is not always for nefarious reasons, you usually only hear about the bad stuff - which makes it scary.
Want to hire an assassin? Buy drugs? Sell drugs? Be drugged? Watch kiddie porn? Look for snuff films? Buy a James Blunt CD?
Scary, scary stuff, man.
And, while I freely admit to not being there and only having third hand knowledge about things going on there, look at the world we live in these days. Even with our own limited internet dealings, people still try to scam us. Just yesterday I got this email that said:
YOU HAVE BEEN HACKED.
This person goes on to explain how it wasn't easy, but he's been at it for years and is very good. He said that he got in while I was on a porn site and he activated my camera and took footage of me masturbating. He was going to release that footage to all the contacts he got from my mail, facebook, etc. - unless I bought him $1200 worth of Bitcoin for his account.
He even explained how to go about buying it, if I didn't know.
How do I know this is a scam?
It was my work e-mail. I don't have an office and the pc I work at is surveilled by at least two cameras, it is open and there are at least half a dozen people there at any given time. Also, I have no idea how to override the IT locks on the net - I can actually only use our Intranet and don't have access to Google, etc.
Since alcohol sales were banned in this country again until last week, I was pretty damn sure it was a fib...
Is it just an urban legend that some people went on the Dark Web and disappeared off the face of the earth?
Don't know. Don't want to fucking find out!
So, scary place to go, The Dark Web.
Since I've spent so much time not telling you anything about what is going on in the story, just read the blurb.
The story wasn't perfect, but it was good. There were small niggles, but almost all of them had to do with personal taste. The one thing which bothered me - and I had a think for a day before writing this review - is probably the ?flow...
Here's the thing - at the almost halfway mark, there was a truly fucked-up scene - I mentioned in an update that it was one of the top 3 most messed-up scenes I've ever read.
That is not a problem for me - what became a problem was the extreme kind of faded from there - it felt as if the author took his foot off the gas and made the rest of the story more run-of-the-mill-horror.
Look, I don't always need an excessive amount of blood and gore - I can appreciate a good horror story for the psychological aspect - but once you go there, the reader expects a certain kind of way the rest of the story is going to go.
I don't even know if that makes sense - I'm being interrupted by my 6 year old constantly because he doesn't want to go to bed.
My rating is somewhere between 3.5 and 4 - it is worth checking out...especially you sicko's who will only want that one specific scene...
(I'm not judging - at about 46% - the cooking...)
Moving on:
The Dark Web - apparently it is not exactly the same as The Deep Web, another thing I wasn't aware of. Either way, though, I'm too much of a wuss to go there. Why - you ask?
Well, I may not have much, but I am totally paranoid about getting hacked and losing the little I have. So, yes, while I understand the need for secrecy is not always for nefarious reasons, you usually only hear about the bad stuff - which makes it scary.
Want to hire an assassin? Buy drugs? Sell drugs? Be drugged? Watch kiddie porn? Look for snuff films? Buy a James Blunt CD?
Scary, scary stuff, man.
And, while I freely admit to not being there and only having third hand knowledge about things going on there, look at the world we live in these days. Even with our own limited internet dealings, people still try to scam us. Just yesterday I got this email that said:
YOU HAVE BEEN HACKED.
This person goes on to explain how it wasn't easy, but he's been at it for years and is very good. He said that he got in while I was on a porn site and he activated my camera and took footage of me masturbating. He was going to release that footage to all the contacts he got from my mail, facebook, etc. - unless I bought him $1200 worth of Bitcoin for his account.
He even explained how to go about buying it, if I didn't know.
How do I know this is a scam?
It was my work e-mail. I don't have an office and the pc I work at is surveilled by at least two cameras, it is open and there are at least half a dozen people there at any given time. Also, I have no idea how to override the IT locks on the net - I can actually only use our Intranet and don't have access to Google, etc.
Since alcohol sales were banned in this country again until last week, I was pretty damn sure it was a fib...
Is it just an urban legend that some people went on the Dark Web and disappeared off the face of the earth?
Don't know. Don't want to fucking find out!
So, scary place to go, The Dark Web.
