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The Fourth Whore
Kenzi Brooks watched The Scribble Man collect her brother’s soul after a hit and run when she was seven. He gave her a present that day—a lucky rabbit’s foot. Sixteen years later, she no longer believes in The Scribble Man, she believes in survival and does what she has to in the slums of Detroit. When thugs kill her mother and beat Kenzi to near death, she accidentally releases Lilith from her prison within the time-worn keychain. And Hell hath no fury… Lilith is out for revenge. Revenge against God, Sariel (Angel of Death and Kenzi’s Scribble Man), and all of mankind for relegating her to nothing more than a demoness for refusing to submit to her husband. She’s put together an apocalyptic plan to destroy everyone who has forsaken her. Forget the Four Horsemen, Lilith is assembling the Four Whores. Will Kenzi rise against her to save the world and The Scribble Man or will she become The Fourth Whore?
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2020
22 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 31, 2024
There was a lot I liked about The Fourth Whore by EV Knight. It's dark and gritty. I'm always a fan of religious apocalypse books when there's a healthy dose of sympathy for the devil. And while Lilith isn't the devil, she is a fantastic mythological character with strong feminist symbolism. So it's not surprising the author set her up to seek out other downtrodden women to start the end of days.
However, there was no true battle of good vs evil because both sides are pretty terrible, and our protagonist, Kenzi, is caught between them.
My only issue is that despite the epic idea the book wasn't very memorable. The end just kind of fizzled out and left me a bit disappointed.
However, there was no true battle of good vs evil because both sides are pretty terrible, and our protagonist, Kenzi, is caught between them.
My only issue is that despite the epic idea the book wasn't very memorable. The end just kind of fizzled out and left me a bit disappointed.
May 17, 2025
This book was really taking us somewhere! Super cool premise and dynamic characters… sadly the ending just fizzled out! 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️!
March 17, 2020
*cracks knuckles*
Okay, first things first.
Thank you Erin and Raw Dog Screaming Press for accommodating our Night Worms Book Party for this debut release. We strongly believe in supporting indie horror and especially, Women in Indie Horror.
Business aside, let's dive in. *deep breath*
There is a lot going on in this book. It's just over 300 pages but so help me, it reads like so much more. To be honest, it was a bit rich for my taste. I don't love the feeling of having to work hard for reading enjoyment; this book requires some heavy lifting on behalf of the reader. Suspending disbelief because this is high, dark fantasy as much as it is horror but also just managing the cast list and changing narratives. The plot is like shifting sand.
As a retelling of the biblical Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, I loved the concept of a Girl Gang gathering power under the headship of the iconic character, Lilith (legendary succubus). If you're unfamiliar with biblical stories or the mythology of Lilith, readers could find the texturing a bit overwhelming. I know these stories and I was struggling. It's clear very early on, this is a revenge fantasy and a reimagining of a patriarchal-centric mythos flipped on its head to be more honoring towards women. I can certainly appreciate that but was this the right vehicle for all this female empowerment broadcasting? Let me unpack it for you:
As a parallel narrative to Lillith's building her army of "whores" is Kenzie's narrative. Kenzie is a young woman living in the slums of Detroit with her neglectful, problematic, useless caregivers (parents) who live in a constant state of being "cracked out". Kenzie is forced to be street smart and resourceful in any way she can be, including selling her body in exchange for rent. It's pretty grim.
Under the surface layer of all this graphic sex and violence, is the very strong feminist message from the author. I could see everything through E. V. Knight's lens.
Not "whores" but "warriors".
Not sexually immoral but sexually in control, wielding sex as an act of war.
A strong female protagonist and a strong female antagonist.
Neither of them wrong or right in their quest to survive and tell the story of their lives, their way.
It's this reader's opinion that there are two epic storylines competing for importance and one of them should have been given prominence. I was far more interested in Lilith's story and frustrated when the story transitioned back and forth to Kenzie's story. The author enmeshed the two storylines in a technically effective way, but I don't think the author was successful in bringing the reader in and executing well on all the fighting ideas. Conceptually, I love THE FOURTH WHORE. Realistically, it doesn't stick the landing.
Due to the provocative nature of the storyline and the compelling writing, I was determined to hang with this until the end, but this has some issues.
It's not a matter of the author having the writing chops to pull the scale and scope of this tale off but more like the author, maybe, had too much of a voice in this story.
I actually loved the way Knight unflinchingly gave this story some teeth and it's probably going to miss some readers just on some of the more shocking content and descriptive language but seasoned horror fans shouldn't have any problem with that.
I'm curious to see how Knight would handle a less epic, more subtle story and I'm eager to read more of her work.
Okay, first things first.
Thank you Erin and Raw Dog Screaming Press for accommodating our Night Worms Book Party for this debut release. We strongly believe in supporting indie horror and especially, Women in Indie Horror.
Business aside, let's dive in. *deep breath*
There is a lot going on in this book. It's just over 300 pages but so help me, it reads like so much more. To be honest, it was a bit rich for my taste. I don't love the feeling of having to work hard for reading enjoyment; this book requires some heavy lifting on behalf of the reader. Suspending disbelief because this is high, dark fantasy as much as it is horror but also just managing the cast list and changing narratives. The plot is like shifting sand.
As a retelling of the biblical Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, I loved the concept of a Girl Gang gathering power under the headship of the iconic character, Lilith (legendary succubus). If you're unfamiliar with biblical stories or the mythology of Lilith, readers could find the texturing a bit overwhelming. I know these stories and I was struggling. It's clear very early on, this is a revenge fantasy and a reimagining of a patriarchal-centric mythos flipped on its head to be more honoring towards women. I can certainly appreciate that but was this the right vehicle for all this female empowerment broadcasting? Let me unpack it for you:
As a parallel narrative to Lillith's building her army of "whores" is Kenzie's narrative. Kenzie is a young woman living in the slums of Detroit with her neglectful, problematic, useless caregivers (parents) who live in a constant state of being "cracked out". Kenzie is forced to be street smart and resourceful in any way she can be, including selling her body in exchange for rent. It's pretty grim.
Under the surface layer of all this graphic sex and violence, is the very strong feminist message from the author. I could see everything through E. V. Knight's lens.
Not "whores" but "warriors".
Not sexually immoral but sexually in control, wielding sex as an act of war.
A strong female protagonist and a strong female antagonist.
Neither of them wrong or right in their quest to survive and tell the story of their lives, their way.
It's this reader's opinion that there are two epic storylines competing for importance and one of them should have been given prominence. I was far more interested in Lilith's story and frustrated when the story transitioned back and forth to Kenzie's story. The author enmeshed the two storylines in a technically effective way, but I don't think the author was successful in bringing the reader in and executing well on all the fighting ideas. Conceptually, I love THE FOURTH WHORE. Realistically, it doesn't stick the landing.
Due to the provocative nature of the storyline and the compelling writing, I was determined to hang with this until the end, but this has some issues.
It's not a matter of the author having the writing chops to pull the scale and scope of this tale off but more like the author, maybe, had too much of a voice in this story.
I actually loved the way Knight unflinchingly gave this story some teeth and it's probably going to miss some readers just on some of the more shocking content and descriptive language but seasoned horror fans shouldn't have any problem with that.
I'm curious to see how Knight would handle a less epic, more subtle story and I'm eager to read more of her work.
March 18, 2020
Honestly, this one just wasn't for me.
November 11, 2020
Wow this one pulls no punches and immediately sets a gruesome and bleak stage for all of the events that follow. Hold on to your lunch because it also gets really ewww gross and I couldn’t love it more for making me cringe like that! Heehee.
There’s a lot going on here and I’m not going to even attempt to explain it all. Probably couldn't if I wanted to but I don’t want to because you need to experience it all your own selves. As a child Kenzie experienced a tragedy first hand and met a figure she deemed “The Scribble Man”. He gives her a rabbit’s foot for protection, and it brings her comfort and release throughout her extremely traumatic life but there’s a lot more going on with the rabbit’s foot as well as with “The Scribble Man”!
Lilith (yes, that one) has a history with the “Scribble Man” and a long simmering hatred and all-consuming desire for revenge after she learns she has been wrongly vilified. When a terrible event occurs, Lillith is unleashed upon the earth and she is FURIOUS. She plans to bring forth Armageddon with the help of three women she has handpicked to help her topple the patriarchy and begin anew. Sounds good to me, ha! Each of her “whores”, as she calls them, has a specific task to fulfill. Pestilence, War, Death - you know how it goes. Kenzie, for reasons I will not spill, is chosen to be Lillith’s Fourth Whore and all the women have big roles in pushing the horror of the story along.
