Hero

by Wrath James White, J.F. Gonzalez

Adelle Smith has lived her entire life for the betterment of mankind. A Civil Rights Activist in the Sixties and Seventies, she has spent most of her adult life attending marches, giving speeches, and lending a hand to anyone in need.

But on the very evening she is to be acknowledged with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her humanitarian efforts, a stroke leaves her partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Now Adelle's in the care of a ruthless hospice nurse, who sees not a hero before her, but the cause of her many hardships growing up as a child of interracial parents, someone who decides to give Adelle her very own brand of "Physical Therapy" consisting of pain and suffering, mental cruelty and torture.

And now, after a lifetime of helping others, Adelle needs help, quickly, before another round of brutal treatment snuffs out her life.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Adult, Splatterpunk

179 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2012

About the author

Wrath James White is a badass motherfucker who writes baddasss books for other badass motherfuckers. He is a J.F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a Bram Stoker Award nominee with over two dozen books in print.

Wrath is the author of RABBIT HUNT, THE BUG COLLECTOR, and such extreme horror classics as THE RESURRECTIONIST (now a major motion picture titled "Come Back To Me") SUCCULENT PREY, it's sequel PREY DRIVE, 400 DAYS OF OPPRESSION, and many others.

To follow his Substack, purchase books, get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books, merchandise, and more, go to:

https://linktr.ee/wrathjameswhite

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Real ‘fun’ times in downtown Philly’

‘Hero’ proved to be a great little story with lots of torture, blood, guts and gore, but all wrapped up in a sensible format that made a powerful impact and which ultimately provided a thoroughly enjoyable read.

If you think of ‘Misery’ by SK, but with Civil Rights issues and an evil and sadistic home care nurse instead of some crazy super-fan character, then you won’t be far off the mark.

In fact, the only downside for me was the actual ending which, although being cleverly constructed and indeed making perfect, did still feel somewhat convenient and slightly just too nice for the real world of today.

Definitely worth a read if you like a good gory tale about a clinical psychopath home help that partakes in some rather unusual ‘physical reconstruction’ techniques and other gruesome horror activity.

Eagerly looking forward to reading lots more from this highly talented author.

Rating: 4.3 stars.

[Hail Hydra! ~Dave Anderson~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tonya walked back to the waiting limousine before the preacher had finished his eulogy. She didn’t want to remember her mother through anyone else’s eyes but her own. And she already knew the memory she wanted to hold of her mother. Our Hero. That was all anyone really needed to say about Adelle Smith. That said it all.

[Juxian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book as soon as I read the blurb. A sadistic nurse! Who wouldn't like to read about a sadistic nurse?! :) But seriously, the terror of being sick and helpless and at the mercy of someone unmerciful and cunning is close and relatable for everyone and yes, really scary. I also was very interested in the racism angle, because the victim is Black and the abuser is bi-racial, so it's not something simple like Black versus White.
The story was fast-paced and fascinating, not ever dragging even for a moment. But... I think I maybe expected a bit more from it. It was very... unsubtle. To the point that I really couldn't believe Natsinet was doing what she did and thinking she could get away with it. I mean there are countless ways an evil nurse can torment a helpless patient - but the ways that leave obvious marks? It just didn't make any sense. And the other nurse - didn't she even once, like, wash Adelle, or helped her with going to the loo if she didn't notice any traces on her body if the injuries were as severe as described?
Also, the final stand-off... wait, Tonya (who, I'm sorry, had a personality of a zucchini, come on, she must me forty or something, and she's everything "momma this" and "momma that") calls Mike and calls Natisnet and they don't answer, presumably because they are in the middle of the fight, Tonya leaves work, gets into a car crash, goes to ER to get treatment and then arrives to Adelle's house still in the middle of the fight? What's with timing here?
I'm also not sure the racism issue was addressed deeply enough. All right, I mean would you expect depth from a horror novella? But if the authors did put it there - I think it should've been a bit more complicated than that. If there is a clash of ideologies, it should be a clash, not just psycho-killer-says-wrong-things and shining-victim-is-always-right, to the point that, proving it, even a life long drug dealer turns straight and starts a new life.
Okay, I think I'm harsh. It was very interesting read, it's likely my problem that I expected more.