Since I've spent so much time not telling you anything about what is going on in the story, just read the blurb.
The story wasn't perfect, but it was good. There were small niggles, but almost all of them had to do with personal taste. The one thing which bothered me - and I had a think for a day before writing this review - is probably the ?flow...
Here's the thing - at the almost halfway mark, there was a truly fucked-up scene - I mentioned in an update that it was one of the top 3 most messed-up scenes I've ever read.
That is not a problem for me - what became a problem was the extreme kind of faded from there - it felt as if the author took his foot off the gas and made the rest of the story more run-of-the-mill-horror.
Look, I don't always need an excessive amount of blood and gore - I can appreciate a good horror story for the psychological aspect - but once you go there, the reader expects a certain kind of way the rest of the story is going to go.
I don't even know if that makes sense - I'm being interrupted by my 6 year old constantly because he doesn't want to go to bed.
My rating is somewhere between 3.5 and 4 - it is worth checking out...especially you sicko's who will only want that one specific scene...
(I'm not judging - at about 46% - the cooking...)
February 2, 2021
Felt disjointed, and its point just didn't hit home for me.
February 21, 2018
A technosploitation Lovecraftian extreme horror book? Sure, why not! Lucas Mangum doesn’t hold back on the blood or brutality, and in doing so he creates a fast-paced, immersive world that creeps up and bubbles out of the darkest places of the internet, and the darkest places of our souls This is one spooky and intense novel!
August 22, 2021
Loved this. Shades of Videodrome, but mostly just a really cool slice of horror. Some pretty extreme moments too. Certainly makes you think twice about the internet, that's for sure.
February 3, 2021
'The Dark Web - run by evil human satanists or even darker supernatural forces?'
This proved to be a decent 'extreme' horror story that sees Niles trying to track down his younger brother Leon after he goes mysteriously missing after visiting the deep, Dark Web. Who, or in fact what, is behind his brothers abduction, and exactly where will his investigations eventually lead him to - perhaps it may be to the utopian vision of Avalon itself.
Contains several scenes of sexual depravity and extreme violence which may offend some readers.
Rating: 3.3 dark stars.
This proved to be a decent 'extreme' horror story that sees Niles trying to track down his younger brother Leon after he goes mysteriously missing after visiting the deep, Dark Web. Who, or in fact what, is behind his brothers abduction, and exactly where will his investigations eventually lead him to - perhaps it may be to the utopian vision of Avalon itself.
Contains several scenes of sexual depravity and extreme violence which may offend some readers.
Rating: 3.3 dark stars.
May 9, 2022
That was a dark one, that's for sure. This book isn't for everyone, but if you love the extreme, dark and messed up, this is for you. Mangum pulls back the curtains, exposing the grotesque underbelly of society. A true, splatterpunk classic.
January 29, 2021
I had high hopes for this one, but I'm sad to say that it didn't live up to the hype.
In this book we learn that there are supernatural entities and cultists who roam the Dark Web, waiting to bring forth pain and anguish to anyone who chooses to explore the hidden underbelly of the internet.
We follow this guy as he searches the Dark Web to find his missing brother, but what he finds is way more disturbing and depraved than anything he ever could've imagined.
The book just felt like a mess. We have all this lackluster build-up to a final confrontation with these mysterious Dark Web people, but once our protagonist finally crosses paths with them we learn NOTHING. No lore. No backstory. Nothing is explained at all. The guy just gets an unhappy ending and is hauled away. Where to? We dont know.
This author could've written a rich and interesting backstory about these gods and showed us who they are and where they came from, but we get none of that. Just feels like a giant missed opportunity. I apologize to Lucas Mangum, but this one just didnt do it for me.
2/5 stars ⭐⭐
For in-depth video reviews, please subscribe to my YouTube channel:
https://youtube.com/c/UptownHorrorRev...
In this book we learn that there are supernatural entities and cultists who roam the Dark Web, waiting to bring forth pain and anguish to anyone who chooses to explore the hidden underbelly of the internet.
We follow this guy as he searches the Dark Web to find his missing brother, but what he finds is way more disturbing and depraved than anything he ever could've imagined.