This novel was a bit like watching an unrated Supernatural season (without Sam or Dean saving the day) with things twisted all around and brutal depictions of sexual harm, abuse and well, just brutality. Be warned if you have sexual abuse triggers, that’s all I’m gonna say. There are archangels and nasty demons and the main human characters are imperfect specimens who suffer from self-destructive behaviors, haunting pasts and are women abused terribly by our world and find their power and they are SO fascinating to follow on the page. Sariel, who plays a huge role, is excellently characterized as an imperfect, often selfish and cowardly (again, if you ask me) angel-man who his doing his best to make amends for his past failures and seeks redemption, even if he probably doesn’t deserve it (one of my notes about him says only Fuck off angel and believe me he deserved it but to tell you why would be spoilerific). I guess I’ll credit him for trying to be better but I’m not gonna lie. He didn’t sit right with me. But then again, I’m not sure he was supposed to. I liked that this novel showed the grittiest, ugliest and most flawed edges of humanity but still made you worry and care about a character or two. Lilith, is a fully fleshed out character with a painful to read backstory. Her glorious rage is one million percent justified! But Kenzie was my favorite. Her life was a tragedy but she managed to remain both vulnerable and strong even when facing the worst situations imaginable.
This likely sounds like a lot of characters and side-stories for my brain to handle and it was but the story, for me, was very cohesive and easy to follow. These types of storylines typically confuse the hell out of me and have me drifting away but that wasn’t the case here, not even for a moment which is a minor miracle. The writing is a visceral thing, it got under my skin in this intense, unflinching way and it made me rage for these women as they were used and abused and unfairly blamed and tossed aside like trash and I did not want to turn away even when things were at their most ewww! This isn’t a book for everyone and to be completely honest I didn’t think it was going to be for me when I read a bit about the plot. It very much has a dark urban fantasy feel which isn’t typically my favorite but it all worked here and I did not want to tear myself away. I would’ve finished it in a day if life had allowed me a distraction free moment of peace.
I’m giving THE FOURTH WHORE 4 ½ stars and I would easily recommend it to anyone with a strong stomach looking for a gripping tale of sublime unbridled fury and the humans caught up in the fiery flames of revenge.
There’s a lot going on here and I’m not going to even attempt to explain it all. Probably couldn't if I wanted to but I don’t want to because you need to experience it all your own selves. As a child Kenzie experienced a tragedy first hand and met a figure she deemed “The Scribble Man”. He gives her a rabbit’s foot for protection, and it brings her comfort and release throughout her extremely traumatic life but there’s a lot more going on with the rabbit’s foot as well as with “The Scribble Man”!
Lilith (yes, that one) has a history with the “Scribble Man” and a long simmering hatred and all-consuming desire for revenge after she learns she has been wrongly vilified. When a terrible event occurs, Lillith is unleashed upon the earth and she is FURIOUS. She plans to bring forth Armageddon with the help of three women she has handpicked to help her topple the patriarchy and begin anew. Sounds good to me, ha! Each of her “whores”, as she calls them, has a specific task to fulfill. Pestilence, War, Death - you know how it goes. Kenzie, for reasons I will not spill, is chosen to be Lillith’s Fourth Whore and all the women have big roles in pushing the horror of the story along.
This novel was a bit like watching an unrated Supernatural season (without Sam or Dean saving the day) with things twisted all around and brutal depictions of sexual harm, abuse and well, just brutality. Be warned if you have sexual abuse triggers, that’s all I’m gonna say. There are archangels and nasty demons and the main human characters are imperfect specimens who suffer from self-destructive behaviors, haunting pasts and are women abused terribly by our world and find their power and they are SO fascinating to follow on the page. Sariel, who plays a huge role, is excellently characterized as an imperfect, often selfish and cowardly (again, if you ask me) angel-man who his doing his best to make amends for his past failures and seeks redemption, even if he probably doesn’t deserve it (one of my notes about him says only Fuck off angel and believe me he deserved it but to tell you why would be spoilerific). I guess I’ll credit him for trying to be better but I’m not gonna lie. He didn’t sit right with me. But then again, I’m not sure he was supposed to. I liked that this novel showed the grittiest, ugliest and most flawed edges of humanity but still made you worry and care about a character or two. Lilith, is a fully fleshed out character with a painful to read backstory. Her glorious rage is one million percent justified! But Kenzie was my favorite. Her life was a tragedy but she managed to remain both vulnerable and strong even when facing the worst situations imaginable.
This likely sounds like a lot of characters and side-stories for my brain to handle and it was but the story, for me, was very cohesive and easy to follow. These types of storylines typically confuse the hell out of me and have me drifting away but that wasn’t the case here, not even for a moment which is a minor miracle. The writing is a visceral thing, it got under my skin in this intense, unflinching way and it made me rage for these women as they were used and abused and unfairly blamed and tossed aside like trash and I did not want to turn away even when things were at their most ewww! This isn’t a book for everyone and to be completely honest I didn’t think it was going to be for me when I read a bit about the plot. It very much has a dark urban fantasy feel which isn’t typically my favorite but it all worked here and I did not want to tear myself away. I would’ve finished it in a day if life had allowed me a distraction free moment of peace.
I’m giving THE FOURTH WHORE 4 ½ stars and I would easily recommend it to anyone with a strong stomach looking for a gripping tale of sublime unbridled fury and the humans caught up in the fiery flames of revenge.
May 10, 2022
Have you ever picked up a book without knowing too much about it, only to discover that it was exactly what you were looking for? THE FOURTH WHORE is that for me right now, and I want to thank the Night Worms organizers for hosting another super great #NightWormsBookParty, as well as Raw Dog Screaming Press & Erin Al-Mehairi for providing a review copy to our entire Night Worms review team this month - right before the book's official launch!
I didn't know much about this book going into it, so if you're like me and only need to read a short mini-synopsis to entice you to purchase something, let me just tell you that it's a feminist revenge story about the Four Horsewomen of the apocalypse with enough violence & smut to make you squirm and your skin crawl while reading. A couple of other Night Worms reviewers compared it to the show Supernatural, and I can definitely see this as a darker, more female-centric version of the show (with a lot more sex). I struggle to label it genre-wise; it has a lot going on despite its shorter page count, blending horror with fantasy elements seamlessly.
The language Knight uses throughout is so rich and lush that the gritty environments become almost real. This ability to create something so vivid from the words on a page transport the reader from the tougher neighborhoods of Detroit where Kenzi fights for something better, to the beautiful Garden from which Lilith is banished, creating the catalyst for the horrors to come. Like their situations and surroundings, the characters too seem to leap from the pages - Sariel's weaknesses, Lilith's hatred, Gloria's kindness. Both major and minor characters are given distinct personalities, and although the cast is large, Knight's abilities as an author allow their voices to shine through made each one memorable in its own way.
Some parts of this were tough to read content-wise, and I won't shy away from warning you that if rape, violent sex, or drug abuse bother you in your fiction, this may not be the book for you. That said, my personal feelings about these things allowed me to connect on a deeper level with the story rather than put me off from it, and I found myself feeling actual anger at some of the injustices committed against some of the characters. So much of the book was realistic, despite the fantastical things that happen in it, and the anger that women feel at being used, abused, controlled, and held back is very, very real. I felt the author's own anger in her writing, and that fury really lent itself well to the storytelling itself - such a powerful book!
Overall, I enjoyed this one so much, even if the reading experience did make me a little mad - that emotional reaction just goes to show how good the author is at her craft. It was a wild ride from beginning to end, and I found myself being drawn back to it every time I had to put the book down to deal with 'real life stuff'. I have a feeling this one is going to put me into a book slump - it's totally unlike anything I've read, and I wish there were more.
I didn't know much about this book going into it, so if you're like me and only need to read a short mini-synopsis to entice you to purchase something, let me just tell you that it's a feminist revenge story about the Four Horsewomen of the apocalypse with enough violence & smut to make you squirm and your skin crawl while reading. A couple of other Night Worms reviewers compared it to the show Supernatural, and I can definitely see this as a darker, more female-centric version of the show (with a lot more sex). I struggle to label it genre-wise; it has a lot going on despite its shorter page count, blending horror with fantasy elements seamlessly.
The language Knight uses throughout is so rich and lush that the gritty environments become almost real. This ability to create something so vivid from the words on a page transport the reader from the tougher neighborhoods of Detroit where Kenzi fights for something better, to the beautiful Garden from which Lilith is banished, creating the catalyst for the horrors to come. Like their situations and surroundings, the characters too seem to leap from the pages - Sariel's weaknesses, Lilith's hatred, Gloria's kindness. Both major and minor characters are given distinct personalities, and although the cast is large, Knight's abilities as an author allow their voices to shine through made each one memorable in its own way.
Some parts of this were tough to read content-wise, and I won't shy away from warning you that if rape, violent sex, or drug abuse bother you in your fiction, this may not be the book for you. That said, my personal feelings about these things allowed me to connect on a deeper level with the story rather than put me off from it, and I found myself feeling actual anger at some of the injustices committed against some of the characters. So much of the book was realistic, despite the fantastical things that happen in it, and the anger that women feel at being used, abused, controlled, and held back is very, very real. I felt the author's own anger in her writing, and that fury really lent itself well to the storytelling itself - such a powerful book!
Overall, I enjoyed this one so much, even if the reading experience did make me a little mad - that emotional reaction just goes to show how good the author is at her craft. It was a wild ride from beginning to end, and I found myself being drawn back to it every time I had to put the book down to deal with 'real life stuff'. I have a feeling this one is going to put me into a book slump - it's totally unlike anything I've read, and I wish there were more.
March 19, 2020
Thank you so much Erin Al-Mehairi and Raw Dog Screaming Press for my free copy.
THE FOURTH WHORE by EV Knight is an ambitious debut with vivid prose and intriguing characters. Not only is this story a mix of the horror and fantasy genres, it’s also heavy on feminism, revenge, mythology, theology, occultism, sex, and violence. It had my attention right out of the gate! It’s in your face shocking in a few scenes, so be warned of graphic content.
I love to read retellings, biblical or otherwise, so this was definitely in my wheelhouse. It’s the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse except we have strong, bad-ass, sharply written female leads plotting and executing revenge. We follow several characters, but Kenzi and Lilith are the standouts. Lilith is fierce, cut-throat, and will stop at nothing to carry out vengeance. Kenzi is conflicted and complicated, which makes her an interesting character to read. Knight leaves no room for interpretation of her characters’ motivations and agendas. And I always enjoy attention to detail, so I really appreciate the Biblical structure of the book and of course, the gorgeous cover.
The language is so descriptive that the images are seared into my mind. The only reason I’m not rating it higher is because the pacing felt a bit off so the story didn’t flow like I wanted. But make no mistake, I was never bored. I would not hesitate to read the next EV Knight book - this is definitely a writer to watch.
THE FOURTH WHORE by EV Knight is an ambitious debut with vivid prose and intriguing characters. Not only is this story a mix of the horror and fantasy genres, it’s also heavy on feminism, revenge, mythology, theology, occultism, sex, and violence. It had my attention right out of the gate! It’s in your face shocking in a few scenes, so be warned of graphic content.
I love to read retellings, biblical or otherwise, so this was definitely in my wheelhouse. It’s the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse except we have strong, bad-ass, sharply written female leads plotting and executing revenge. We follow several characters, but Kenzi and Lilith are the standouts. Lilith is fierce, cut-throat, and will stop at nothing to carry out vengeance. Kenzi is conflicted and complicated, which makes her an interesting character to read. Knight leaves no room for interpretation of her characters’ motivations and agendas. And I always enjoy attention to detail, so I really appreciate the Biblical structure of the book and of course, the gorgeous cover.
The language is so descriptive that the images are seared into my mind. The only reason I’m not rating it higher is because the pacing felt a bit off so the story didn’t flow like I wanted. But make no mistake, I was never bored. I would not hesitate to read the next EV Knight book - this is definitely a writer to watch.
September 9, 2020
The Fourth Whore is the debut novel from EV Knight! The story is creative, and the writing is vivid. I'm not the biggest fan of religious horror, but I wanted to give this a shot, and I enjoyed it overall. At times it felt gratuitous, but there are some really good gory scenes in this book. It gets intense. There was a little too much going on since there were several storylines, and I think this may have worked better for me if it was longer, or had fewer storylines. The concept was good, but the execution was unfocused. The language in this book is so gorgeous, and I would check out another book by EV Knight.
CW - infant death, death during childbirth, self-harm, drug abuse, death of a child, suicide, misogyny, grooming, genital mutilation
CW - infant death, death during childbirth, self-harm, drug abuse, death of a child, suicide, misogyny, grooming, genital mutilation
March 13, 2020
I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of this book and blurbing it -- E.V. Knight's powerful debut novel offers up a poignant story of revenge through a strong feminist lens. Within, we dive into horror that does not shy away from taking its readers on a twisted journey into darkness. Knight pulls from myth, religion, history, and current times of upheaval to craft an important story that will stick with you. I cannot wait to see what this author does next!
March 23, 2020
This party has ended and I am sad. A huge Thank you to Erin and Raw Dog Screaming Press for a FREE copy of The Fourth Whore by EV Knight in exchange for my honest review with my Night Worms Review Team!
Raw Dog Screaming Press knows how to pick 'em! Hard Hitting Woman in Indie Horror that rarely disappoint! EV Knight is one to reckon with. From what I hear this is her debut novel and Holy Horrors this is one to remember or not soon forget?!
I don't consider myself conservative until I get into a room with real life adults and I am reminded of how naive I can sometimes be. So I will say this book is not for the faint of heart, BUT if I can read it so can YOU and You SO SHOULD!!
This book was wicked twisted and full of amazing vivid imagery. I have heard it reads much like a dark fantasy, and although that isn't my forte, if THIS is what those are, sign me the hell up!!
I wasn't sure I was going to make past the prologue. But I did. I may have had a WTF did I just agree to read look on my face, but I kept reading. And then I that look quickly turned into, WTF is wrong with me; Have my reading tastes changed?
And they HAVE!! I feel books like this let me know that my journey into horror has been fruitful. I have become brave. Ten years ago if Kenzi Brooks wanted to tell me her story I would have said, "Begone you dirty little whore! I have no use for your tale." But I would have missed out on the beauty that is layered in centuries of religion, wrath, mythology, warfare, angst, betrayal, Gods and Demons, and the Brave Beautiful Woman that is the Fourth Whore.
This story is deep and poetic. It's powerful. It's moving. This is a story every one should read not just scorned women! EV Knight found the core of her central energy and turned it into a radiating light straight from the depths of Hell. The layers of this story read like a female Dante. She is a force to follow and this is a book you need multiple copies of because you'll want to share it with others.
Don't go in thinking its an easy, lighthearted read. This book deserves your undivided attention. Devour all its pieces.
Leave no scrapes behind.
This book is perfection on EVERY DARK LEVEL right down to its spirited ending! Although this story executes all its intended targets I certainly wouldn't mind this author surprising us in the future with a prequel, or a side story about the amazing characters created within; Especially Sariel and Enochs journey through eternity together. What a Wicked Treat!! I am blown away!
This woman is on fire and I will rage about this book for awhile!! BUY IT NOW.
Raw Dog Screaming Press knows how to pick 'em! Hard Hitting Woman in Indie Horror that rarely disappoint! EV Knight is one to reckon with. From what I hear this is her debut novel and Holy Horrors this is one to remember or not soon forget?!
I don't consider myself conservative until I get into a room with real life adults and I am reminded of how naive I can sometimes be. So I will say this book is not for the faint of heart, BUT if I can read it so can YOU and You SO SHOULD!!
This book was wicked twisted and full of amazing vivid imagery. I have heard it reads much like a dark fantasy, and although that isn't my forte, if THIS is what those are, sign me the hell up!!
I wasn't sure I was going to make past the prologue. But I did. I may have had a WTF did I just agree to read look on my face, but I kept reading. And then I that look quickly turned into, WTF is wrong with me; Have my reading tastes changed?
And they HAVE!! I feel books like this let me know that my journey into horror has been fruitful. I have become brave. Ten years ago if Kenzi Brooks wanted to tell me her story I would have said, "Begone you dirty little whore! I have no use for your tale." But I would have missed out on the beauty that is layered in centuries of religion, wrath, mythology, warfare, angst, betrayal, Gods and Demons, and the Brave Beautiful Woman that is the Fourth Whore.
This story is deep and poetic. It's powerful. It's moving. This is a story every one should read not just scorned women! EV Knight found the core of her central energy and turned it into a radiating light straight from the depths of Hell. The layers of this story read like a female Dante. She is a force to follow and this is a book you need multiple copies of because you'll want to share it with others.
Don't go in thinking its an easy, lighthearted read. This book deserves your undivided attention. Devour all its pieces.
Leave no scrapes behind.
This book is perfection on EVERY DARK LEVEL right down to its spirited ending! Although this story executes all its intended targets I certainly wouldn't mind this author surprising us in the future with a prequel, or a side story about the amazing characters created within; Especially Sariel and Enochs journey through eternity together. What a Wicked Treat!! I am blown away!
This woman is on fire and I will rage about this book for awhile!! BUY IT NOW.
March 10, 2020
I went into this book not really having any idea what to expect. Truth be told, this is how I generally enter into my stories these days, synopsis be damned. A lot of times even without the back cover, you can nail down what genre a story might fit into, what tropes await, and where you anticipate the story may go because of all the aforementioned bits. The Fourth Whore doesn't really work that way.
At it's heart, this is the story of Kenzi Brooks, a young woman who had a rough go of it and is now being drawn into a world of gods and demons among other colorful figures. The book draws from various sources of history, theology, and mythology to assemble quite a cast.
Principal among the players is Lilith, entering into an apocryphal telling of Genesis and now Sheol-bent on taking revenge and bringing the world to it's knees in a dramatic and brutal fashion.
This is not an overly easy read. The violence is gruesome and detailed. However, despite the realistic depictions, the semi-fantasy backdrop made some of the more brutal scenes easier to get through. The sexual nature of this book is raw and unashamed. Knight holds absolutely nothing back, and essentially puts on display in the first few pages what you're going to be getting. So basically, if the first chapter is too much for you, I'll tell you it doesn't really relent.
The Fourth Whore clocks in at just over 220 pages, but you'd swear you just read a sprawling epic by the time the credits roll. The chapters are very short, usually from 2-5 pages, but the subject matter was such that I didn't find it easy to read for long stretches. Instead, for me, it was most palatable to read 25 pages or so, stop to digest, and then go back for more when my psyche was good and ready.
