What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dark Triad #2
Psychostasis
19/m for killer, SERIOUS ONLY
My name is Ash. I’m looking for someone to kill me. I live in Florida and got to take the grayhound bus or you pick me up in your car. Please only e-mail me if your SERIOUS and can kill me right away. If your interested you reply to me at pleasekillash (at) gmail (dot) com
The FBI is sending Jake coded messages, Ash has found a loophole into heaven, and Elliot will do whatever it takes to get his tits chopped off, as long as it costs less than two grand. Set in the city of brotherly love, Psychostasis is a surreal, sickening, high-octane race to the bottom.
When three downward spirals collide, Jake, Ash, and Elliot find themselves entangled in a homicide pact, a cosmic puppet show, and a web of nefarious influence which draws them ever closer to the Providence Butcher.
My name is Ash. I’m looking for someone to kill me. I live in Florida and got to take the grayhound bus or you pick me up in your car. Please only e-mail me if your SERIOUS and can kill me right away. If your interested you reply to me at pleasekillash (at) gmail (dot) com
The FBI is sending Jake coded messages, Ash has found a loophole into heaven, and Elliot will do whatever it takes to get his tits chopped off, as long as it costs less than two grand. Set in the city of brotherly love, Psychostasis is a surreal, sickening, high-octane race to the bottom.
When three downward spirals collide, Jake, Ash, and Elliot find themselves entangled in a homicide pact, a cosmic puppet show, and a web of nefarious influence which draws them ever closer to the Providence Butcher.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2020
94 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 30, 2020
I am attempting to review this book directly after finishing it.
I feel like my brain has been put in a blender and I'm currently trying to form thoughts (which seems impossible).
Once again, Ezra Blake has made me feel dirty. My soul is covered in dirt and grime after reading this. Can reading a book cause one to suffer from PTSD? If yes, then it's this book.
Let's try to recap without any spoliers.
Not only does the story continue between Ivan and Christopher, we meet new people.
I made the mistake of getting ahead of myself, wondering how their paths would connect. It is so well written that I felt like I was inside the dark recesses of each character's mind. The build up was drawn out, but necessarily so. I'm sitting here scratching my head trying to figure out if I was a character because it all seemed so detailed and real.
Going forward.... The main characters are a med school student, a guy who posts an ad online for someone to kill him, and the guy who accepts the post.
The med student is looking for a cheap surgeon to perform a mastectomy.
The guy who wants someone to kill him is a sinner in the eyes of the catholic church. So that would make suicide a huge sin. Plus, it's like he has been brainwashed that his sexual desires are also a sin.
Then you have the person who accepted the responsibility of killing that sinner.
The author plunges us into their minds, making me feel their pain. Each drug induced hallucination became my own. Their sorrow became my sorrow.
Before the huge climax, we get glimpses into Christopher's life with Ivan. Once again, I was transformed into Christophe, like I was the one who suffered from Stockholm Syndrome.
The ending was the best part of the book. The other characters feel like sideshows with Ivan Skinner being the main event.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Buy it. Read it. You will not be disappointed.
This review does not give this book the praise that it deserves
I feel like my brain has been put in a blender and I'm currently trying to form thoughts (which seems impossible).
Once again, Ezra Blake has made me feel dirty. My soul is covered in dirt and grime after reading this. Can reading a book cause one to suffer from PTSD? If yes, then it's this book.
Let's try to recap without any spoliers.
Not only does the story continue between Ivan and Christopher, we meet new people.
I made the mistake of getting ahead of myself, wondering how their paths would connect. It is so well written that I felt like I was inside the dark recesses of each character's mind. The build up was drawn out, but necessarily so. I'm sitting here scratching my head trying to figure out if I was a character because it all seemed so detailed and real.
Going forward.... The main characters are a med school student, a guy who posts an ad online for someone to kill him, and the guy who accepts the post.
The med student is looking for a cheap surgeon to perform a mastectomy.
The guy who wants someone to kill him is a sinner in the eyes of the catholic church. So that would make suicide a huge sin. Plus, it's like he has been brainwashed that his sexual desires are also a sin.
Then you have the person who accepted the responsibility of killing that sinner.
The author plunges us into their minds, making me feel their pain. Each drug induced hallucination became my own. Their sorrow became my sorrow.
Before the huge climax, we get glimpses into Christopher's life with Ivan. Once again, I was transformed into Christophe, like I was the one who suffered from Stockholm Syndrome.