The book just felt like a mess. We have all this lackluster build-up to a final confrontation with these mysterious Dark Web people, but once our protagonist finally crosses paths with them we learn NOTHING. No lore. No backstory. Nothing is explained at all. The guy just gets an unhappy ending and is hauled away. Where to? We dont know.
This author could've written a rich and interesting backstory about these gods and showed us who they are and where they came from, but we get none of that. Just feels like a giant missed opportunity. I apologize to Lucas Mangum, but this one just didnt do it for me.
2/5 stars ⭐⭐
For in-depth video reviews, please subscribe to my YouTube channel:
https://youtube.com/c/UptownHorrorRev...
July 9, 2024
Leon and Shiloh were good friends. One day there was a big brawl in town and it spooked both boys so they decided to look for some protection. They decide to search the dark web for a gun. They couldn't find anyone selling a gun but instead they found a site that has a creepy old abandoned town. The site knows their names and someone is coming for them.
When Niles got a call from his dad telling him his younger brother Leon was missing, Niles did everything he could to find his brother. From calling the cops, talking to his brothers gf, to even searching the same dark web Leon did, he wasn't going to stop until he found his brother.....but will Niles find Leon, or suffer the same fate?
Oh this was fantastic! Any dark web stuff and I eat it right up! When Niles was searching the dark web, I enjoyed what he found, as sadistic as it was. This gave off silent hill vibes when Niles was searching for Leon. Loved it! Some cosmic horror entity here as well, it all worked well together! I'd love a continuation of this specific town! I love Lucas' writing and I highly suggest this!
When Niles got a call from his dad telling him his younger brother Leon was missing, Niles did everything he could to find his brother. From calling the cops, talking to his brothers gf, to even searching the same dark web Leon did, he wasn't going to stop until he found his brother.....but will Niles find Leon, or suffer the same fate?
Oh this was fantastic! Any dark web stuff and I eat it right up! When Niles was searching the dark web, I enjoyed what he found, as sadistic as it was. This gave off silent hill vibes when Niles was searching for Leon. Loved it! Some cosmic horror entity here as well, it all worked well together! I'd love a continuation of this specific town! I love Lucas' writing and I highly suggest this!
March 11, 2018
I should prefigure this by saying I love stories about the dark web/deep web, the silk road, Tor, all that shit. It really is a sort of synthetic outer space, a wild west where rules are still forming. Therein, you can find a lot of beauty and horror.
So I was obviously excited about this book.
It could have started slow, but Mangum takes a non-linear approach to the narrative, giving us the back story and the end result simultaneously. This works well. It keeps the pace nice and quick.
Then the story really starts to pick up once the back story is behind us, and we start reading in the moment with the characters who are taking us on this twisted ride.
The plot is compelling and the character trajectory is nice as well. We have sort of a psychodrama lite going on here, in which our protagonist is slowly moving down the rabbit hole that is the dark web.
As he continues on his journey, he finds darker images, and a theme so relevant to us today emerges: we as a civilization have not changed. At all.
Consciousness has not saved us from our primal urges. Nor has the soul. We are monsters, and the dark web is one of the primary showcases for the darker part of humanity.
There’s an element of hope contained within the book, albeit a small one. That is the fact that-while in the past we took our executions to the public square and sat down with the family-the folks today have to sit behind a screen or have been relegated to the outskirts of society. They are confined to the dark outskirts, the Avalon Lakes of the world.
We have been taught to hide these darker parts of ourselves, which in some ways is a good thing. It suggests that while we can’t always control our dark impulses, they can be contained or mitigated through unspoken social contract.
The downside is that it makes those among us who embrace our darker impulses harder to find. Even when we leave online calling cards, the dark get lost in the seemingly endless barrage of content being uploaded.
But if you decide to take a trip down the rabbit hole of depravity, there is a possibility that you will be found.
And that is what makes stories about the dark web so compelling.
Mangum weaves a respectable narrative to add to this growing thread of tales. He ups the ante compared to the other stories I have read, infusing this one with an element of supernatural mystery that houses the dark web comfortably within our world’s rich legacy of mythos.