In the first third or so, it felt like there was a Good Omens vibe, and while the humor is not what you're going to want to pick this up for, the interactions between characters of mythological/theological significance are well-done and very enjoyable. They add another layer to an already well-crafted book.
At it's heart, this is the story of Kenzi Brooks, a young woman who had a rough go of it and is now being drawn into a world of gods and demons among other colorful figures. The book draws from various sources of history, theology, and mythology to assemble quite a cast.
Principal among the players is Lilith, entering into an apocryphal telling of Genesis and now Sheol-bent on taking revenge and bringing the world to it's knees in a dramatic and brutal fashion.
This is not an overly easy read. The violence is gruesome and detailed. However, despite the realistic depictions, the semi-fantasy backdrop made some of the more brutal scenes easier to get through. The sexual nature of this book is raw and unashamed. Knight holds absolutely nothing back, and essentially puts on display in the first few pages what you're going to be getting. So basically, if the first chapter is too much for you, I'll tell you it doesn't really relent.
The Fourth Whore clocks in at just over 220 pages, but you'd swear you just read a sprawling epic by the time the credits roll. The chapters are very short, usually from 2-5 pages, but the subject matter was such that I didn't find it easy to read for long stretches. Instead, for me, it was most palatable to read 25 pages or so, stop to digest, and then go back for more when my psyche was good and ready.
In the first third or so, it felt like there was a Good Omens vibe, and while the humor is not what you're going to want to pick this up for, the interactions between characters of mythological/theological significance are well-done and very enjoyable. They add another layer to an already well-crafted book.
March 27, 2020
“She had a thing for mythology and liked to think of herself as a living Pandora’s box. Men filled her with the evils hiding inside her, evils she would release on the world....It was only fair that they reap what they sowed. Pandora was simply going to help them harvest.”*
Since her little brother’s death, Kenzi has found comfort in cutting herself with the claws of a rabbit’s foot. She’s not sure if the talisman’s previous owner, who she calls The Scribble Man due to the marks on his skin, is real or imaginary. Yet when she finds herself in the path of some very bad men, the Scribble Man’s raven appears, and Lilith is freed. Kenzie must decide whether to join Lilith’s unholy posse or to unleash her own feminine power to prevent the apocalypse.
EV Knight’s creativity and imagination shines bright throughout this book. I especially appreciated the nod to Pandora, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the Salem witches, and the nods, atheists whose afterlife is steeped in nothingness.
While the graphic portrayals of sex and violence in this book may be too much for some readers, I had the hardest time with the Biblical bits.
Knight unflinchingly tackles tough topics such as self-harm, addiction, and abuse, while deftly managing the point of view characters: Kenzie, Lilith, Death, Plague, War, and medical resident Henry. Kenzi, Lilith, Plague, and War are all strong woman, who have been wronged by men. Each is a formidable force for her own brand of feminism, and the book is a powerful read with a satisfying conclusion.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to Erin Al-Mehairi and Raw Dog Screaming Press for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.
Since her little brother’s death, Kenzi has found comfort in cutting herself with the claws of a rabbit’s foot. She’s not sure if the talisman’s previous owner, who she calls The Scribble Man due to the marks on his skin, is real or imaginary. Yet when she finds herself in the path of some very bad men, the Scribble Man’s raven appears, and Lilith is freed. Kenzie must decide whether to join Lilith’s unholy posse or to unleash her own feminine power to prevent the apocalypse.
EV Knight’s creativity and imagination shines bright throughout this book. I especially appreciated the nod to Pandora, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the Salem witches, and the nods, atheists whose afterlife is steeped in nothingness.
While the graphic portrayals of sex and violence in this book may be too much for some readers, I had the hardest time with the Biblical bits.
Knight unflinchingly tackles tough topics such as self-harm, addiction, and abuse, while deftly managing the point of view characters: Kenzie, Lilith, Death, Plague, War, and medical resident Henry. Kenzi, Lilith, Plague, and War are all strong woman, who have been wronged by men. Each is a formidable force for her own brand of feminism, and the book is a powerful read with a satisfying conclusion.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to Erin Al-Mehairi and Raw Dog Screaming Press for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.
March 20, 2020
This is the second book party this month for the Night Worms blog group, and unfortunately, this one just wasn't really my cup of tea.
Knight has a very interesting concept, but the execution is a bit all over the place. There are a lot of characters in this book, and keeping track of them, especially while the majority of them can pop in and out of places at will, kind of made my head spin. The same is true for the story. With all of the players and the level of detail in this book, I was often left feeling confused.
This is basically a retelling of the apocalypse, but with Lilith leading four "whores" (I'm still really not sure why this apocalypse has to be sexually fueled) to bring about the end of the world. I didn't really know the details about Lilith in biblical stories. I had always thought she was a witch, not a creation of God that was cast out of the Garden. This story is actually a part of Jewish mythology, and can be found earliest in the Babylonian Talmud. Today, Lilith is championed by feminists for her refusal to be subservient to Adam. Let's just say Lilith's story throughout history is as complicated as this one.
There is a lot of graphic sex in this book, which I'm sure is enough to get most readers to pick it up and give it a chance. Beyond the many sexual escapades of the book's characters I often found myself distracted and confused. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, so I wasn't even really rooting for anyone. That's sincerely problematic with a book about the end of the world. That being said I know that some of my fellow book party readers really enjoyed this one, so it's just a matter of personal interests. It turns out that a female sexual apocalypse isn't really one of mine.
Knight has a very interesting concept, but the execution is a bit all over the place. There are a lot of characters in this book, and keeping track of them, especially while the majority of them can pop in and out of places at will, kind of made my head spin. The same is true for the story. With all of the players and the level of detail in this book, I was often left feeling confused.
This is basically a retelling of the apocalypse, but with Lilith leading four "whores" (I'm still really not sure why this apocalypse has to be sexually fueled) to bring about the end of the world. I didn't really know the details about Lilith in biblical stories. I had always thought she was a witch, not a creation of God that was cast out of the Garden. This story is actually a part of Jewish mythology, and can be found earliest in the Babylonian Talmud. Today, Lilith is championed by feminists for her refusal to be subservient to Adam. Let's just say Lilith's story throughout history is as complicated as this one.
There is a lot of graphic sex in this book, which I'm sure is enough to get most readers to pick it up and give it a chance. Beyond the many sexual escapades of the book's characters I often found myself distracted and confused. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, so I wasn't even really rooting for anyone. That's sincerely problematic with a book about the end of the world. That being said I know that some of my fellow book party readers really enjoyed this one, so it's just a matter of personal interests. It turns out that a female sexual apocalypse isn't really one of mine.
March 16, 2020
Well, I went into this book not knowing what to expect but I wasn't expecting THAT! I'm torn between really loving the entirety of it all and confused on exactly what I read. Equal parts historical, biblical and mythological, this read is quite the doozy. Be warned that there are some graphic sexual and violent scenes. While these never seem to bother me, they may bother your sensitivities.
I love Lilith being a central character. THE goddess/demonness who is hell bent on getting her revenge. Is this revenge deserved? I guess it all depends on how you look at it. The creator, death and all the moving parts that make this world are not all innocent in the destruction that is about to be brought. While I partially am rooting for Lilith, she just may be overreacting a bit. And Kenzi being pulled in all directions because she can see into both worlds due to her heterochromia and bond with Enoch. Her character was the most interesting. Did she ever really have a choice? And what happens when she finally has to make one?
My favorite parts were the different tellings of certain biblical portions that happened within the book of Genesis. Definitely gives you a new perspective on what could've have actually happened. After all, isn't the Bible just a perspective based on the person who wrote it? Ok, ok - let's not get into that discussion. The point is, we have a new version here and I found it extremely fascinating.
For being under 300 pages, this reads like a full on epic dark fantasy in erotic biblical proportions. There are many elements to this that I really enjoyed. However, I did get into lulls as I was reading that made my attention wane so I wasn't as fully invested towards the last third of the book as I was throughout the beginning. I would absolutely read another book by this author and look forward to whatever is coming our way next.
I love Lilith being a central character. THE goddess/demonness who is hell bent on getting her revenge. Is this revenge deserved? I guess it all depends on how you look at it. The creator, death and all the moving parts that make this world are not all innocent in the destruction that is about to be brought. While I partially am rooting for Lilith, she just may be overreacting a bit. And Kenzi being pulled in all directions because she can see into both worlds due to her heterochromia and bond with Enoch. Her character was the most interesting. Did she ever really have a choice? And what happens when she finally has to make one?
My favorite parts were the different tellings of certain biblical portions that happened within the book of Genesis. Definitely gives you a new perspective on what could've have actually happened. After all, isn't the Bible just a perspective based on the person who wrote it? Ok, ok - let's not get into that discussion. The point is, we have a new version here and I found it extremely fascinating.
For being under 300 pages, this reads like a full on epic dark fantasy in erotic biblical proportions. There are many elements to this that I really enjoyed. However, I did get into lulls as I was reading that made my attention wane so I wasn't as fully invested towards the last third of the book as I was throughout the beginning. I would absolutely read another book by this author and look forward to whatever is coming our way next.
March 24, 2020
Well now this was an unexpected and intense ride!
The Fourth Whore follows three individuals: Lilith, Kenzi and Sariel. Kenzi’s brother was killed while they were crossing the street when she was child. She should have died and yet, she was spared. As a result, Sariel, also known as Death, has been with her, looking out for her if you will, her whole life. In the immediate aftermath of the accident that kills Kenzi’s brother, Sariel and his carrion companion Enoch leave Kenzi with a lucky rabbit’s foot keychain that she uses as an emotional crutch growing up. What Kenzi does not know is that this keychain holds the bitter essence of Lilith imprisoned in it. When Kenzi is beaten within inches of her life, Lilith is released and every bat-shit crazy thing you can imagine happens afterwards.
The first three pages of this book let you know that you are in for an insane ride! Imagine the four horsemen of the apocalypse and then imagine it with women instead. That’s what you’re getting yourself into. Lilith is the very definition of “a woman scorned” but of biblical proportions. The book follows her on her quest to recruit three other women in her mission to spread violence and plague throughout the world and she has her eyes set on Kenzi as her fourth recruit. The parts of the book that followed her other two “whores” were probably my favorite parts of the story and as much as I would love to get into details, I won’t but, know that some of the tasks Lilith has them perform are pretty jaw dropping.
Knight does not shy away from gore, sex or taking feminism to the extreme in this novel. While most of it had the elements of a fantastic horror story, there were some parts that began to fall a little flat for me. I enjoyed most of the biblical re-imaginings but, there were a few parts that started to drag on a little too long for my reading pleasure when I just wanted to get back into the impending apocalypse. Sariel and Kenzi’s relationship was an essential part of the story but when I got to the last quarter of the book, I couldn’t help but picture two teenagers having a finger pointing argument and most of the dialogue felt too juvenile to me.
If you want an epic adventure with horror, mythology and a sprinkle of dark fantasy, this is exactly what you are looking for. I am quite curious as to what Knight comes up with next!
The Fourth Whore follows three individuals: Lilith, Kenzi and Sariel. Kenzi’s brother was killed while they were crossing the street when she was child. She should have died and yet, she was spared. As a result, Sariel, also known as Death, has been with her, looking out for her if you will, her whole life. In the immediate aftermath of the accident that kills Kenzi’s brother, Sariel and his carrion companion Enoch leave Kenzi with a lucky rabbit’s foot keychain that she uses as an emotional crutch growing up. What Kenzi does not know is that this keychain holds the bitter essence of Lilith imprisoned in it. When Kenzi is beaten within inches of her life, Lilith is released and every bat-shit crazy thing you can imagine happens afterwards.
The first three pages of this book let you know that you are in for an insane ride! Imagine the four horsemen of the apocalypse and then imagine it with women instead. That’s what you’re getting yourself into. Lilith is the very definition of “a woman scorned” but of biblical proportions. The book follows her on her quest to recruit three other women in her mission to spread violence and plague throughout the world and she has her eyes set on Kenzi as her fourth recruit. The parts of the book that followed her other two “whores” were probably my favorite parts of the story and as much as I would love to get into details, I won’t but, know that some of the tasks Lilith has them perform are pretty jaw dropping.
Knight does not shy away from gore, sex or taking feminism to the extreme in this novel. While most of it had the elements of a fantastic horror story, there were some parts that began to fall a little flat for me. I enjoyed most of the biblical re-imaginings but, there were a few parts that started to drag on a little too long for my reading pleasure when I just wanted to get back into the impending apocalypse. Sariel and Kenzi’s relationship was an essential part of the story but when I got to the last quarter of the book, I couldn’t help but picture two teenagers having a finger pointing argument and most of the dialogue felt too juvenile to me.
If you want an epic adventure with horror, mythology and a sprinkle of dark fantasy, this is exactly what you are looking for. I am quite curious as to what Knight comes up with next!
March 1, 2020
This is another book I was lucky to receive before the release date thanks to Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi and Raw Dog Screaming Press.
Kenzi Brooks lives a hard life in Detroit. She lost her brother when she was a little girl, her father left shortly after, and her mother's an addict. Life is tough and she's barely surviving, but getting caught in the middle of an ancient fight between Death, God and Lilith will definitely make everything worse.
Lilith won't submit to anyone and she's got revenge on her mind...
This book gets off to a brutal and very bloody start that sets the unrelenting events in motion. The lives and motivations of each character become clear pretty early on, but how they get there is both fascinating and disturbing.
It's not for the faint-hearted or anyone who shies away from confronting situations, hardcore sexual expression, or extreme violence. This is the kind of story that successfully blends true-life horror with the supernatural in a very unnerving way.
The story is shared by several characters, so we get a bunch of different POVs. Most of these POVs are essential for the many layers to unravel in this unpredictable ride, but there were others that would have been better omitted.
I did like how all the characters were riddled with flaws. Even the ancient non-human ones are nowhere near perfect and totally unscrupulous. My favourite was Kenzi because even though everything about her life is pretty awful and she's surrounded by so much filth, she's still a kind soul determined to do the right thing.
Lilith's backstory was interesting and explained her motivations in the modern world. More importantly, Lilith's had enough and doesn't fuck around, but she's not the only one. Women everywhere are done with smiling and being nice to people who want to oppress them so her crusade is made a bit easier.
The Fourth Whore is a powerful and well-written story about women who have been labelled and shamed for living their lives in the same way many men do. Or are being judged because they have no other choice. It holds a damning mirror in front of a patriarchal society so keen to take advantage of women. It reveals the hypocrisy and inequality women face every day. And what happens when a group led by the first 'whore' dares to fight back in the most shocking way possible.
Although I enjoyed this book overall, I have to admit that for me, the narrative dragged a bit in too many spots. Also, I found the chapters dealing with the demons 'helping' Lilith tedious.
There are definitely a lot of things to like about this book, but by the time I reached the last fifty pages, my interest started to fade. There were just too many issues bugging me, so when I eventually reached the end, I was too disconnected to care as much as I did at the beginning.
Kenzi Brooks lives a hard life in Detroit. She lost her brother when she was a little girl, her father left shortly after, and her mother's an addict. Life is tough and she's barely surviving, but getting caught in the middle of an ancient fight between Death, God and Lilith will definitely make everything worse.
Lilith won't submit to anyone and she's got revenge on her mind...
This book gets off to a brutal and very bloody start that sets the unrelenting events in motion. The lives and motivations of each character become clear pretty early on, but how they get there is both fascinating and disturbing.
It's not for the faint-hearted or anyone who shies away from confronting situations, hardcore sexual expression, or extreme violence. This is the kind of story that successfully blends true-life horror with the supernatural in a very unnerving way.
The story is shared by several characters, so we get a bunch of different POVs. Most of these POVs are essential for the many layers to unravel in this unpredictable ride, but there were others that would have been better omitted.
I did like how all the characters were riddled with flaws. Even the ancient non-human ones are nowhere near perfect and totally unscrupulous. My favourite was Kenzi because even though everything about her life is pretty awful and she's surrounded by so much filth, she's still a kind soul determined to do the right thing.
Lilith's backstory was interesting and explained her motivations in the modern world. More importantly, Lilith's had enough and doesn't fuck around, but she's not the only one. Women everywhere are done with smiling and being nice to people who want to oppress them so her crusade is made a bit easier.
The Fourth Whore is a powerful and well-written story about women who have been labelled and shamed for living their lives in the same way many men do. Or are being judged because they have no other choice. It holds a damning mirror in front of a patriarchal society so keen to take advantage of women. It reveals the hypocrisy and inequality women face every day. And what happens when a group led by the first 'whore' dares to fight back in the most shocking way possible.
Although I enjoyed this book overall, I have to admit that for me, the narrative dragged a bit in too many spots. Also, I found the chapters dealing with the demons 'helping' Lilith tedious.
There are definitely a lot of things to like about this book, but by the time I reached the last fifty pages, my interest started to fade. There were just too many issues bugging me, so when I eventually reached the end, I was too disconnected to care as much as I did at the beginning.
March 18, 2020
You ever finish a book and think, "what in the world did I just read?!"
That's how I feel about The Fourth Whore.
This book was a dark fantasy mixed with horror and smut elements, but honestly it didn't go far enough in any direction to fit just a single genre.
There's a lot going on and so many characters I had to keep notes. Luckily, I was familiar with the biblical story of Lilith and some of the other characters so I had an understanding right away. If you're not familiar you will want to look some stuff up to better understand the story.
I'm thinking this is a solid ⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 because there's a lot I enjoyed and an equal measure of confusion.
I loved the concept: an army of whores turned warriors battling the patriarchy and taking charge of their sexuality?! Fantastic! Bring it on! I love strong female protagonists!
However, there's a fair amount of sex scenes and they relate to the story, but are varying degrees of graphic which was confusing because I wanted either all-the-way smuttiness or just "they had sex."
Trying to follow the various storylines was difficult as well. This is a very ambitious book and while the author is a great writer this just felt like she crammed too much in.🤷🏻♀️
The Fourth Whore was like American Gods meets Preacher meets the feminist agenda. If that intrigues you then give it a whirl.
Thanks to @night_worms
Erin Al-Mehairi and Raw Dog Screaming Press
For this fascinating bookparty! I'll definitely be checking out this author in the future!!
That's how I feel about The Fourth Whore.
This book was a dark fantasy mixed with horror and smut elements, but honestly it didn't go far enough in any direction to fit just a single genre.
There's a lot going on and so many characters I had to keep notes. Luckily, I was familiar with the biblical story of Lilith and some of the other characters so I had an understanding right away. If you're not familiar you will want to look some stuff up to better understand the story.
I'm thinking this is a solid ⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 because there's a lot I enjoyed and an equal measure of confusion.
I loved the concept: an army of whores turned warriors battling the patriarchy and taking charge of their sexuality?! Fantastic! Bring it on! I love strong female protagonists!
However, there's a fair amount of sex scenes and they relate to the story, but are varying degrees of graphic which was confusing because I wanted either all-the-way smuttiness or just "they had sex."
Trying to follow the various storylines was difficult as well. This is a very ambitious book and while the author is a great writer this just felt like she crammed too much in.🤷🏻♀️
The Fourth Whore was like American Gods meets Preacher meets the feminist agenda. If that intrigues you then give it a whirl.
Thanks to @night_worms
Erin Al-Mehairi and Raw Dog Screaming Press
For this fascinating bookparty! I'll definitely be checking out this author in the future!!
June 24, 2023
Teda, to má paní autorka fantazii :-)
Jako číst se to dalo, ale přišlo mi to divný.
Skoda Henryho, mohlo jim být spolu s Kenzi fajn. Fandila jsem jim.
Jako číst se to dalo, ale přišlo mi to divný.
Skoda Henryho, mohlo jim být spolu s Kenzi fajn. Fandila jsem jim.
March 24, 2020
"Forget the Four Horsemen, Lilith is assembling the Four Whores."
E.V. Knight knows how to write! The language is gorgeous, evocative, and the character development brought on are quite impressive. Who needs the Four HorseMEN when you can have equally, if not more, kick ass women leading the charge?! It felt like I was reading an episode of Supernatural in a sense - especially when they took to the religious side of their show's plotline. I had a lot of fun with this one - as the title MIGHT suggest, be prepared for some heavy, graphic sex. That did not bother me in the least, though, because it actually isn't something you read about all the time and it's fun to change things up!
My struggle with this book was finding a character to connect to that I could cheer on. I liked everyone well enough, but no one ever spoke TO ME on a deeper level. And then trying to follow the various sub-plots/storylines meant that we hopped around too much for me to build that character connection.
All in all, this is a solid 3 stars and it's a book that I am not sure I would have picked up before... but am so glad that I did. We get a great insight into the writing style and prowess of E.V. Knight and I am ready for more! Thank you, Erin and RDS Press for sending this book for a #nightwormsbookparty!
E.V. Knight knows how to write! The language is gorgeous, evocative, and the character development brought on are quite impressive. Who needs the Four HorseMEN when you can have equally, if not more, kick ass women leading the charge?! It felt like I was reading an episode of Supernatural in a sense - especially when they took to the religious side of their show's plotline. I had a lot of fun with this one - as the title MIGHT suggest, be prepared for some heavy, graphic sex. That did not bother me in the least, though, because it actually isn't something you read about all the time and it's fun to change things up!
My struggle with this book was finding a character to connect to that I could cheer on. I liked everyone well enough, but no one ever spoke TO ME on a deeper level. And then trying to follow the various sub-plots/storylines meant that we hopped around too much for me to build that character connection.
All in all, this is a solid 3 stars and it's a book that I am not sure I would have picked up before... but am so glad that I did. We get a great insight into the writing style and prowess of E.V. Knight and I am ready for more! Thank you, Erin and RDS Press for sending this book for a #nightwormsbookparty!
December 22, 2020
Thank you, Erin and RDS Press for sending this book for a #nightwormsbookparty
This book is guaranteed to shock you. From the title The Fourth Whore to the contents - violence, sex, drugs, you're bound to have your jaw drop at least once. I think the subtitle of this book should be FUCK THE PATRIARCHY. While I dont mind biblical references and themes, I just found it to be a lot although the overlying feminist aspect piqued my interest.
Told from multiple perspectives, the story got a bit muddled and confusing.
I appreciated the short chapters and fast pace of the story though.
It's a powerful debut from EV Knight and I'd love to read more from her.
This book is guaranteed to shock you. From the title The Fourth Whore to the contents - violence, sex, drugs, you're bound to have your jaw drop at least once. I think the subtitle of this book should be FUCK THE PATRIARCHY. While I dont mind biblical references and themes, I just found it to be a lot although the overlying feminist aspect piqued my interest.
Told from multiple perspectives, the story got a bit muddled and confusing.
I appreciated the short chapters and fast pace of the story though.
It's a powerful debut from EV Knight and I'd love to read more from her.
March 26, 2020
How to explain my feeling towards this book...
It was weird, bizarre, and cringe-y and yet somehow amazing. Not knowing what I was getting myself into, the first couple of chapters were super confusing, but soon enough everything started flowing together nicely. I loved the biblical format of the book and the twists EV Knight inserted into one of the most popular stories ever written. I definitely got some SANDMAN vibes throughout, so if that’s a graphic novel you enjoyed then I would highly recommend checking this out.
Filled with sex, lies, violence and lust THE FOURTH WHORE is sure to send you on a WILD ride.
Thank you so much to Raw Dog Screaming Press, EV Knight and Night Worms for the opportunity to review this book.
It was weird, bizarre, and cringe-y and yet somehow amazing. Not knowing what I was getting myself into, the first couple of chapters were super confusing, but soon enough everything started flowing together nicely. I loved the biblical format of the book and the twists EV Knight inserted into one of the most popular stories ever written. I definitely got some SANDMAN vibes throughout, so if that’s a graphic novel you enjoyed then I would highly recommend checking this out.
Filled with sex, lies, violence and lust THE FOURTH WHORE is sure to send you on a WILD ride.
Thank you so much to Raw Dog Screaming Press, EV Knight and Night Worms for the opportunity to review this book.
April 1, 2022
I’d there were a sixth star, I’d give it. This novel makes my Top 40 of all-time favorite books.
March 20, 2020
Lilith, a succubus, is out for revenge. She's Adam's, yeah THAT Adam, first wife and she was kicked out of Eden for refusing to submit to Adam. So she's mad, and probably, justifiably so. Lilith is building an army and gathering the Four Whores of the Apocalypse. That's not whores the pejorative; they own the title and use sex as a weapon to achieve their ends. The story flips between Lilith as she gathers the whores, and we learn her story and motivations and Kenzie, a down on her luck girl in Detroit with drugged-out guardians. Kenzie has to use her resources to survive, and often that means using her body. Kenzie was the more interesting character to me, and I enjoyed her story more than Lilith's.
This book was not for me. I'm not a big fantasy reader, I'm not a fan of extreme horror or smut and generally prefer a subtler scare, I also don't usually enjoy overtly religious themes. So, going into a dark religious fantasy book with quite a bit of extreme horror and smuttiness was always going to be a stretch. So it's no surprise to me that I did not enjoy this. If you like those things in your books, you will probably like this quite a bit. E.V. Knight can write, and I can appreciate what she was trying to do and, I think, executed that mission quite well. Just because I didn't like it doesn't mean that it's terrible. It's definitely not terrible; it's actually quite good, it's just not my kind of good.
Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press and Erin Al-Mehairi for sending me a copy of this book for review.
This book was not for me. I'm not a big fantasy reader, I'm not a fan of extreme horror or smut and generally prefer a subtler scare, I also don't usually enjoy overtly religious themes. So, going into a dark religious fantasy book with quite a bit of extreme horror and smuttiness was always going to be a stretch. So it's no surprise to me that I did not enjoy this. If you like those things in your books, you will probably like this quite a bit. E.V. Knight can write, and I can appreciate what she was trying to do and, I think, executed that mission quite well. Just because I didn't like it doesn't mean that it's terrible. It's definitely not terrible; it's actually quite good, it's just not my kind of good.
Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press and Erin Al-Mehairi for sending me a copy of this book for review.
March 14, 2021
Wow what a ride, loved it though it only gets 4 stars because I felt the ending was too abrupt and incomplete. Lilith wants revenge for her treatment, wants it against the world, against the angels and demons who tormented her, against the angel of death and against The Creator himself, the four whores of the apocalypse will ride..
I can't really give more than that without giving too much away. This book will not be for everybody. It can be gritty and graphic and will have you squirming quite a few times. I love books that manage to achieve this. It's sort of religious horror mixed with urban fantasy and I couldn't get enough. I hope to see more from this author
I can't really give more than that without giving too much away. This book will not be for everybody. It can be gritty and graphic and will have you squirming quite a few times. I love books that manage to achieve this. It's sort of religious horror mixed with urban fantasy and I couldn't get enough. I hope to see more from this author
March 16, 2021
Struggling day-by-day to survive in the slums of Detroit, Kenzi Brooks does whatever is necessary to keep control of her life, using the power of her body as a woman, supported by her street-wise friend Gloria, but at odds with her alcoholic, hostile mother. As rough as Kenzi’s present may be, her past has been even more damaging. Sixteen years ago, at the age of seven, she walked to the store with her brother, and watched him struck down in a hit-and-run. She would have died in that accident as well, were it not for the strange, dark-robed figure she saw. A man who made her pause, a man with scrawled writing up his flesh, and a large black bird with him. Through the ensuing years she years Kenzi couldn’t be certain if this Scribbled Man was a figment of her imagination or something very real. Arguing for the latter, she carries a lucky rabbit foot that she recalls him giving her. It serves as a reminder of that tragedy, of her father’s subsequent death, and her continued pain; the sharp edges of the claw used to cut herself in ritual self harm.