The ending was the best part of the book. The other characters feel like sideshows with Ivan Skinner being the main event.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Buy it. Read it. You will not be disappointed.
This review does not give this book the praise that it deserves
April 3, 2020
Meh? I absolutely LOVED Claustrophilia. I rated it 5 stars. This one, while well written, I personally thought was kind of a mess. It kind of asks you how far you are willing to suspend your disbelief, and then provides no answers or explanations for any of it.
July 24, 2020
Well I have to say this is the follow up to Claustrophilia which I gave 5 stars to but this one is barely worth 3....I was truly disappointed in this one....It was really hard to follow for most of the book only getting easier around 73% when the 3 new MC's (Ash, Elliot and Jake) met Ivan and Christopher....Up till then I struggled...Nothing was explained of how Ash was...What happened to him and how he could heal was confusing because it wasn't explained why he was like that....The ending aswell...What Christopher did to Ivan was strange....How Ivan could recover from that was unbelievable even for a book...If there's going to be a third i'm not sure I want to read it unless it ties up all the loose ends which I'm not sure now it can...A disappointment all round..I only gave 3 stars because the lase 20 odd percent was in keeping with the first book x
April 1, 2020
…Where do I even begin. When I read the premise, I thought it would be a continuation with different characters and different lives. HO HO HO, was I wrong. This is most definitely a sequel of the last book and definitely more thriller-like. The plot started like a roller-coaster, slow, but since I had this DEPRAVED roller-coaster in the previous book, I knew it will pull through. Boy..was I hanging at the edge of my seat during Part-3. The last part seriously had me like:
Characters:
Ah, my baby Jake, I mean he was the only sane…well… mostly stable and sane? Nah…no one’s sane or stable in this book. Jake had his (drug abuse, bipolar behavior, suicidal tendencies) issues, but I just wanted the poor guy to have a proper friend. Is that so much to ask? At one point I did think he was turning out to be a mini version of Ivan, but nah…the guy had a heart somewhere.
If I had one word for Ash, it would be confused, the guy did not have his shit together. At times, he was pitiable, he made me so angry, I just wanted to slap the shit out of him. Maybe the author meant him to be a complex character with deep psychological and sexuality issues, but honestly, I couldn’t give two cents about him.
The simplest character for me was Eliot, he was just trying to get by. Luck just wasn’t on his side, he landed himself and others in a fatally worse situation as time went on. I can’t say his personality was likable either.
Ivan and Chris are the most complex characters in this novel, they have definitely grown from their relationship? dynamics from the last book. Chris has more of a spine and Ivan, well, Ivan has more respect for Chris having a spine. Are they in a loving relationship?
Plot:
The novel was divided into three parts, the first basically introduces the new characters. Personally, I don’t like the addition of new characters, I usually read double POV at best. The thing that pushed me through the first part was Chris and Ivan, I was really left devasted after the last book so I wanted to know more. The plot got thicker and thicker as the story goes on, don’t let the slow start bug you. The stories of all characters intertwine so painfully and beautifully that I could not for the love of me think what will be the end of them. I had hoped it would turn out for the best? Did it? I guess? For me, it could have ended in worse ways.
Writing:
I absolutely adore the plot and the characters, however, the writing sometimes got too verbose for me. There were too many allegories, metaphors, and symbolism. I mean for some characters, I think it was needed like for Ash who had this evangelical thing going, but when Eliot and Jake started doing the same thing in Part-3, it just got a bit too much. I give leeway to Chris and Ivan for the way they talk because the two psychos have this thing going on that I cannot even describe.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next book…if there is one.
Characters:
Ah, my baby Jake, I mean he was the only sane…well… mostly stable and sane? Nah…no one’s sane or stable in this book. Jake had his (drug abuse, bipolar behavior, suicidal tendencies) issues, but I just wanted the poor guy to have a proper friend. Is that so much to ask? At one point I did think he was turning out to be a mini version of Ivan, but nah…the guy had a heart somewhere.
If I had one word for Ash, it would be confused, the guy did not have his shit together. At times, he was pitiable, he made me so angry, I just wanted to slap the shit out of him. Maybe the author meant him to be a complex character with deep psychological and sexuality issues, but honestly, I couldn’t give two cents about him.
The simplest character for me was Eliot, he was just trying to get by. Luck just wasn’t on his side, he landed himself and others in a fatally worse situation as time went on. I can’t say his personality was likable either.
Ivan and Chris are the most complex characters in this novel, they have definitely grown from their relationship? dynamics from the last book. Chris has more of a spine and Ivan, well, Ivan has more respect for Chris having a spine. Are they in a loving relationship?