Of course, when exploring the dark side of humanity, disturbing things are usually a given. This is not a light read. If you’re uninitiated as a reader of extreme horror, be warned: there’s at least one scene you’re not going to be able to unsee.
So I was obviously excited about this book.
It could have started slow, but Mangum takes a non-linear approach to the narrative, giving us the back story and the end result simultaneously. This works well. It keeps the pace nice and quick.
Then the story really starts to pick up once the back story is behind us, and we start reading in the moment with the characters who are taking us on this twisted ride.
The plot is compelling and the character trajectory is nice as well. We have sort of a psychodrama lite going on here, in which our protagonist is slowly moving down the rabbit hole that is the dark web.
As he continues on his journey, he finds darker images, and a theme so relevant to us today emerges: we as a civilization have not changed. At all.
Consciousness has not saved us from our primal urges. Nor has the soul. We are monsters, and the dark web is one of the primary showcases for the darker part of humanity.
There’s an element of hope contained within the book, albeit a small one. That is the fact that-while in the past we took our executions to the public square and sat down with the family-the folks today have to sit behind a screen or have been relegated to the outskirts of society. They are confined to the dark outskirts, the Avalon Lakes of the world.
We have been taught to hide these darker parts of ourselves, which in some ways is a good thing. It suggests that while we can’t always control our dark impulses, they can be contained or mitigated through unspoken social contract.
The downside is that it makes those among us who embrace our darker impulses harder to find. Even when we leave online calling cards, the dark get lost in the seemingly endless barrage of content being uploaded.
But if you decide to take a trip down the rabbit hole of depravity, there is a possibility that you will be found.
And that is what makes stories about the dark web so compelling.
Mangum weaves a respectable narrative to add to this growing thread of tales. He ups the ante compared to the other stories I have read, infusing this one with an element of supernatural mystery that houses the dark web comfortably within our world’s rich legacy of mythos.
Of course, when exploring the dark side of humanity, disturbing things are usually a given. This is not a light read. If you’re uninitiated as a reader of extreme horror, be warned: there’s at least one scene you’re not going to be able to unsee.
February 23, 2024
Ok, I found this book really disturbing!! Dont get me wrong though, I still enjoyed it! 😉
The fact that the dark web exists is terrifying enough, this story makes it even more so! Dont let your curiosity get the better of you, do...not...even...think...about...it!! This book should be read by anyone considering even typing dark web into their search bar....
This was horrific, brutal, dark and shocking, one scene in particular will stick with me for a long time!
It makes you think, thats for sure, I might even have been a teensy bit tempted at the start of the book, but by the end there is no way I will let that temptation get the better of me......just in case....
This was a great read, I couldnt put it down, I wouldve loved for it to be longer, to delve even deeper into the depravity, but alas, it was not to be!!
5/5 😈💀😈💀😈
The fact that the dark web exists is terrifying enough, this story makes it even more so! Dont let your curiosity get the better of you, do...not...even...think...about...it!! This book should be read by anyone considering even typing dark web into their search bar....
This was horrific, brutal, dark and shocking, one scene in particular will stick with me for a long time!
It makes you think, thats for sure, I might even have been a teensy bit tempted at the start of the book, but by the end there is no way I will let that temptation get the better of me......just in case....
This was a great read, I couldnt put it down, I wouldve loved for it to be longer, to delve even deeper into the depravity, but alas, it was not to be!!
5/5 😈💀😈💀😈
December 6, 2020
Reminded me of an extreme 8MM.
March 8, 2021
Was a fun book I would recommend this one before "Saint sadist". It did get slow for me at times but the last 30% or so made me not put it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2019
A delicious slice of adult creepy-pasta.
April 18, 2021
Lucas Mangum's ENGINES OF RUIN was one of the best short story collections I read last year, so naturally, I was stoked about his cosmic/cyber/extreme horror novel about a teen who goes missing after messing around on the dark web. In short: it delivers. I was, however, left wanting a little more. Don't get me wrong, this is a short, fast-paced page-turner in a sea of brick-sized books with too much filler. Mangum is one of those authors, though, who does intriguing characters and atmosphere so well, that I wished some scenes would have been expanded just a little longer, especially during the process scenes of the pacifist teen characters exploring the dark web to obtain a gun. As for the story... it's been said, but worth keeping attention on, that the existence of technology is thankfully not something tossed out the window in this one. Instead, the exact opposite is true: the technology is a tool that lets the gruesome horror happen. And boy, oh, boy is it gruesome. Mangum doesn't flinch away from the violence, no matter who is involved. Babies aren't even safe in this one, let's leave it at that.
I'd say GODS OF THE DARK WEB left me itching to see where Mangum takes the horror genre next, but honestly, I'm just curious to see where this author goes from here, because he's yet to allow himself to be pigeonholed. Lucas Mangum is a name to keep an eye on, for sure.
I'd say GODS OF THE DARK WEB left me itching to see where Mangum takes the horror genre next, but honestly, I'm just curious to see where this author goes from here, because he's yet to allow himself to be pigeonholed. Lucas Mangum is a name to keep an eye on, for sure.
March 3, 2022
Want a review? Well, you are getting one whether you want it or not. 🙂
Let’s chit chat about Lucas Mangum and GODS OF THE DARK WEB.
Leon is in a situation when the book opens, tied up to be exact. When he has been missing for a week, his Dad calls his brother, Niels to tell him the upsetting news. Niels goes on a quest to find him but sinister beings and dark secrets will put both of them in harms way. With a cast of characters that range from Leon’s girlfriend to Niels ex-wife, and a woman Niels meets at Avalon Lake, there is so much to uncover before it’s too late.
O.K. I took 4 pages of notes on this one. I listened to the audiobook and it definitely heightened the experience. This one was rough to listen to because it goes into the dark web shenanigans.
I did not see 90% of the plot twists coming and Mangum really knows how to keep us on our toes. I read BONE CIDER and fell in love with his writing. (I have 4 more physical books and maybe 2 more audio. It’s NOT STALKING, IT’S SUPPORTING!)
Anyway, if you haven’t listened or read this one you are 100% missing out. There isn’t a flaw in this book. Seriously. It’s 99.99% perfection (0.01% for margin of error.)
Available on Amazon, Audible, or through Lucas.
5/5 helpings of baby stew
Let’s chit chat about Lucas Mangum and GODS OF THE DARK WEB.
Leon is in a situation when the book opens, tied up to be exact. When he has been missing for a week, his Dad calls his brother, Niels to tell him the upsetting news. Niels goes on a quest to find him but sinister beings and dark secrets will put both of them in harms way. With a cast of characters that range from Leon’s girlfriend to Niels ex-wife, and a woman Niels meets at Avalon Lake, there is so much to uncover before it’s too late.
O.K. I took 4 pages of notes on this one. I listened to the audiobook and it definitely heightened the experience. This one was rough to listen to because it goes into the dark web shenanigans.
I did not see 90% of the plot twists coming and Mangum really knows how to keep us on our toes. I read BONE CIDER and fell in love with his writing. (I have 4 more physical books and maybe 2 more audio. It’s NOT STALKING, IT’S SUPPORTING!)
Anyway, if you haven’t listened or read this one you are 100% missing out. There isn’t a flaw in this book. Seriously. It’s 99.99% perfection (0.01% for margin of error.)
Available on Amazon, Audible, or through Lucas.
5/5 helpings of baby stew
November 10, 2022
Story 4/5
Narration 5/5
The story is interesting, brutal, deviant and gory, but unfortunately there isn’t enough development.
Narration 5/5
The story is interesting, brutal, deviant and gory, but unfortunately there isn’t enough development.
May 25, 2021
I’d had this book on my wish list on a certain website for quite a while. And then Christmas came along and I got a shiny book-shaped present that contained this gory specimen. Things were looking up.
The story jumps straight into the action and then never really lets up. OK, there are sections when boring stuff like character development and backstories and stuff are introduced, but apparently you need these in a work of fiction??
I jest, this tale was shocking and dark; two things I really dig in a book. I read this in only a couple of sittings and I’m sure my face was a picture for most of my time with it.
The story opens with Leon as he’s held captive then tortured by these dudes in scary masks who hold two women by leashes, as though they’re dogs. Leon doesn’t remember getting here, but he’d previously been snooping around in the void of the dark web. I’ve never been there myself, and I certainly won’t be visiting any time soon.
Following Leon’s disappearance, his older brother Niles starts on a quest to find him. The police don’t seem particularly helpful, and after speaking to Leon’s friends and learning of his recent escapades in the dark and forbidden corners of the internet, Niles begins his own investigation.
Of course, Niles ends up wishing he hadn’t gone there, but for many reasons. This aspect really gave this book and his character some depth. It’s not just grotesqueness from start to finish, although a lot of it is.
Some readers may find one or two scenes a bit much, but not me. I loved every gore-soaked and depraved scene on offer.
My one complaint would be that this could really have been longer. I feel that having this story fleshed out (pun intended) a bit would have made it even more brutal and terrifying. But can’t we say that for so many stories?
If you have a spare hour or so and want to be appalled, then look no further!
The story jumps straight into the action and then never really lets up. OK, there are sections when boring stuff like character development and backstories and stuff are introduced, but apparently you need these in a work of fiction??
I jest, this tale was shocking and dark; two things I really dig in a book. I read this in only a couple of sittings and I’m sure my face was a picture for most of my time with it.
The story opens with Leon as he’s held captive then tortured by these dudes in scary masks who hold two women by leashes, as though they’re dogs. Leon doesn’t remember getting here, but he’d previously been snooping around in the void of the dark web. I’ve never been there myself, and I certainly won’t be visiting any time soon.
Following Leon’s disappearance, his older brother Niles starts on a quest to find him. The police don’t seem particularly helpful, and after speaking to Leon’s friends and learning of his recent escapades in the dark and forbidden corners of the internet, Niles begins his own investigation.
Of course, Niles ends up wishing he hadn’t gone there, but for many reasons. This aspect really gave this book and his character some depth. It’s not just grotesqueness from start to finish, although a lot of it is.
Some readers may find one or two scenes a bit much, but not me. I loved every gore-soaked and depraved scene on offer.
My one complaint would be that this could really have been longer. I feel that having this story fleshed out (pun intended) a bit would have made it even more brutal and terrifying. But can’t we say that for so many stories?
If you have a spare hour or so and want to be appalled, then look no further!
September 27, 2023
This book was a masterwork in splatter. Well-written, strong characters, great pacing, gory and cringe-inducing. Loved it.
March 16, 2020
First of all, this is a very graphic horror story. There were a lot of elements that turned my stomach, and I am a regular reader of darker fiction.
Stay off the dark web, you never know who might be lurking there. Gods of the Dark Web takes the reader on an extreme version of the horrors that a person who isn’t careful can find themselves in. It came off like a creepypasta with the possibility that what happened could very much happen in real life.
Very edgy story with an interesting concept. As a horror story, it definitely does its job of eliciting chills in its readers. There were a lot of things done for shock value, and I think it played into the story pretty well, making it one that I won’t forget in a while.
Narration brought the perfect edge to the work.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Stay off the dark web, you never know who might be lurking there. Gods of the Dark Web takes the reader on an extreme version of the horrors that a person who isn’t careful can find themselves in. It came off like a creepypasta with the possibility that what happened could very much happen in real life.
Very edgy story with an interesting concept. As a horror story, it definitely does its job of eliciting chills in its readers. There were a lot of things done for shock value, and I think it played into the story pretty well, making it one that I won’t forget in a while.
Narration brought the perfect edge to the work.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
September 8, 2025
Leon and his friends are activists. When going to a rally they think that they might need to get some type of protection, They are too young to buy a gun so they went to the dark web. When Leon goes missing his older brother does everything he can to try to find him, which includes going down the rabbit hole that is the dark web and talking to his friends.
This was such an amazing book I actually cannot stop thinking about this one. I am not a fan of the dark web trope but this book was so good!! The characters in here were so well rounded for a shorter story, I liked how all the crazy stuff that happened on the dark web was written. Overall this was a really great story!!