[Uptown Horror Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that explores themes and issues regarding race that most are afraid to speak on and the authors dont pull ANY punches. Wrath James White and J.F. Gonzales (RIP) die a great job on this novella. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end

[James Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two greats of extreme horror get down and dirty in this awesome novel. It will punch you in the face fast and quick with the unrelenting torture and humiliation.

The torturer is a nurse; Natsinet who has created in her mind a world paradigm, an outlook, that concerns both her own heritage and that of African Americans. The sufferer the civil rights leader Adelle Smith who after years of fighting for her people will now be put through unimaginable pain, once again because of the color of her skin.

The nurse is a master of disguise in that she is able to trick all those around Adelle into thinking everything is alright, meanwhile she is going through indignation after indignation.

These pages are soaked with pain, gore, troubled minds, emotions and an unforgettable female villain (whose reasons are fully explained). Few writers could pull off what these two do in this book. Few writers can make human monsters of us all. Very few could show that racism is easily one of the worse monsters that still dwells amongst us. That help in making a simple benign human, a creature far worse then impotent vampires. They both write excellent prose that will suck you right in and make your toes curl as you feel each blow to poor Adelle. Truly there is nothing better in the world then a book you just can't stop reading.

So turn off your phone, get comfortable and get enthralled!

[Shadow Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for the second time this year.
This is another amazing book from WJW, but I could barely contain my anger while I was reading it!
An elderly civil rights activist is tortured beyond understanding by her newly hired, sadistic 'nurse'. If this wouldn't have been an electronic copy of the book, I'd have thrown it against the wall twenty times.
I love the heart of her neighbor - the neighborhood's king thug. Amazing human being.
Amazing book! Highly recommended.

[Corrina Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a powerful, hard hitting, emotional story, with lots of blood, guts and torture thrown in.
Imagine being trapped and helpless in your own body, whilst someone who is supposed to be caring for and rehabilitating you, abuses their power and trust to abuse you!
Horrific, but absolutely brilliant, I couldn't put this one down!
5 sadistic nurses from me 👩‍⚕️👩‍⚕️👩‍⚕️👩‍⚕️👩‍⚕️

[William M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 AND 1/2 STARS

Hero is a finely tuned tale of terror. White and Gonzalez are not afraid of peeling back the layers of evil to deconstruct the motives of one of the most chilling female villains in recent memory. The pairing of these authors worked much better, in my opinion, than that of Wrath James White and Maurice Broaddus's book, Orgy Of Souls. The writing of Hero felt completely seamless, as if written by a single mind.

This fantastic writing team has managed to accomplish in a novella what most authors cannot do in an entire novel. I was completely hooked from the first page until the epilogue and not afraid to acknowledge the tears in my eyes as I finished the book. This is one powerful work of horror and I am definitely looking forward to more from White and Gonzalez. A few typos and some minor story points aside, this is near perfect.

[Phil Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I want from WJW. A story about race relations from an angle I have never considered before. Throw in some brutal horror elements and I am happy. Great read!

[E The Creepy Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. I’m fairly new to the extreme horror genre and this story had me on the edge of my seat. I just kept wanting to know more and more about the antagonist and the fate of the main character. The ending was satisfactory and I felt like everything was wrapped up nicely. I enjoyed the underlying themes and can say for certain that I would read this again, but I would skip that one part, you know, with the gun, because it made me nauseous. But, that is kinda what I was looking for when I got into this genre, so I guess the authors did a good job with that. The only complaint I really have is that I felt the story deviated a bit towards the end and got a little more unrealistic, as I felt when the violence towards the other characters started it took away from the main interactions with the main character and the antagonist, and the extra violence just seemed a little overboard. If what was going on was a secret, the antagonist really just dug herself into a deeper hole towards the end. I also felt like a lot of the character development was rehashed instead of added upon, but it certainly was solid enough. Would recommend.

[Horror DNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wrath James White and J.F. Gonzalez are both very well known to horror readers because they consistently put out great books. Knowing that, it comes as no surprise that when these two paired up to create something, the result was smart, top-notch horror fiction. Hero is a multilayered narrative that brings the tension and gore you would expect from White and Gonzalez and mixes it with a profound exploration of identity and race.

You can read Gabino's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has a real life gritty feel, the story is one that seems to have been pulled from a news headline and written by those involved in the horror. I rarely find a story where a victim has my sympathy long before their torture starts and this one had me angry every time the antagonist inflicted any pain upon her.
Take woman who has sacrificed her life for the betterment of others and her community and than put her as old woman helpless and at the mercy of a sadistic care giver. I was gripped by her plight and elated by the ending and how it's twist of fate saves the woman not only from her torturer but herself. Definitely a must read !

[Book-addicted · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Inhalt*
"Ihr ganzes Leben lang hat Adelle Smith anderen Menschen geholfen und sich für die Bürgerrechte eingesetzt. Dafür wird sie öffentlich geehrt.
Kurz darauf erleidet Adelle einen Schlaganfall. Nahezu gelähmt und nicht mehr fähig zu sprechen, benötigt sie nun selbst Hilfe.
So gerät die alte Frau in die Obhut einer rabiaten Krankenpflegerin. Weil die in einer armen Familie eine traurige Kindheit erlebte, soll die Kranke dafür b��ßen … Ja, Adelle braucht Hilfe. Schnell! Doch sie kann es ja niemandem sagen!" (Quelle: Amazon)

*Erster Satz des Buches*
"Die Krankenschwester stand über den Jungen gebeugt."

*Infos zum Buch*
Seitenzahl: 208 Seiten
Verlag: Festa Verlag

ISBN: Keine ISBN, da Privatdruck. Hier kaufen!
Preis: 12,99 € (Taschenbuch) / 4,99 € (E-Book)
Reihe: Festa Extrem Band 16

*Infos zu den Autoren*
"Wrath James White ist ein ehemaliger Kickboxer (World Class Heavyweight) und Trainer für unterschiedliche Kampftechniken. Er lebt mit seiner Frau in Austin, Texas. Wrath hat drei Kinder: Isis, Nala und Sultan. Wrath (Zorn) schrieb mehrere Romane, die zu den brutalsten und erschütterndsten zählen, die jemals in Amerika erschienen. Zusammen mit dem »Meister des Extreme Horror« Edward Lee schrieb er Der Teratologe.

Jesus F. Gonzalez war ein amerikanischer Autor von brutalen Horrorromanen. Er starb leider schon 2014 im Alter von nur 50 Jahren. Bei Festa u.a. in Vorbereitung: Survivor.." (Quelle: Amazon)

*Fazit*
-> Wieso wollte ich dieses Buch lesen?
Nachdem ich von "Schänderblut" von Wrath James White total begeistert war und ich von "Krank" schon einiges gutes gehört habe, bin ich neugierig geworden...


-> Cover:
Was für ein fieses, gruseliges und gemeines Cover! Ich bin ja, was das angeht, eine echte Mimose, muss ich gestehen. Wenn ich solche Bücher im Bett lese und es dann zum schlafen beiseite lege, dann lege ich das Buch "aufs Gesicht", damit ich das Cover nicht mehr sehen muss... *lach* Solche Bücher lesen, aber das Cover zudecken... nichtsdestotrotz finde ich das Cover absolut gelungen, denn es passt nicht nur perfekt zur Geschichte, man hat auch die "böse" Krankenschwester perfekt vor Augen!

-> Story + Charaktere:
Wie ihr es vermutlich schon erwartet, da der Name ja recht eindeutig ist: "Krank" hat eine echt heftige Story!

Ich war wirklich gespannt, was mich erwarten würde, denn bisher habe ich eigentlich nur gutes unter den Festa-Liebhabern gehört - "Krank" gefiel eigentlich jedem. Doch worum geht es eigentlich? Adelle Smith war ihr Leben lang Bürgerrechtskämpferin und hat sich für die schwarze Bevölkerung eingesetzt. Am Abend ihrer öffentlichen Ehrung erleidet Adelle mehrere Schlaganfälle und ist einseitig gelähmt, die Fähigkeit zu sprechen ist ihr ebenfalls abhanden gekommen. Da ihre Tochter zu weit weg wohnt und zudem noch eigene Verpflichtungen hat, stellt sie eine 24 Stunden-5 Tage Pflegekraft ein, die sich nicht nur um Adelles Pflege kümmern, sondern auch die Physiotherapie durchführen soll. So kommt also Natsinet ins Haus - eine richtig böse Person. Natsinet, Tochter eines schwarzen Mannes und einer weißen Frau, hat sich nie so recht dazu bekannt, "schwarze" Wurzeln zu haben und kann der schwarzen Bevölkerung nicht allzu viel abgewinnen... Adelle bringt sie nur Hass-Gefühle gegenüber und dies lässt sie sich deutlich spüren - mit jeder erdenklichen Folter.

Was habe ich Natsinet verflucht, das könnt ihr euch gar nicht vorstellen! So ein fieses, grausames und unbelehrbares Miststück! Auch wenn dieser Band nicht umsonst in der "Extrem" Reihe des Festa Verlages erschienen ist und alle möglichen Formen der Folter vorkommen, so ist es dennoch kein ausschließlicher Splatter - meiner Meinung nach zumindest. Die Thematik, der Hass zwischen weißer und schwarzer Bevölkerung ist mehr als präsent und lässt uns Menschen, die wir ja eigentlich in einer Zivilisierten Welt leben (oder dies zumindest annehmen), so manches Mal völlig fassungslos den Kopf schütteln. Rassenhass gibt es überall auf der Welt, doch "Krank" schildert diesen nochmal in ganz neuen Dimensionen, bzw. zeigt uns einmal mehr, dass dieses Thema auch in der heutigen Zeit durchaus von Belang ist.

Ein weiterer Aspekt des Ganzen ist natürlich die Tatsache, dass nicht nur der Rassenhass existiert, sondern dass schon schlicht und ergreifend überforderte Pflegekräfte manchmal zu extremen Maßnahmen greifen - auch wenn diese in "Krank" natürlich deutlich überspitzt dargestellt werden. Dennoch bringt es den Leser zusätzlich zum nachdenken.

Auch wenn sich das Buch nur um die Folter einer bettlägerigen, kranken Frau dreht, so wird es zu keiner Zeit langweilig, denn nach jeder Grausamkeit lässt schon die nächste auf sich warten - und Natsinet ist kreativ, was das angeht. Es fließen Körperflüssigkeiten en Masse und wer gar so zart besaitet ist, der sollte sich überlegen, ob er zu "Krank" greifen möchte. Dennoch bietet "Krank" auch eine Story, die zum nachdenken anregt und den ein oder anderen sympathischen Charakter. Besonders gut gefiel mir Big Mike, der Drogenboss des Viertels, der Adelles Tochter Tonya schon von Kindesbeinen an kennt und sich deshalb auch um Adelle sorgt.

-> Schreibstil:
Der Schreibstil war sehr angenehm und das Buch flüssig lesbar, geschrieben wurde die Geschichte in der Vergangenheitsform aus Sicht eines Erzählers.