Plot:
The novel was divided into three parts, the first basically introduces the new characters. Personally, I don’t like the addition of new characters, I usually read double POV at best. The thing that pushed me through the first part was Chris and Ivan, I was really left devasted after the last book so I wanted to know more. The plot got thicker and thicker as the story goes on, don’t let the slow start bug you. The stories of all characters intertwine so painfully and beautifully that I could not for the love of me think what will be the end of them. I had hoped it would turn out for the best? Did it? I guess? For me, it could have ended in worse ways.
Writing:
I absolutely adore the plot and the characters, however, the writing sometimes got too verbose for me. There were too many allegories, metaphors, and symbolism. I mean for some characters, I think it was needed like for Ash who had this evangelical thing going, but when Eliot and Jake started doing the same thing in Part-3, it just got a bit too much. I give leeway to Chris and Ivan for the way they talk because the two psychos have this thing going on that I cannot even describe.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next book…if there is one.
May 1, 2020
I finished this book last night, and haven't stopped thinking about it since.
(For the record, my morning starts at 3AM)
*Please note the warnings on this book, it is NOT for everyone*
Spoilers below
Where the first book felt very much like a first published novel, this was - can I be bold? - a fucking masterpiece. I'm not sure how involved the other credited writer was, but major kudos to the teamwork. I like a book I have to take a deep breath and stop reading to tell someone what's happening. (I have very understanding friends) I like a book that makes me want to hurl it against the wall. I like a book that surprises me. Boy, oh boy, that ending really fucking got me.
The book built up these characters, made us care about them - Elliot, Ash, and Jake. (We're already rooting for Chris and Ivan... aren't we?) The book humanizes them, and while they are far from perfect people, god, they feel very, very real. We get to know their motives, fears, and dreams, only to have them thrown into the murder boy duo's waiting arms in the middle of a genuinely horrific setting. I think over and over about Jake's inner monologue, his supposed destiny, and that we (the readers) are denied divinity when Jake's gun misses its target. Of the new trio of characters, none of them are who they are without their own traumas. They're all obviously not well... so can we blame them for the actions they took? Can they be Chris's perfect victim (ok to die), or is there ever such a thing for Chris? For anyone?
And holy fuck, the last chapter?? How long do we have to wait to see how THAT is going to go! I have QUESTIONS. I want ANSWERS.
(For the record, my morning starts at 3AM)
*Please note the warnings on this book, it is NOT for everyone*
Spoilers below
Where the first book felt very much like a first published novel, this was - can I be bold? - a fucking masterpiece. I'm not sure how involved the other credited writer was, but major kudos to the teamwork. I like a book I have to take a deep breath and stop reading to tell someone what's happening. (I have very understanding friends) I like a book that makes me want to hurl it against the wall. I like a book that surprises me. Boy, oh boy, that ending really fucking got me.
The book built up these characters, made us care about them - Elliot, Ash, and Jake. (We're already rooting for Chris and Ivan... aren't we?) The book humanizes them, and while they are far from perfect people, god, they feel very, very real. We get to know their motives, fears, and dreams, only to have them thrown into the murder boy duo's waiting arms in the middle of a genuinely horrific setting. I think over and over about Jake's inner monologue, his supposed destiny, and that we (the readers) are denied divinity when Jake's gun misses its target. Of the new trio of characters, none of them are who they are without their own traumas. They're all obviously not well... so can we blame them for the actions they took? Can they be Chris's perfect victim (ok to die), or is there ever such a thing for Chris? For anyone?
And holy fuck, the last chapter?? How long do we have to wait to see how THAT is going to go! I have QUESTIONS. I want ANSWERS.
April 21, 2022
I Need Answers!!
I just finished Psychostasis and I am in awe yet confused. After reading the first book I felt a bit dirty just for finding it so exciting to read about such deprivation.
The first half of this book I must admit was not my favorite, I wanted more or Chris and Ivan. Imagine my gasp when I got the the end. This is where I am scratching my head wondering if I am reading way too much into Chris and Ivan’s ending, if you can call it that.
During the first book we get to see Chris’ “kink” and the last scene in this book leaves me going oh oh, I hope this does not mean what I think it means. I WANT ANWERS!! I beg the authors to put me out of my misery and tell me they are ok, not in the Chris finally gets to love Ivan the way he wants to love Ivan, cold and unable to talk back 🤣🤣
I just finished Psychostasis and I am in awe yet confused. After reading the first book I felt a bit dirty just for finding it so exciting to read about such deprivation.