This was such an amazing book I actually cannot stop thinking about this one. I am not a fan of the dark web trope but this book was so good!! The characters in here were so well rounded for a shorter story, I liked how all the crazy stuff that happened on the dark web was written. Overall this was a really great story!!
May 21, 2023
….. not what i was looking for, but glad to have found it nonetheless lol
April 3, 2019
First, I would like to note that the synopsis of this story, while intriguing, is misleading. Oh, it is accurate, but it basically describes the beginning of the book. This story goes so much farther, deeper darker than that.
Second, I would like to note that this is Extreme Horror. Not for the squeamish.
I read this in one sitting. Partly because it is a novella and I read fast. But mostly because I couldn’t stop. Gods of the Dark Web is the epitome of “a compelling read,” but in a disturbing way. Like not being able to look away from a gory scene in a horror movie kind of disturbing. You can’t want to like it, but you do, and you hate yourself a little for it. No regrets, though. That may or may not change later if it gives me nightmares. Or if it makes me fear my computer. Actually, it already makes me fear my computer.
But to continue …
In Gods of the Dark Web, Lucas Mangum has taken dark reality and horrifying urban legend and blended them together into a mind-bending terror. The characters are engaging, the pace is steady, and the captivating storyline with hold you prisoner. This extreme horror story is graphic and shocking with a climactic ending that will chill you to the bone.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
Second, I would like to note that this is Extreme Horror. Not for the squeamish.
I read this in one sitting. Partly because it is a novella and I read fast. But mostly because I couldn’t stop. Gods of the Dark Web is the epitome of “a compelling read,” but in a disturbing way. Like not being able to look away from a gory scene in a horror movie kind of disturbing. You can’t want to like it, but you do, and you hate yourself a little for it. No regrets, though. That may or may not change later if it gives me nightmares. Or if it makes me fear my computer. Actually, it already makes me fear my computer.
But to continue …
In Gods of the Dark Web, Lucas Mangum has taken dark reality and horrifying urban legend and blended them together into a mind-bending terror. The characters are engaging, the pace is steady, and the captivating storyline with hold you prisoner. This extreme horror story is graphic and shocking with a climactic ending that will chill you to the bone.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
September 20, 2023
Here’s the synopsis:
The internet is a scary place. Beneath Facebook and Twitter is another world. One in which anything can be obtained—for a price. A community of black markets, depraved pornography, and death. This is the dark web.
Leon was just curious, he heard the stories of the secrets and forbidden fetishes that the dark web offered. He was an activist, protesting against war and hate. But after a protest became violent, he felt he needed protection. Being a teenager with no way to buy a gun legally, he had no choice but to turn to the dark web.
This rash decision sends Leon spiraling down into a dark side of humanity that most don’t know, or even want to know, exists. A world of murder, torture, and cannibalism. But behind all that there is something worse, something stalking him and intent on ruining every aspect of his life. Now Leon is fighting for his life and reputation as he is being hunted by vile and arcane forces. They are…
Gods of the Dark Web
Okay, so what did I think of this story about a man out to find his lost brother in a abandoned town he found on the dark web? Well, I gave it three stars. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the read in itself, but as the story progressed and we got to the ending, I couldn’t help to be left mouth agape and asking myself, “Is this it?!”
It starts off very promising and I wish there were more scenes like the one with Leon’s friend. I’m blanking on his name at the moment, but that death captivated me a lot! I was on board with what the author was giving me and after that scene, to me, the author dropped the ball.
The premise of the story was good, and the main character was fun to follow, but it just felt like it missed that four-star bar just by a hair. I just feel like there could have been more in this short novella. The author had me at the edge of my seat and let me slide back. I just thought the book ended up being a little sub-par, but it was a good book, hence the three stars.
The internet is a scary place. Beneath Facebook and Twitter is another world. One in which anything can be obtained—for a price. A community of black markets, depraved pornography, and death. This is the dark web.
Leon was just curious, he heard the stories of the secrets and forbidden fetishes that the dark web offered. He was an activist, protesting against war and hate. But after a protest became violent, he felt he needed protection. Being a teenager with no way to buy a gun legally, he had no choice but to turn to the dark web.