-> Gesamt:
"Krank" ist genau das: Krank. Neben kreativen Foltermethoden und interessanten Charakteren hat die Story einen ernsten Hintergrund, der den ein oder anderen Leser möglicherweise zum nachdenken anregen könnte.


Wertung: 5 von 5 Sterne!

[John Calvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 A great read. A politically conscious book about how racism spreads like a disease and leads us to horrible actions. This is my first White book (I've read Survivor by Gonzalez) and I got hooked. There is a huge ammount of tension building up, every character is deeply explored. Equal parts horror and drama with a lot incredibly touching moments. A must read.

I'll definitely check more books by Wrath James White.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. The second best book that i have read this year so far.

[Stephanie E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've wanted to read this book for a long time but could never find it anywhere. Fortunately, Deadite Press was selling it at Killercon, and I couldn't help but pick up a copy.

There are three main characters here: Adelle, Tonya, and Natsinet. Adelle is a prominent Civil Rights Activist who received an NAACP award, and Tonya is her daughter. After a stroke, Adelle can't speak and is paralyzed on her left side. She's at the mercy of her nurse, Natsinet, who has sadistic intentions.

This book is well-written, but as with all books written by these authors, it isn't for the faint of heart. Natsinet puts Adelle through serious torture, and with her condition, she can't fight back or even scream for help.

But there are many things to appreciate from this book. J.F. Gonzalez and Wrath James White humanize "the hood." The neighborhood's denizens, along with Tonya, prove they have the best interests for Adelle. It also proves how murderous racism really is (though you can still see this on the news, unfortunately) and why diversity truly is an amazing thing.

It also takes into consideration the serious power that medical professionals have. They may have all the right qualifications, education, and experience, but you don't know a medical professional's character. You can only trust they will do their best for their patients. Knowing there have been real-life stories of nurses killing patients creates a new paranoia.

There's only one tiny flaw, which I call the "unnecessary boobs." When male authors start describing breasts in a way that's out of place and unrelated to the scene. Unfortunately, Gonzalez and White did this here. I won't explain in too much detail to avoid giving away spoilers, but there's a scene where a female killer is dismembering a body, and they describe how blood was dripping down her breasts. It was completely unnecessary, so I took off a star.

Otherwise, I absolutely recommend this book. It has a generous dose of social issues mixed in with sadism. Hopefully, you won't feel paranoid to visit the doctor.

[❤️‍A ❤️‍ · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF bit over the halfway point
Not because the torture was too much. Outside of the antagonist being bi-racial, the dynamic felt strawman-y? Helpless victim being hurt by her abuser instead make them a black woman. Maybe if the racism wasn’t as extreme then…then it wouldn’t be a splatterpunk book

[Josh Warfel · Rating 5 out of 5]

a superb and simultaneously heartbreaking, horrifying, and heartwarming story from two matters of the genre.

[Books.to.go · Rating 3 out of 5]

Videorezi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r9EE...

[Chuck Rios · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hero by J. F. Gonzalez and Wrath James White is a cold and razor sharp piece of fiction. It is roughly about a Civil Rights leader named Adelle Smith and her struggle with an angel of death type hospice nurse named Natsinet, who hates the woman she cares for and sees Adelle as the cause of all her pain and racist misery.
The novella runs 164 pages and deals with racial tensions, self hating, torture themes, redemption and heroisim. The story smashes stereotypes, especially in the climatic end scene.
Also, the epilogue was particularly touching.
Gonzales and WJW write a seamless work and it is hard to tell where one ended and the other began. That is always a sign of a great writing team, just like Brian Keene and Gonzalez in the Clicker series, when I don't notice the breaks in the story and things flow smoothly from chapter to chapter.
All in all, Hero is a classic concept story with a hardcore horror twist. If you are into redeeming /revenge stories and like a little hope thrown into the mix, then Hero would be right up your alley.
It is available from Deadite Press for the meager price of $11 bucks for the Trade Paperback or $5 for the digital edition.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hero is brought to you by two modern day horror maestros - Wrath James White and J.F. Gonzalez - both of whom are known to bring edgy and original stories to print. This particular book was originally released as a hard-cover only four years ago and was been long out of print until Deadite Press decided to re-release it in a more affordable and easy to get form.

The book follows an elderly lady called Adelle, a former civil rights activist, who has a stroke and needs the constant care at home of a nurse. The lady put in change of Adelle's care is Natsinet, a young lady who doesn't see a lady needing help but the cause of her own childhood problems and goes on to torture Adelle.

The book is very well written and the authors have done a good job at making an evil and realistic female villain which moves the story along at a good pace. The story as a whole also does a good job at making you root for Adelle, you feel sorry for her when she's being tortured and want Natsinet to be found out.

If you pick up this book you won't want to put it down - brilliant.

[Caleb Golden · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, I guess. This is my third Wrath James White book and the most well done so far, considering the way the author always seems to rush the story without really giving it time to blossom.
A pretty brutal read about a bedridden black civil rights leader whose hospice nurse turns out to be a vicious white supremacist intent on torturing the woman to death, but my pet peeve when it comes to this author is that while the story and characters are fairly well thought out, the plot and character development always seem to fall short. You get a few peaks into the origins of both the victim and her tormentor, but nothing major, which makes the story just seem kinda thrown together. All in all, I give 3 stars because while lacking a lot of action and not being very heavy on the gore, it's still a pretty disturbing read that actually managed to get under my skin at times.

[Ms. Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars (We really need half stars)
Underneath it all, this is a story about race and stereotypes; particularly African American men and women. Adelle, a woman that fights for black rights, has a stroke that leaves her partially paralyzed and without a voice. She now requires home care for rehabilitation which comes in the form of Nat, a half white half Eretian, who is pretty twisted and not happy with the color of her skin and takes it out on others. Adelle has rehab from hell. She is molested and abused and chaos ensues. Although some bad things did happen, this read didn't hit horror status (it's on my general fiction shelf) and the ending when Mike came over and the hospital scene didn't seem to fit.

[Smimo Do · Rating 4 out of 5]

Als afroamerikanische Frau hat man es nicht leicht, deshalb hat Adelle Smith immer für Gleichberechtigung gekämpft. Als sie einen Schlaganfall bekommt und sie sich nicht mehr selbst pflegen kann, muss Adelle ihr Leben in professionelle Obhut begeben.
Doch wer hätte gedacht, dass die anfangs freundliche Pflegerin Natsinet sich als rassistisches Miststück entpuppt.
Eine Geschichte gegen Rassismus mal auf ganz andere Art verpackt.

Auch wenn ich manche Stellen, besonders der Schluss, Natsinet muss wohl Dämonen Krallen haben, etwas unrealistisch fand, kann ich dieses blutige Festa Exemplar wärmstens empfehlen.

[Joe Hempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great novella! I actually almost read this in one setting. It was hard to read at times. The torture of a helpless woman (who really comes through it), and in some crazy ways too really had me squirming.

An NAACP award recipient has a stroke and is being taken care of by an angry at home nurse, who feels that all the people living in the ghetto are horrible and do nothing to contribute to society.

Her anger is reflected to Adelle, and other black eldery folks.

A quick read, keeps you on the edge of your seat!

[James Heiney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book. There were some points that got a little soapboxy--with long monologues from characters expressing their points of view--but it didn't bog the story down too much and gave some interesting viewpoints. The horror was good and the antagonist was particularly unlikeable (a good thing.)

[Mouthful Of Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Sterne Meine Meinung:
http://mouthfulofbooks.blogspot.de/20...

[cecilia in bookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐ Ich habe das Buch innerhalb von ein paar Stunden komplett gelesen, das spricht eindeutig für das Buch. Mir hat es wirklich sehr gut gefallen. Aber ich mag solche "kranken" Sachen auch einfach 😂