The first half of this book I must admit was not my favorite, I wanted more or Chris and Ivan. Imagine my gasp when I got the the end. This is where I am scratching my head wondering if I am reading way too much into Chris and Ivan’s ending, if you can call it that.
During the first book we get to see Chris’ “kink” and the last scene in this book leaves me going oh oh, I hope this does not mean what I think it means. I WANT ANWERS!! I beg the authors to put me out of my misery and tell me they are ok, not in the Chris finally gets to love Ivan the way he wants to love Ivan, cold and unable to talk back 🤣🤣
December 16, 2020
So once again, this book is amazing.
The first book was clear what it was, and it was one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. But this one is on a whole other level.
What this book does that I’ve never experienced is make me care for the newly introduced characters right off the bat. The twists and turns created for them kept me right on the edge and I couldn’t look away.
I will absolutely be following the creation of the next installment, I can’t get enough of this series. It’s not going to leave the forefront of my mind for a long while.
The first book was clear what it was, and it was one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. But this one is on a whole other level.
What this book does that I’ve never experienced is make me care for the newly introduced characters right off the bat. The twists and turns created for them kept me right on the edge and I couldn’t look away.
I will absolutely be following the creation of the next installment, I can’t get enough of this series. It’s not going to leave the forefront of my mind for a long while.
July 30, 2025
3 stars . 🕊
“ the forest lives and dies without spectacle, and in its shelter, martyrdom seems a little pathetic. he could die alone in this clearing. he could sink into soil until his flesh sloughs off his bones and maggots polish them to a sheen, and it wouldn’t change anything. ”
━━━━━━⊱ † ⊰━━━━━━
it actually pains me to rate it this low—but like i said . . . claustrophilia really fucked up my expectations. didn't really care for elliot, but i really enjoyed jake and ash's story ﹠ of course my favorite freak, christopher.
spoilers below:
i do wish we got more of ash ﹠ saw more of his supernatural ability. it would've been fascinating to see him still alive. i don't even need a reason for his fast-healing, i just wish we got 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦. to be fair, i wish we got more in general. while the writing was phenomenal like always, it always felt like i was missing something. i think this would've done great as two separate books—one revolving around ash ﹠ jake, and the other elliot. i probably would've enjoyed elliot as a character more if we dived deeper into his psyche ﹠ past; same with jake.
at times, i forgot jake was into killing animals. it seemed like something brushed off ﹠ reintroduced randomly. it always felt like he was an idea, rather than a person. however, i did think his psychosis was very realistic ﹠ at times difficult to read! as someone who's been through psychosis, i definitely had to put the book down for a second lol (which never happens, so kudos!)
anyway, i do think it's funny how people are confused by the ending when it's pretty obvious that ivan is dead ﹠ that is why chris finally feels loved.
“ the forest lives and dies without spectacle, and in its shelter, martyrdom seems a little pathetic. he could die alone in this clearing. he could sink into soil until his flesh sloughs off his bones and maggots polish them to a sheen, and it wouldn’t change anything. ”
━━━━━━⊱ † ⊰━━━━━━
it actually pains me to rate it this low—but like i said . . . claustrophilia really fucked up my expectations. didn't really care for elliot, but i really enjoyed jake and ash's story ﹠ of course my favorite freak, christopher.
spoilers below:
i do wish we got more of ash ﹠ saw more of his supernatural ability. it would've been fascinating to see him still alive. i don't even need a reason for his fast-healing, i just wish we got 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦. to be fair, i wish we got more in general. while the writing was phenomenal like always, it always felt like i was missing something. i think this would've done great as two separate books—one revolving around ash ﹠ jake, and the other elliot. i probably would've enjoyed elliot as a character more if we dived deeper into his psyche ﹠ past; same with jake.
at times, i forgot jake was into killing animals. it seemed like something brushed off ﹠ reintroduced randomly. it always felt like he was an idea, rather than a person. however, i did think his psychosis was very realistic ﹠ at times difficult to read! as someone who's been through psychosis, i definitely had to put the book down for a second lol (which never happens, so kudos!)
anyway, i do think it's funny how people are confused by the ending when it's pretty obvious that ivan is dead ﹠ that is why chris finally feels loved.
October 9, 2025
3.5 🌟
'Chris is his, will always be his, and nobody can take that from them. They're not thinking; they're touching- but abstractly, in sensation more than words, they are thinking that while a man can have many lovers, he can only ever have one killer'.
