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Essence Asunder
One man. Two fiends. A cold, dark basement. A table of torture devices. A garrote chair. Jacob Falgoust has woken into his own private Hell where Pain and Misery greet him with open arms. A reason wrapped in riddles of beauty and pain may be his only chance to escape the suffering. Jacob must find the answer before his very essence is torn asunder.
114 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 24, 2019
As close as it's possible to get to being in Hell itself ... compellingly gruesome!
As grim and horrific a story I've read in a long time, if ever. In 'EssenceAsunder,' the victim, Jacob, is plunged into the sort of situation that you only ever want to read about in a book or see in some true-crime documentary. Unfortunately for Jacob, it's one he's in for real. Locked up, restrained, and helpless, Jacob is subjected to the most brutal punishments imaginable, the sort you imagine some vengeful parent might inflict on their child's murderer or rapist. But Jacob isn't guilty of anything like that; his punishment seems all the worse simply because there's no reason he can think of for it other than his tormentors being sadistic monsters?
This was a well-written story, and though simple in its premise, a clever one too. The punishment and torture are relentless, but amid the horror, Jacob's determination to survive and hopes for a miracle are sustained by thoughts of his previous life and the woman he'd fallen in love with before he entered his current waking nightmare. With each new torment and torture though, both physical and psychological, Jacob's resistance and thoughts of getting out of his situation alive are slowly worn away. During this time we get to know Jacob as a person, and yet, while we sympathise with him, it's impossible not to become fascinated and intrigued by the characters of his two tormentors, an almost B-movie caricature duo, reminiscent of Frankenstein and his hunchbacked assistant.
It's impossible to say too much else about this story without potentially spoiling it, but the reader is eventually brought a little closer to the truth, and the 'twist in the tail' ending couldn't have been done better. A diabolically fiendish must-read for any gore craving horror fan.
As grim and horrific a story I've read in a long time, if ever. In 'EssenceAsunder,' the victim, Jacob, is plunged into the sort of situation that you only ever want to read about in a book or see in some true-crime documentary. Unfortunately for Jacob, it's one he's in for real. Locked up, restrained, and helpless, Jacob is subjected to the most brutal punishments imaginable, the sort you imagine some vengeful parent might inflict on their child's murderer or rapist. But Jacob isn't guilty of anything like that; his punishment seems all the worse simply because there's no reason he can think of for it other than his tormentors being sadistic monsters?
This was a well-written story, and though simple in its premise, a clever one too. The punishment and torture are relentless, but amid the horror, Jacob's determination to survive and hopes for a miracle are sustained by thoughts of his previous life and the woman he'd fallen in love with before he entered his current waking nightmare. With each new torment and torture though, both physical and psychological, Jacob's resistance and thoughts of getting out of his situation alive are slowly worn away. During this time we get to know Jacob as a person, and yet, while we sympathise with him, it's impossible not to become fascinated and intrigued by the characters of his two tormentors, an almost B-movie caricature duo, reminiscent of Frankenstein and his hunchbacked assistant.
It's impossible to say too much else about this story without potentially spoiling it, but the reader is eventually brought a little closer to the truth, and the 'twist in the tail' ending couldn't have been done better. A diabolically fiendish must-read for any gore craving horror fan.
November 23, 2019
First of all, I want to say thanks for the review copy. Now... On with the review.....
The blurb had me hooked from the start... Torture? Please. Yes. Sign me up.
So the book starts and we're getting the view from a victim bound and in pain. There's a lot of him whining in his head. ( While I'm just waiting for the blood to spill) Two men are holding him captive. Making him make choices. Such as which limb do you want me to crush, answer this riddle and incorrect answers come with a punishment. That part is so cool. But there's a lot of being in the victim's head while he whined. Then, the captors bring in a dead girl and tell him it's his girlfriend. Then we get a back story in his head of how he met his girl and fell in love. The torture part was good and brutal. The whining and backstory just really wasn't for me. With that being said, there's a neat twist on the end leaving it open for a sequel (which I would read). As for the plot, and as to why they tortured him, .... Hmmm it was just kinda enough to make sense but was almost reaching in my opinion. But it didn't take away from the story. 4 stars so it's good
The blurb had me hooked from the start... Torture? Please. Yes. Sign me up.
So the book starts and we're getting the view from a victim bound and in pain. There's a lot of him whining in his head. ( While I'm just waiting for the blood to spill) Two men are holding him captive. Making him make choices. Such as which limb do you want me to crush, answer this riddle and incorrect answers come with a punishment. That part is so cool. But there's a lot of being in the victim's head while he whined. Then, the captors bring in a dead girl and tell him it's his girlfriend. Then we get a back story in his head of how he met his girl and fell in love. The torture part was good and brutal. The whining and backstory just really wasn't for me. With that being said, there's a neat twist on the end leaving it open for a sequel (which I would read). As for the plot, and as to why they tortured him, .... Hmmm it was just kinda enough to make sense but was almost reaching in my opinion. But it didn't take away from the story. 4 stars so it's good
October 26, 2018
The horror in Essence Asunder grabs you from the first sentence and does not let go. This novella is as gruesome and confronting a read as you are ever likely to encounter and is not for the faint-hearted! For those brave enough to turn the pages, a dark, voyeuristic fascination will descend in your mind as you live, if vicariously, a protracted torture scene - visceral and grotesque.
Meet Jake, aka Jacob, the victim of a punishing campaign of pain, meted out by Dr. Mad Hatter and his monstrous assistant. Enduring unimaginable acts, Jacob slips in and out of consciousness and has flashbacks to his beloved Evangeline. He is desperate to discover if she is safe.
Slowly, very slowly, the reader finds out who Jake really is. The story culminates in a satisfying revelation that leaves the reader wondering whose side to take, and then just when you think you get it and know everything, there's the final twist.
Gottes has penned an extraordinary novella of unrelenting tension and sustained body horror. The writing is strong and the story well-crafted. Essence Asunder will take your breath away. Be warned!
Meet Jake, aka Jacob, the victim of a punishing campaign of pain, meted out by Dr. Mad Hatter and his monstrous assistant. Enduring unimaginable acts, Jacob slips in and out of consciousness and has flashbacks to his beloved Evangeline. He is desperate to discover if she is safe.
Slowly, very slowly, the reader finds out who Jake really is. The story culminates in a satisfying revelation that leaves the reader wondering whose side to take, and then just when you think you get it and know everything, there's the final twist.
Gottes has penned an extraordinary novella of unrelenting tension and sustained body horror. The writing is strong and the story well-crafted. Essence Asunder will take your breath away. Be warned!
March 5, 2023
Good read. Gruesome till the very end
Good read. Although I want a sequel soon lol. I also enjoyed "Piece it all back together" by this author. I would really like to see a second part of that also.
Good read. Although I want a sequel soon lol. I also enjoyed "Piece it all back together" by this author. I would really like to see a second part of that also.
August 15, 2018
Brutal
Brutal and unforgiving. There are no good guys there are no half endings our are there? Read and find out.
Brutal and unforgiving. There are no good guys there are no half endings our are there? Read and find out.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews