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Sick Bastards #2
SickER Bastards
The sequel to Sick B*stards
WARNING: THIS IS AN EXTREME HORROR NOVEL. There is gore. There is bad language. There are scenes of a sexual nature. But hidden underneath it all is also a chilling story. Please do not purchase this book if you are easily shocked, disgusted or offended. This book is not for you.
Home truths pave the way for a journey of self-discovery and revenge in the direct sequel to Matt Shaw's Sick Bastards.
WARNING: THIS IS AN EXTREME HORROR NOVEL. There is gore. There is bad language. There are scenes of a sexual nature. But hidden underneath it all is also a chilling story. Please do not purchase this book if you are easily shocked, disgusted or offended. This book is not for you.
Home truths pave the way for a journey of self-discovery and revenge in the direct sequel to Matt Shaw's Sick Bastards.
- GenresHorrorSplatterpunkDark
Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2014
112 people are currently reading
764 people want to read
About the author
Matt Shaw
529 books2,191 followersBiography
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
November 16, 2021
3 stars.
🔪
tw: cannibalism, incest, gore, murder, rape, animal killing, parental abuse.
✦ i wasn't sure if i wanted to read the sequel to Sick Bastards, because to me it seemed like a pretty solid standalone, but ultimately i'm glad that i checked this out.
✦ this was just as fucked up as the first book, but i didn't like it as much overall.
✦ i kept waiting for the usual Matt Shaw plot twist at the end, but when it didn't really come, i was left a little underwhelmed.
✦ this was still definitely a very addictive, gory, disgusting and enjoyable read. i can always count on Matt Shaw to get me out of my reading slump lol.
tw: cannibalism, incest, gore, murder, rape, animal killing, parental abuse.
✦ i wasn't sure if i wanted to read the sequel to Sick Bastards, because to me it seemed like a pretty solid standalone, but ultimately i'm glad that i checked this out.
✦ this was just as fucked up as the first book, but i didn't like it as much overall.
✦ i kept waiting for the usual Matt Shaw plot twist at the end, but when it didn't really come, i was left a little underwhelmed.
✦ this was still definitely a very addictive, gory, disgusting and enjoyable read. i can always count on Matt Shaw to get me out of my reading slump lol.
April 12, 2015
SickER B*stards is of course the follow-up to Sick B*stards and serves, I guess as a prelude to Rotting Dead F*cks. The story resumes immediately where book one finishes.
Son or Brother is back after his foray into the real world, with slightly different opinions and aspirations. He wants them all to remain where they are, sex with sister is getting better, trying different things, won’t go there but it’s certainly entertaining. It’s all good but for one troubling topic. Food and the lack of it, no more visitors to eat and that’s worrying for our family. Father wants to take the car and leave, explore what is out there in the world and things are about to take a turn for the worse.
Son or Brother knows what's out there, he's the only one who does but he can't force them to stay. So he's going to have to tag along. Interspersed with chapters of his life before everything changed, we see what got him into his current predicament and the returning memories of his real family, what became of them?
Only now he's changed, he's capable of murder without a second thought and his mentality has succumbed to killing with no reprisal. Eating victims is a normal part of the day. It's a different life now and it’s fascinating to see the old and the new worlds collide in suitably horrific fashion.
A 3.5* rating.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Son or Brother is back after his foray into the real world, with slightly different opinions and aspirations. He wants them all to remain where they are, sex with sister is getting better, trying different things, won’t go there but it’s certainly entertaining. It’s all good but for one troubling topic. Food and the lack of it, no more visitors to eat and that’s worrying for our family. Father wants to take the car and leave, explore what is out there in the world and things are about to take a turn for the worse.
Son or Brother knows what's out there, he's the only one who does but he can't force them to stay. So he's going to have to tag along. Interspersed with chapters of his life before everything changed, we see what got him into his current predicament and the returning memories of his real family, what became of them?
Only now he's changed, he's capable of murder without a second thought and his mentality has succumbed to killing with no reprisal. Eating victims is a normal part of the day. It's a different life now and it’s fascinating to see the old and the new worlds collide in suitably horrific fashion.
A 3.5* rating.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
October 13, 2021
If anyone out there has an even mild case of oedipus complex, this is the book for you.
May 1, 2015
Direct sequel to Sick Bastards.
Son/Brother is back with Father, Mother, and Sister but food is so scarce they are determined to leave the house. Son tried to convince them to stay, but not without Sister, and so they leave.
Matt Shaw is very unapologetic with each book he writes which I really admire. It takes guts to write something so twisted and disgusting like this and sell it. I thought the first book was bad (in a good way) but this is indeed sickER and with more twists. I did not enjoy this given the contents of this book, but damned if I tried to stop reading it. Matt Shaw is fast becoming at the top of my list for must-read horror and I would most definitely recommend him to anyone!
Oh, and the ending? Sh*t...
And keep in mind that the series is meant to be read in order.
Son/Brother is back with Father, Mother, and Sister but food is so scarce they are determined to leave the house. Son tried to convince them to stay, but not without Sister, and so they leave.
Matt Shaw is very unapologetic with each book he writes which I really admire. It takes guts to write something so twisted and disgusting like this and sell it. I thought the first book was bad (in a good way) but this is indeed sickER and with more twists. I did not enjoy this given the contents of this book, but damned if I tried to stop reading it. Matt Shaw is fast becoming at the top of my list for must-read horror and I would most definitely recommend him to anyone!
Oh, and the ending? Sh*t...
And keep in mind that the series is meant to be read in order.
March 4, 2023
"I laughed. Chances. I beat a man to death with a shovel and ate his corpse. You don’t forget s**t like that."
I ordered this book the second I finished reading Sick B*stards. It was so disgusting and disturbing that I needed to read the second book. And that my friends is why I’m driving the bus to hell.
What we get here is something very similar to the first book. I was kind of bored because nothing new was really brought to the table. We do get some backstory and that’s what really kept me reading on. Then the epilogue happened. What in the ever loving f**k was that? Damn! That was the most messed up part of the book.
After reading the first two volumes I’m undecided on whether to continue. It was nasty but I want something different.
I ordered this book the second I finished reading Sick B*stards. It was so disgusting and disturbing that I needed to read the second book. And that my friends is why I’m driving the bus to hell.
What we get here is something very similar to the first book. I was kind of bored because nothing new was really brought to the table. We do get some backstory and that’s what really kept me reading on. Then the epilogue happened. What in the ever loving f**k was that? Damn! That was the most messed up part of the book.
After reading the first two volumes I’m undecided on whether to continue. It was nasty but I want something different.
April 6, 2024
Just like the first book, this book is full of brutal violence and most triggers you can think of, also just like the first book I absolutely loved the story line it's just wow and that ending...... jesus christ!!
September 6, 2022
Matt Shaw is one hell of a story teller. All the good stuff is in this book. I wasn't sure how it would be different then the first book Sick Bastards, but this packs a different punch as you learn more about John's past. The ending was the best part!! 5 stars !!
January 23, 2021
Excellent sequel. Initially I was concerned this would just be more of the same but this follow up provides back story to the main character whilst still providing plenty of the good stuff i.e. lots of gore and sex! Not for the faint hearted!
July 17, 2022
Brother doesn't know what is going to happen when father decides it's time to leave the house. He is told to drive, but he doesn't want to take them anywhere near the base he found.
He stops at the house he had found and tells the family they should look for food inside, even though he knows there isn't any.
With so much more of his memories coming back, he knows he must get away from this fake family and find his real mother and father.
Matt Shaw takes you into the depths of human depravity in this set of books. It might be too much for lots of people and possibly need to have trigger warnings added.
He stops at the house he had found and tells the family they should look for food inside, even though he knows there isn't any.
With so much more of his memories coming back, he knows he must get away from this fake family and find his real mother and father.
Matt Shaw takes you into the depths of human depravity in this set of books. It might be too much for lots of people and possibly need to have trigger warnings added.
May 19, 2015
I Really enjoyed that!
Firstly I would like to say that I did the audio book version of this that I was lucky to win in a recent competition. The only audio books I've read previously have been Librivox, so they're all I can compare it to. I am happy to say that the narration in this surpassed anything I've listened to before.
With regards to the story. The predecessor "Sick B*stards". Being honest I thought that book was just ok. I can see why other people liked it so much, but I'm not so easily shocked and for me the first in the series had more shock than story.
This story however was very, very good. It surpassed the first one by a long shot. It still had all of that shock factor (I actually cringed at the last ten minutes) but it also had a very good story line. It gave a very in depth back story in which we get to know the protagonist a lot better. I actually felt quite bad for him in parts.
Heed the warning. Do not read if you are easily disturbed. However if you like that sort of stuff. Then I'm sure you'll love this. I'm aware that there is a third in the series. A short story "Sickest B*stards" After reading this one I will definitely be checking that out.
All reviews can be found at http://lennonslair.blogspot.co.uk/
Firstly I would like to say that I did the audio book version of this that I was lucky to win in a recent competition. The only audio books I've read previously have been Librivox, so they're all I can compare it to. I am happy to say that the narration in this surpassed anything I've listened to before.
With regards to the story. The predecessor "Sick B*stards". Being honest I thought that book was just ok. I can see why other people liked it so much, but I'm not so easily shocked and for me the first in the series had more shock than story.
This story however was very, very good. It surpassed the first one by a long shot. It still had all of that shock factor (I actually cringed at the last ten minutes) but it also had a very good story line. It gave a very in depth back story in which we get to know the protagonist a lot better. I actually felt quite bad for him in parts.
Heed the warning. Do not read if you are easily disturbed. However if you like that sort of stuff. Then I'm sure you'll love this. I'm aware that there is a third in the series. A short story "Sickest B*stards" After reading this one I will definitely be checking that out.
All reviews can be found at http://lennonslair.blogspot.co.uk/
August 8, 2022
what a deep and philosophical analysis on freudian theory and anti government sentiment. highly recommend to be taught in any psychology/philosophy and politics class. wow
February 20, 2022
The second book in the series - and quite possibly even more disgusting than the first! This is definitely an extreme horror. It follows the family as they decide it's time to start moving and see what the rest of the world is like. Brother/son has already found out the truth, and realises they shouldn't go, but can't stop them. And then things just go from bad to worse for them all...
This author is so talented, he can make you feel absolutely sick and disgusted whilst making you need to read on. He's unlike anything I've read before!
This author is so talented, he can make you feel absolutely sick and disgusted whilst making you need to read on. He's unlike anything I've read before!
July 6, 2023
Surely, the second book can’t be more disturbing than the first one - wrong! I’m gonna go dip my eyes in bleach now, thanks
February 16, 2015
This picks up exactly where Sick B*stards finished. Brother is back home and is having conflicting feelings about everything owing to his memories resurfacing. Eventually, after Father insists they leave to find other survivors, he tells the Family what really happened. This does not go down well, and Father storms off. Can Brother find a happy ending with his real family or is he destined to live the life he has been for the last few months.
This is typical of a Matt Shaw book, he has the ability to drop you in the middle of the action, make you feel about the characters and then whack you round the chops with a twister of an ending! This was full of gore, and sex and I loved it! If this sort of thing is not for you, then I advise you walk away now. If you DO like that sort of thing, and you like Matt Shaw's books in general then come in, you will not be disappointed!
This is typical of a Matt Shaw book, he has the ability to drop you in the middle of the action, make you feel about the characters and then whack you round the chops with a twister of an ending! This was full of gore, and sex and I loved it! If this sort of thing is not for you, then I advise you walk away now. If you DO like that sort of thing, and you like Matt Shaw's books in general then come in, you will not be disappointed!
Read
May 31, 2016Matt Shaw has managed to outdo himself again!
Sick B*astards pushed pretty much every single boundary. However the sequel, sickER B*astards multiplies that by ten. We are reacquainted with the family from the first book and resume where we left off, but with a much darker and more shocking turn of events. The ending left me reeling despite all that had come before. The characters are amazingly vivid and, as in real life, the events that they have encountered have a major effect on their personalities and the reader will find themselves constantly switching allegiance.
The sex is in abundance; dirty and depraved sex which will leave you feeling more wrung out than turned on. Definitely not for the wimpish or squeamish!
Sick B*astards pushed pretty much every single boundary. However the sequel, sickER B*astards multiplies that by ten. We are reacquainted with the family from the first book and resume where we left off, but with a much darker and more shocking turn of events. The ending left me reeling despite all that had come before. The characters are amazingly vivid and, as in real life, the events that they have encountered have a major effect on their personalities and the reader will find themselves constantly switching allegiance.
The sex is in abundance; dirty and depraved sex which will leave you feeling more wrung out than turned on. Definitely not for the wimpish or squeamish!
May 29, 2020
Sicker Bastards – in my opinion even more sicker than the Sick Bastard book. This sequel of that tale didn't match the fact I was looking for which could be solved. Don't know where to starts. But want to get to the point exactly...
***⚠SPOILER ALERT⚠***
The story keep flowing as it ended in the previous book. The family has no knowledge about themselves as they one day find themselves woke up. They apparently been assembled as part of a government experiment. While waking up they found themselves extremely horny. It's maybe the cause of the drug cocktail that the government used to dose this family’s drinking water. The story leapt on. This time the father wants to explore the outside to find out what's really there. The brother of this family became more violent as he didn't give any moral to any of his family members. But even doing all this sin activities, he got himself a steady character of himself. He even find out the family he's being with was not actually his real family. They are fake. The author in this tale creates the time in back and forth detailing. Between current time, and the before time. Didn't like the finish though, I was hoping the brother knows everything clearly and become normal...
***⚠SPOILER ALERT⚠***
The story keep flowing as it ended in the previous book. The family has no knowledge about themselves as they one day find themselves woke up. They apparently been assembled as part of a government experiment. While waking up they found themselves extremely horny. It's maybe the cause of the drug cocktail that the government used to dose this family’s drinking water. The story leapt on. This time the father wants to explore the outside to find out what's really there. The brother of this family became more violent as he didn't give any moral to any of his family members. But even doing all this sin activities, he got himself a steady character of himself. He even find out the family he's being with was not actually his real family. They are fake. The author in this tale creates the time in back and forth detailing. Between current time, and the before time. Didn't like the finish though, I was hoping the brother knows everything clearly and become normal...
April 8, 2023
This one was definitely sickER than the first, but is a good segue into Rotting Dead Fucks! There’s also another book in the series called Sickest B*stards that I’m going to dive into!
The ending of this story literally had me dropping my jaw onto the floor! Nasty!!!
I think the first book is better in my opinion!
The ending of this story literally had me dropping my jaw onto the floor! Nasty!!!
I think the first book is better in my opinion!
May 7, 2020
Ending of story was made me near vomit! Fook you!
April 30, 2024
Deeply disturbed but have to read the third one to see how it all ends…
April 2, 2019
The follow-up to Sick B*stards, this book had plenty of gore, sex and nastiness. I just don't think the story was as good as the first. The end did mess me up a bit though!
January 23, 2015
This book tries really hard to be sick and twisted. And it fails miserably. I've read sick and twisted, and this is not it, not by a long shot. But the author does try very hard. He's just not good at it.
The story begins with the "family" eating human flesh. As the son feasts on said flesh, he can't help but wonder what it would taste like, being eaten out of his sister's vagina. See? He's trying really hard, this Matt Shaw. The son even acts out that fantasy with his sister, a few pages later. And yes, if that was in fact his sister, that would be a bit twisted, I admit. But *spoiler alert* she's not his sister.
This "family" has apparently been assembled as part of a government experiment, or something. They all woke up in that house, not knowing who they were. They also woke up extremely horny. Supposedly, because of the drug cocktail that the government used to dose this family's drinking water. So there's incestious fucking going on all bloody day. Good times. But again, it's not really incestious.
The book cuts back and forth, between current time, and the before time. Before the son got in this situation. Back when he was living in his mom's basement. I saw many opportunities for the author to make it clear that this so-called "family" the son is currently involved with is in fact, his real family.
That would have been cool. I mean the only reason he's really fucking his fake sister and mother is that he knows they are fake. He's been to the military base. He knows the truth. So, if his memories finally did come flooding back, and he slowly realises that he's humping his dead real-mom's corpse... That would have been some good story telling right there. But noooooooooo.
So the problem with this book is really the fact that I'm writing a better story in my head while reading this pile of shit. That's not my job, goddamnit. It's the author's fucking job. So get it right next time, you stupid cunt.
The story begins with the "family" eating human flesh. As the son feasts on said flesh, he can't help but wonder what it would taste like, being eaten out of his sister's vagina. See? He's trying really hard, this Matt Shaw. The son even acts out that fantasy with his sister, a few pages later. And yes, if that was in fact his sister, that would be a bit twisted, I admit. But *spoiler alert* she's not his sister.
This "family" has apparently been assembled as part of a government experiment, or something. They all woke up in that house, not knowing who they were. They also woke up extremely horny. Supposedly, because of the drug cocktail that the government used to dose this family's drinking water. So there's incestious fucking going on all bloody day. Good times. But again, it's not really incestious.
The book cuts back and forth, between current time, and the before time. Before the son got in this situation. Back when he was living in his mom's basement. I saw many opportunities for the author to make it clear that this so-called "family" the son is currently involved with is in fact, his real family.
That would have been cool. I mean the only reason he's really fucking his fake sister and mother is that he knows they are fake. He's been to the military base. He knows the truth. So, if his memories finally did come flooding back, and he slowly realises that he's humping his dead real-mom's corpse... That would have been some good story telling right there. But noooooooooo.
So the problem with this book is really the fact that I'm writing a better story in my head while reading this pile of shit. That's not my job, goddamnit. It's the author's fucking job. So get it right next time, you stupid cunt.
November 13, 2015
Well what can I say? This author never fails to shock me. I know it's called sickER B*stards and he did say it would be sicker,but damn it was still sicker than I expected. I actually feel a little dirty after reading that one. I must admit I liked it though. It was the perfect ending to one of this author's best stories.
December 17, 2014
well....where do I start! sickER that sick. The ending.....woww!! There are no words! Didn't know what to expect but man it was good. This along with the first book are 2 of my fave books. Ever. The storyline, characters, gruesomeness, shocks, sex, everything about it, spot on!
December 30, 2017
This was a great follow-up to sick B*stards which I also really enjoyed. I had a rough idea before starting the book on where the story might go, but there was lots of surprises along the way and I found the final chapter the most disturbing of anything I have read from Matt.
December 26, 2014
Another cracker from Matt Shaw, I personally thought the first book was more extreme than this one but still a good read.
February 12, 2019
I don't know which bastard is sicker, author Matt Shaw or main character, Brother aka John Burley, but my interest is still flowing so onto The Sickest Bastard I go!
October 8, 2017
In principle, if you’re reading a sequel, it’s recommended to have been read the previous book – at Matt Shaw’s ”SickER B*stards” is even a must!
Here I can’t and won’t speak of a sequel (in the classical sense), but of a second part! Indeed a sequel continues the story, it also has an autonomy. A „part“, on the other hand, belongs to something, is a piece of it, so it is interdependent and interacts with the other part – just like in the case of ”SickER B*stards”.
Strictly speaking, ”SickER B*stards” even goes a step further and provides the link between ”Sick B*stards” and ”SickEST B*stards”, but this does not belong here.
”SickER B*stards” welcomes the reader directly in the „family“ – father, mother, sister and brother. But this time John knows about himself, his true life and being – or at least what he was once upon a time…
John continues the game, but now less as an actor, as a director. The cameras no longer make his life a playground, but he feeds the world with his will!
What was a desperate escape in the first part, becomes a sick obsession in the second part! You experience the change of the obscenity of the first part to the primitiveness of finality. In a way you can speak here of a struggle between reality (the actual world outside the experiment, John now knows about) and existence (the „Here“ and „Now“ of life, in which John becomes the „brother“).
The journey, which seemed to be finished in the first part, now shows its end as the beginning – the beginning of the demise. Shaw created here an escalating conflict, which, as an essence, bleeds the pure delusion.
What was previously a grotesque celebration, is now the pure dedication to decay!
Matt Shaw closed the circle with ”SickER B*stards”. Where he let the reader experience a constant abstraction of self-disclosure in ”Sick B*stards”, he concretizes the selection of morbidity in ”SickER B*stards” – and releases it!
-
Visit my blog for more reviews:
Die Büchergnomen
Here I can’t and won’t speak of a sequel (in the classical sense), but of a second part! Indeed a sequel continues the story, it also has an autonomy. A „part“, on the other hand, belongs to something, is a piece of it, so it is interdependent and interacts with the other part – just like in the case of ”SickER B*stards”.
Strictly speaking, ”SickER B*stards” even goes a step further and provides the link between ”Sick B*stards” and ”SickEST B*stards”, but this does not belong here.
”SickER B*stards” welcomes the reader directly in the „family“ – father, mother, sister and brother. But this time John knows about himself, his true life and being – or at least what he was once upon a time…
John continues the game, but now less as an actor, as a director. The cameras no longer make his life a playground, but he feeds the world with his will!
What was a desperate escape in the first part, becomes a sick obsession in the second part! You experience the change of the obscenity of the first part to the primitiveness of finality. In a way you can speak here of a struggle between reality (the actual world outside the experiment, John now knows about) and existence (the „Here“ and „Now“ of life, in which John becomes the „brother“).
The journey, which seemed to be finished in the first part, now shows its end as the beginning – the beginning of the demise. Shaw created here an escalating conflict, which, as an essence, bleeds the pure delusion.
What was previously a grotesque celebration, is now the pure dedication to decay!
Matt Shaw closed the circle with ”SickER B*stards”. Where he let the reader experience a constant abstraction of self-disclosure in ”Sick B*stards”, he concretizes the selection of morbidity in ”SickER B*stards” – and releases it!