An attack by members of a drug gang after payments leaves Kenzi badly injured and her mother dead. During the assault, Kenzi unknowingly releases the spirit held within the rabbit foot: Lilith, the first created mate for Adam, who was cast from the Garden of Eden for refusing to be subservient to her husband. Abandoned and tormented by fallen angels, Lilith becomes mother to half-breed demons and slowly a demon herself, or as she comes to think of it, a goddess. One of the angels she trusted, but who ended up failing and betraying her, is Sariel. For Sariel’s actions in defiance of the Creator, he is punished to serve as the Angel of Death, forced to collect human souls with his avian companion Enoch until he also captures all of Lilith’s demon-spawn. Sariel is Kenzi’s Scribbled Man, and he has plans and hopes for this special girl who can see him through her heterochromatic eyes.
But, the escaped Lilith has very different plans for Kenzi, and for the world. Lilith intends to usher in the apocalypse, to destroy the world and remake things in her image where women are not terrorized in subservience. Where she is worshipped. She recruits other women to her path, to serve as the Whores of the Apocalypse (parallels to the Four Horsemen of Revelation). Due to the unique nature of Kenzi and what Sariel has done, she will make the ideal fourth whore. But who will Kenzi choose to believe and follow: Sariel her Scribbled Man from her childhood, or the powerful and vengeful Lilith?
The Fourth Whore thus has a lot going on in it for ~225 pages: multiple intersecting back stories as well as competing paths for Kenzi’s future. Knight structures the novel with short chapters written from different points of view. Sariel, Lilith, and Kenzi account for the most, but other chapters use the point of view of the Whore of War, the Whore of Pestilence, and a young male doctor who sympathizes with/is attracted to Kenzi. This organization works really well, and the chapter titles, rendered as “The Book of Sariel” (for example), make it easy to figure out what character or plot thread will be featured. Even with two “Books of Kenzi” in a row, Knight splits her protagonist’s point of view into two chapters that break with the action and a hook to keep reading. This makes The Fourth Whore easy to make one’s way through it.
What may make The Fourth Whore more difficult to get through it, for some readers, is its uncompromising and unflinching intensity. It features dark, troubling themes of rape, mental/psychological trauma, self harm, and perverted abandon. Readers can almost hear, see, smell, and feel the viscera that fills the pages with all bodily fluids imaginable. Knight writes raw, graphic scenes of sexuality that equally don’t shy from biological frankness.
Some may then wonder why would somebody want to read such things? I imagine that regular fans of dark fantasy and horror know exactly why such brutal honesty can be therapeutic, while others know it is something that they just have to avoid and can’t manage. Either is fair. For those who aren’t so sure, or wonder how all of that could transcend simple vulgar gore to mean something significant – and something feminist at that – read on…
The Fourth Whore is a fascinating work of feminist fantasy/horror built upon the iconic JudaeoChristian mythology of Lilith, the Nephilim, and the history of the Salem Witch trials. It illustrates the many ways in which women have been suppressed, oppressed, demonized, controlled, and assaulted. Literally and symbolically. Mentally and physically. It also contains female characters who have all witnessed or experienced this and chosen to reject being trapped within that system. To act differently with unapologetic pride and fervor. They take derogatory language and weaponize it. They take something that they’ve been historically asked to view with shame, guilt, and submissiveness and made it into a celebration of power. The question that all of the The Fourth Whore hinges upon becomes one of at what point does rebellion against an unjust system of power become equally hurtful in new ways? Or, is one really free from that system of power if it merely redirects harm?
Kenzi’s internal battle through the novel is between trusting two powerful forces of authority who both lie to her and want to use her. One is male, admits mistakes in the past, but professes to be trying to do better. The other is female and says that the male just wants to continue using her. The kicker is, both are kinda right! Kenzi comes to appreciate just how horribly and awfully Lilith has been treated. Without excusing any of that, though, she cannot necessarily come to condone what Lilith has become or now desires. She confronts the realization that victims might turn into the monsters, continuing the pain that was visited upon them. Others might act as monsters – and still have that in them, but perhaps want something more. These realizations become symbolic for Kenzi’s own victimhood. Without losing sight of what unfair trauma she has faced and the wrongs done to her by others without any fault of her own, she sees a fork in the road of what can be done to perhaps heal. One pathway exists as the one she herself has so often taken: relief by further pain. Cutting. Another path is turning that vengeance away from oneself and outward to the world – the route of Lilith and her disciples. But perhaps there is also a third to find.
All readers may not agree with how all these themes and questions go in the novel. And frankly many – including Knight – might disagree with my interpretation of things. It’s important to note I am male and coming at this from a different perspective than other readers may. As a male I really appreciated the characters of Sariel and Henry (the doctor). Not because I wanted someone like me in the story, but because Knight does convey that male perspective so well (imho) of wanting to do better, to do right, but likewise existing on societal pillars both conscious and unconscious that might work against it. Even if others end up feeling very differently about the novel’s themes, the one thing I think it’s safe to say is that The Fourth Whore invites analysis around them.
The only significant criticism that I might make of the novel is that the dialogue becomes very stilted and hammy at times, particularly in the more sexually or generally emotionally charged scenes. Some of those lines then make secondary characters comically clichéd, or at the very least too un-nuanced. Despite such moments of unevenness, the overall arching plot of the entertaining story, as well the depth and complexity of its themes, makes The Fourth Whore an overall success.
This should give potential readers an idea if they fit into the novel’s audience. But even if this isn’t a fit, I would say that the name EV Knight is one that you should keep an open mind for with future titles. She writes intelligent and perceptive horror, and future things from her may connect to dark fantasy fans who might not be able to quite manage this particular intensity of content and themes.
Update Edit:
I just realized that I completely neglected to say more on Enoch! Enoch is the real star of the book :D. I particularly love the running 'gag' that Enoch's gender is abundantly clear to Kenzi, but Sariel remains mostly obstinate and clueless. She could star in her own series.
An attack by members of a drug gang after payments leaves Kenzi badly injured and her mother dead. During the assault, Kenzi unknowingly releases the spirit held within the rabbit foot: Lilith, the first created mate for Adam, who was cast from the Garden of Eden for refusing to be subservient to her husband. Abandoned and tormented by fallen angels, Lilith becomes mother to half-breed demons and slowly a demon herself, or as she comes to think of it, a goddess. One of the angels she trusted, but who ended up failing and betraying her, is Sariel. For Sariel’s actions in defiance of the Creator, he is punished to serve as the Angel of Death, forced to collect human souls with his avian companion Enoch until he also captures all of Lilith’s demon-spawn. Sariel is Kenzi’s Scribbled Man, and he has plans and hopes for this special girl who can see him through her heterochromatic eyes.
But, the escaped Lilith has very different plans for Kenzi, and for the world. Lilith intends to usher in the apocalypse, to destroy the world and remake things in her image where women are not terrorized in subservience. Where she is worshipped. She recruits other women to her path, to serve as the Whores of the Apocalypse (parallels to the Four Horsemen of Revelation). Due to the unique nature of Kenzi and what Sariel has done, she will make the ideal fourth whore. But who will Kenzi choose to believe and follow: Sariel her Scribbled Man from her childhood, or the powerful and vengeful Lilith?
The Fourth Whore thus has a lot going on in it for ~225 pages: multiple intersecting back stories as well as competing paths for Kenzi’s future. Knight structures the novel with short chapters written from different points of view. Sariel, Lilith, and Kenzi account for the most, but other chapters use the point of view of the Whore of War, the Whore of Pestilence, and a young male doctor who sympathizes with/is attracted to Kenzi. This organization works really well, and the chapter titles, rendered as “The Book of Sariel” (for example), make it easy to figure out what character or plot thread will be featured. Even with two “Books of Kenzi” in a row, Knight splits her protagonist’s point of view into two chapters that break with the action and a hook to keep reading. This makes The Fourth Whore easy to make one’s way through it.
What may make The Fourth Whore more difficult to get through it, for some readers, is its uncompromising and unflinching intensity. It features dark, troubling themes of rape, mental/psychological trauma, self harm, and perverted abandon. Readers can almost hear, see, smell, and feel the viscera that fills the pages with all bodily fluids imaginable. Knight writes raw, graphic scenes of sexuality that equally don’t shy from biological frankness.