This rash decision sends Leon spiraling down into a dark side of humanity that most don’t know, or even want to know, exists. A world of murder, torture, and cannibalism. But behind all that there is something worse, something stalking him and intent on ruining every aspect of his life. Now Leon is fighting for his life and reputation as he is being hunted by vile and arcane forces. They are…
Gods of the Dark Web
Okay, so what did I think of this story about a man out to find his lost brother in a abandoned town he found on the dark web? Well, I gave it three stars. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the read in itself, but as the story progressed and we got to the ending, I couldn’t help to be left mouth agape and asking myself, “Is this it?!”
It starts off very promising and I wish there were more scenes like the one with Leon’s friend. I’m blanking on his name at the moment, but that death captivated me a lot! I was on board with what the author was giving me and after that scene, to me, the author dropped the ball.
The premise of the story was good, and the main character was fun to follow, but it just felt like it missed that four-star bar just by a hair. I just feel like there could have been more in this short novella. The author had me at the edge of my seat and let me slide back. I just thought the book ended up being a little sub-par, but it was a good book, hence the three stars.
September 4, 2018
Lucas Mangum’s first contribution to Deadite Press is a terse, brutal story that melds Lovecraftian horror with the conventions of an Internet creepypasta. The narrative is pervaded by an oppressive sense of techno-paranoia, and punctuated by scenes of depravity that wouldn’t feel out of place in A Serbian Film or the works of Richard Laymon. Nowadays, deep-web themed horror stories seem to appear on bookshelves with greater regularity, with many of them falling flat. But Gods of the Dark Web is among the best. It plays with the familiar Pandora’s box theme related to the deep web, but introduces new ideas and a unique supernatural angle. Mangum assaults his reader with images that will linger in the subconscious long after the book has been placed on the shelf. I’ve been reading his work for a number of years now, and I am still in awe of his ability to sustain tension throughout the course of his narratives. And Gods is no exception. A must read for fans of suspense and horror.
April 6, 2020
Audible.
I picked this book specifically because Sean Duregger narrated and I loved his performance of Out for Blood. I wasn't disappointed. I'm still new to the Horror genre so I can't really comment on comparing this to other authors or specific subsets. I will say that while I was a little nervous given the reviews commenting on how gory this was, apparently my interest in Police/FBI procedurals prepared me for some of the graphic descriptions in this book.
At just over 2 hours, this is a quick and intense listen. I did find some of the conversations a little awkward, but overall the story was engaging and satisfying. There's not much more to impart beyond the publisher's/author's summary without spoiling it - but the ending was definitely a surprise. I'm looking forward to checking out more by Lucas Mangum.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I picked this book specifically because Sean Duregger narrated and I loved his performance of Out for Blood. I wasn't disappointed. I'm still new to the Horror genre so I can't really comment on comparing this to other authors or specific subsets. I will say that while I was a little nervous given the reviews commenting on how gory this was, apparently my interest in Police/FBI procedurals prepared me for some of the graphic descriptions in this book.
At just over 2 hours, this is a quick and intense listen. I did find some of the conversations a little awkward, but overall the story was engaging and satisfying. There's not much more to impart beyond the publisher's/author's summary without spoiling it - but the ending was definitely a surprise. I'm looking forward to checking out more by Lucas Mangum.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
November 17, 2018
This book is brief, intense, and excellent! It has substance, emotion, action, and gore. Definitely not for the squeamish, as they say. If you've got the guts, though, I highly recommend this trip into the dark web!
February 26, 2020
Dark, twisted, and funny in an "I shouldn't be laughing at this" way.
January 28, 2022
This Novella is one unique twisted story.
May 27, 2024
New Book Review Up!
https://youtu.be/dP8SWzqroWU?si=9mliS...
https://youtu.be/dP8SWzqroWU?si=9mliS...
July 31, 2021
Definitely not for the squeamish, but also not as extreme as I expected from some of the other reviews - it's by no means tame, but it's pretty standard stuff for the genre. I liked the idea of a spooky town where bad stuff happens but Lovecraftian-type influences normally don't really do it for me - I felt a little disconnected, but the gross stuff kept me flipping the pages. It's a quick read!
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