-
Visit my blog for more reviews:
Die Büchergnomen
January 28, 2023
As a direct follow-up to Sick Bastards, you should definitely read that first. There's no way to add a brief summary of the plot without spoiling the first book.
At the end of the first book we learn a few things about why these characters "Father", "Mother", "Son",& "Daughter" are seemingly cut-off from the world. We also know why they don't remember anything before a few weeks/months prior and even realize that their slipping sense of morality and conscience is at least, in part, due to drugged water they have been drinking. "Son", taking in all of this, decides to return "home" because, while he knows they aren't his real family and it's all a staged experiment, he cannot go back out into the real world. He's too far gone and so are the rest of his "family".
That really was a pretty good ending. At some point, even if the madness you carry is not your fault, you can no longer be a useful part of a functioning society. It takes a brave soul to throw away a chance at normalcy for themselves because they know it will negatively impact others.
Yeah, but that's the last book. Since "Son" didn't tell anyone what he knows, his family ("Father" really) decide, some weeks/months later, to do what "Son" did - go searching for "more". "Son" knows what's out there and knows that they can not simply walk away from this, but can not explain why without admitting he was lying about not finding anything worthwhile in the timeline of the first book.
So we end up heading out into the forest full of infected, finding houses that "Son" had already seen in the prior book, and watching characters get into danger due to "Son" simply not being willing to admit the truth, and/or the "Family" not thinking that "Son" is reliable.
It's a reasonable sequel, if you liked the first you'll like this. Personally I felt that, while more happens in this book, the story wasn't as interesting as the premise of the first. The ending leaves room for a short story (sold separately) to tie up the loose ends.
At the end of the first book we learn a few things about why these characters "Father", "Mother", "Son",& "Daughter" are seemingly cut-off from the world. We also know why they don't remember anything before a few weeks/months prior and even realize that their slipping sense of morality and conscience is at least, in part, due to drugged water they have been drinking. "Son", taking in all of this, decides to return "home" because, while he knows they aren't his real family and it's all a staged experiment, he cannot go back out into the real world. He's too far gone and so are the rest of his "family".
That really was a pretty good ending. At some point, even if the madness you carry is not your fault, you can no longer be a useful part of a functioning society. It takes a brave soul to throw away a chance at normalcy for themselves because they know it will negatively impact others.
Yeah, but that's the last book. Since "Son" didn't tell anyone what he knows, his family ("Father" really) decide, some weeks/months later, to do what "Son" did - go searching for "more". "Son" knows what's out there and knows that they can not simply walk away from this, but can not explain why without admitting he was lying about not finding anything worthwhile in the timeline of the first book.
So we end up heading out into the forest full of infected, finding houses that "Son" had already seen in the prior book, and watching characters get into danger due to "Son" simply not being willing to admit the truth, and/or the "Family" not thinking that "Son" is reliable.
It's a reasonable sequel, if you liked the first you'll like this. Personally I felt that, while more happens in this book, the story wasn't as interesting as the premise of the first. The ending leaves room for a short story (sold separately) to tie up the loose ends.
October 23, 2023
Matt Shaw’s Sicker Bastards picks up where Sick Bastards left off and is filled with the same WTF moments.
While there were still plenty of shocking and disturbing scenes, it didn’t have quite the same effect as the first book. That’s not because they weren’t depraved, but more because I knew what to expect this time.
After escaping the government experiment gone wrong, Brother (the main character) goes back to his “family” and quickly falls back into his new way of living.
While he now knows the truth about the experiment, convincing his family to believe him ends up problematic.
Despite the gore and WTF moments (incest), there is still an underlying character story that is compelling and thoughtful as Brother tries to remember his previous life (before the experiment).
The way Sicker Bastards ended made me want to read the final installment of the series, Sick. Sicker. Sickest: The Bastard Collection.
While there were still plenty of shocking and disturbing scenes, it didn’t have quite the same effect as the first book. That’s not because they weren’t depraved, but more because I knew what to expect this time.
After escaping the government experiment gone wrong, Brother (the main character) goes back to his “family” and quickly falls back into his new way of living.
While he now knows the truth about the experiment, convincing his family to believe him ends up problematic.
Despite the gore and WTF moments (incest), there is still an underlying character story that is compelling and thoughtful as Brother tries to remember his previous life (before the experiment).
The way Sicker Bastards ended made me want to read the final installment of the series, Sick. Sicker. Sickest: The Bastard Collection.
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