Some may then wonder why would somebody want to read such things? I imagine that regular fans of dark fantasy and horror know exactly why such brutal honesty can be therapeutic, while others know it is something that they just have to avoid and can’t manage. Either is fair. For those who aren’t so sure, or wonder how all of that could transcend simple vulgar gore to mean something significant – and something feminist at that – read on…
The Fourth Whore is a fascinating work of feminist fantasy/horror built upon the iconic JudaeoChristian mythology of Lilith, the Nephilim, and the history of the Salem Witch trials. It illustrates the many ways in which women have been suppressed, oppressed, demonized, controlled, and assaulted. Literally and symbolically. Mentally and physically. It also contains female characters who have all witnessed or experienced this and chosen to reject being trapped within that system. To act differently with unapologetic pride and fervor. They take derogatory language and weaponize it. They take something that they’ve been historically asked to view with shame, guilt, and submissiveness and made it into a celebration of power. The question that all of the The Fourth Whore hinges upon becomes one of at what point does rebellion against an unjust system of power become equally hurtful in new ways? Or, is one really free from that system of power if it merely redirects harm?
Kenzi’s internal battle through the novel is between trusting two powerful forces of authority who both lie to her and want to use her. One is male, admits mistakes in the past, but professes to be trying to do better. The other is female and says that the male just wants to continue using her. The kicker is, both are kinda right! Kenzi comes to appreciate just how horribly and awfully Lilith has been treated. Without excusing any of that, though, she cannot necessarily come to condone what Lilith has become or now desires. She confronts the realization that victims might turn into the monsters, continuing the pain that was visited upon them. Others might act as monsters – and still have that in them, but perhaps want something more. These realizations become symbolic for Kenzi’s own victimhood. Without losing sight of what unfair trauma she has faced and the wrongs done to her by others without any fault of her own, she sees a fork in the road of what can be done to perhaps heal. One pathway exists as the one she herself has so often taken: relief by further pain. Cutting. Another path is turning that vengeance away from oneself and outward to the world – the route of Lilith and her disciples. But perhaps there is also a third to find.
All readers may not agree with how all these themes and questions go in the novel. And frankly many – including Knight – might disagree with my interpretation of things. It’s important to note I am male and coming at this from a different perspective than other readers may. As a male I really appreciated the characters of Sariel and Henry (the doctor). Not because I wanted someone like me in the story, but because Knight does convey that male perspective so well (imho) of wanting to do better, to do right, but likewise existing on societal pillars both conscious and unconscious that might work against it. Even if others end up feeling very differently about the novel’s themes, the one thing I think it’s safe to say is that The Fourth Whore invites analysis around them.
The only significant criticism that I might make of the novel is that the dialogue becomes very stilted and hammy at times, particularly in the more sexually or generally emotionally charged scenes. Some of those lines then make secondary characters comically clichéd, or at the very least too un-nuanced. Despite such moments of unevenness, the overall arching plot of the entertaining story, as well the depth and complexity of its themes, makes The Fourth Whore an overall success.
This should give potential readers an idea if they fit into the novel’s audience. But even if this isn’t a fit, I would say that the name EV Knight is one that you should keep an open mind for with future titles. She writes intelligent and perceptive horror, and future things from her may connect to dark fantasy fans who might not be able to quite manage this particular intensity of content and themes.
Update Edit:
I just realized that I completely neglected to say more on Enoch! Enoch is the real star of the book :D. I particularly love the running 'gag' that Enoch's gender is abundantly clear to Kenzi, but Sariel remains mostly obstinate and clueless. She could star in her own series.
May 12, 2021
The Fourth Whore is a great book. There is a lot going on, and I don't want to accidentally spoil anything because the way the story reveals itself is one of the lovely things about this read. There is such a beautiful blend of medical horror, history, and mythology, plus so much more, all in one book. I will say that Kenzi kicks ass and you will want to meet her.
November 27, 2020
Loved the idea. Loved the descriptions. Hated the execution, especially lack of anything resembling actual character development. Not a fan, though I would be curious to read future efforts by this author.
July 14, 2023
The ending kinda pissed me off but the entire book was great. And with the exception of Salem, all I can say is I LOVE LILITH.
March 28, 2020
**3.5/ 5 rounded up**
When a downtrodden young woman is forced to fight... Wait, no, what happens when an eternal collector fails... uh, one more time. When one of the original souls is cast out of eden...
You know what? I don’t really know how to start this. How about this, The Fourth Whore by EV Knight, from Raw Dog Screaming Press is a raucous debut and a bit of a riot to your cerebrum. A flathead screwdriver to the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus... wink. It’s a book that will challenge, nay, confront your perceived tastes and desires. It’ll stand before you, combative, eye contact at all times, and dare you to flinch. Or is it provoking you into flinching? Either way, this book wants to establish dominance over you.
With three main characters (four if you count the bird) with damn near equal screen time and equal weight there really isn’t the proper time given to connect with any particular entity. There is so much going on in a short amount of time and page count that it can be difficult to carry everything that is being unpacked. Add to that a narrative that is leapfrogging all over the place and it leaves very little time for acclimation towards any particular scene or character before we’re roaring off the next. All pell-mell with flames coming off our tires. It’s an exciting feeling, but also an off balance feeling. It feels like a 500 page epic crammed into a gorgeous 300 page suit or gown.
Know form the get-go that The Fourth Whore from EV Knight is a wild, WILD, f*****g ride. That aspect alone will appeal to a lot of readers. It is gratuitous in most amazing ways possible, another characteristic that will target a particular audience. It’s ambitious, with an imaginative take on biblical lore (let’s narrow that target a bit.) There’s a ton of interesting and exciting things going on within these pages and a copious amount of gnarly scenes that’ll whisper sweet nothings into the eyes of gore hounds. I have a feeling that this book will hit all the right notes for a lot of readers. Possibly a future cult classic. I see a rabid following for The Fourth Whore, and for EV Knight, emerging. And yeah, I ultimately believe the book is worth that following and that EV Knight can tell a mean story.
As for my own personal entertainment... I really enjoyed it... in pieces. In vignettes. There was a lot of content that knocked me for a loop, like that opening scene, hot damn that was rad. But for every scene I loved, there was a counter balance that... I won’t say disliked because I really didn’t dislike anything in these pages, I’ll just go with “sorta lost me.” But isn’t that how most cut classics are birthed? By being under appreciated at their time of conception? Just saying.
I will also “just say” that I enjoyed The Fourth Whore. Well enough to recommend it to certain audiences, definitely not for everyone. I will also say that I am excited to read future works from EV Knight.
Thank you to Erin Al-Mehairi and to Raw Dog Screaming Press for the free ARC, I appreciate your support. Know that these are my honest, unbiased opinions.
Zakk Madness is a big dumb animal!
When a downtrodden young woman is forced to fight... Wait, no, what happens when an eternal collector fails... uh, one more time. When one of the original souls is cast out of eden...
You know what? I don’t really know how to start this. How about this, The Fourth Whore by EV Knight, from Raw Dog Screaming Press is a raucous debut and a bit of a riot to your cerebrum. A flathead screwdriver to the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus... wink. It’s a book that will challenge, nay, confront your perceived tastes and desires. It’ll stand before you, combative, eye contact at all times, and dare you to flinch. Or is it provoking you into flinching? Either way, this book wants to establish dominance over you.
With three main characters (four if you count the bird) with damn near equal screen time and equal weight there really isn’t the proper time given to connect with any particular entity. There is so much going on in a short amount of time and page count that it can be difficult to carry everything that is being unpacked. Add to that a narrative that is leapfrogging all over the place and it leaves very little time for acclimation towards any particular scene or character before we’re roaring off the next. All pell-mell with flames coming off our tires. It’s an exciting feeling, but also an off balance feeling. It feels like a 500 page epic crammed into a gorgeous 300 page suit or gown.
Know form the get-go that The Fourth Whore from EV Knight is a wild, WILD, f*****g ride. That aspect alone will appeal to a lot of readers. It is gratuitous in most amazing ways possible, another characteristic that will target a particular audience. It’s ambitious, with an imaginative take on biblical lore (let’s narrow that target a bit.) There’s a ton of interesting and exciting things going on within these pages and a copious amount of gnarly scenes that’ll whisper sweet nothings into the eyes of gore hounds. I have a feeling that this book will hit all the right notes for a lot of readers. Possibly a future cult classic. I see a rabid following for The Fourth Whore, and for EV Knight, emerging. And yeah, I ultimately believe the book is worth that following and that EV Knight can tell a mean story.
As for my own personal entertainment... I really enjoyed it... in pieces. In vignettes. There was a lot of content that knocked me for a loop, like that opening scene, hot damn that was rad. But for every scene I loved, there was a counter balance that... I won’t say disliked because I really didn’t dislike anything in these pages, I’ll just go with “sorta lost me.” But isn’t that how most cut classics are birthed? By being under appreciated at their time of conception? Just saying.
I will also “just say” that I enjoyed The Fourth Whore. Well enough to recommend it to certain audiences, definitely not for everyone. I will also say that I am excited to read future works from EV Knight.
Thank you to Erin Al-Mehairi and to Raw Dog Screaming Press for the free ARC, I appreciate your support. Know that these are my honest, unbiased opinions.
Zakk Madness is a big dumb animal!
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