-
Following on from Claustrophilia, I wondered how it was possible to beat the level of 'fucked up' that that book possessed.
Well, the first book was certainly the better of the two, I did enjoy this one, wasn't quuuite as fucked (if thats even possible for this genre lol), but geez was it a fkin perverse trip of a time. Literally NO ONE is mentally stable and shit gets unhinged af 🫠
The way that these 3 characters come together is the most insanely random, unfortunate chain of events, and the end was just nuts.
Ngl I sorta felt like I was trippin' for a few scenes 🤣 but seeing more of Ivan and Chris was so interesting, yet disturbing. That Stockholm syndrome got him good 😬
Once again, not for the faint of heart. Check your triggers!
-
"You have the most genuine and persistent case or Stockholm syndrome I've ever had the pleasure to witness. I daresay it's progressed all thr way through pathological and out the other side".
-
"You need me more than you need to breathe".
-
"To kill- to die- is the most human endeavour of all".
-
"What does any man do, Jacob? I made order from chaos".
'Chris is his, will always be his, and nobody can take that from them. They're not thinking; they're touching- but abstractly, in sensation more than words, they are thinking that while a man can have many lovers, he can only ever have one killer'.
-
Following on from Claustrophilia, I wondered how it was possible to beat the level of 'fucked up' that that book possessed.
Well, the first book was certainly the better of the two, I did enjoy this one, wasn't quuuite as fucked (if thats even possible for this genre lol), but geez was it a fkin perverse trip of a time. Literally NO ONE is mentally stable and shit gets unhinged af 🫠
The way that these 3 characters come together is the most insanely random, unfortunate chain of events, and the end was just nuts.
Ngl I sorta felt like I was trippin' for a few scenes 🤣 but seeing more of Ivan and Chris was so interesting, yet disturbing. That Stockholm syndrome got him good 😬
Once again, not for the faint of heart. Check your triggers!
-
"You have the most genuine and persistent case or Stockholm syndrome I've ever had the pleasure to witness. I daresay it's progressed all thr way through pathological and out the other side".
-
"You need me more than you need to breathe".
-
"To kill- to die- is the most human endeavour of all".
-
"What does any man do, Jacob? I made order from chaos".
May 3, 2025
interesting change of narrative, though a bit of a letdown given its disconnect from the first book. writing is beautiful as usual, though the story seems to have taken a turn for the worse as I would’ve liked to have read more about ivan and chris.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
3 ⭐️ What does it say about me for enjoying such fucked up books...
April 6, 2020
This is the sequel to Claustrophilia. The original main characters are back with several new characters added. The first book in the series was far more gory with over the top scenes of torture, sexual sadism, cannibalism and necrophilia. This second installment seemed a bit tamer by comparison but still had plenty to satisfy extreme horror fans. Look forward to reading the 3rd and final installment to the trilogy
May 3, 2025
After reading Exquisite Corpse and in want of something to keep that high going, I was recommended this series. I expected a similar gorefest with a central plotline, but what I didn’t expect was my mental integrity tested beyond its threshold- an overdose, if you will of everything I needed, yet more than enough. A perfect blend of tension, character development, gore, sensuality, and psychological/anatomical exploration that makes a person shiver from the inside out at the sheer idea.
I read a lot of dark literature, some that made me crave a cold shower and a cigarette, but never have I read a series that kept me awake at night and made me set an appointment with my psychologist to make sure I’m on the right medication. I say this all with upmost approval and respect. There is never a moment in this series that you don’t savor what little domesticity exists knowing what is soon to come and never a moment that doesn’t shock you more than the last.
While some reviews are critical of the supernatural take that this sequel presents, I actually find it an interesting world building choice that steps the first book up a notch and makes it special on its own. We explored the physical in the first book, does it not make sense to explore more of the mental in the second? Furthermore with the supernatural with the addition of Ash. I hope this series continues with a third installment that explores this idea further. Actually, hope isn’t a good word choice- I’m begging. I’m afraid I’ve made myself a victim to this series and I’m afraid that I don’t mind it at all. : ) <3
I read a lot of dark literature, some that made me crave a cold shower and a cigarette, but never have I read a series that kept me awake at night and made me set an appointment with my psychologist to make sure I’m on the right medication. I say this all with upmost approval and respect. There is never a moment in this series that you don’t savor what little domesticity exists knowing what is soon to come and never a moment that doesn’t shock you more than the last.
While some reviews are critical of the supernatural take that this sequel presents, I actually find it an interesting world building choice that steps the first book up a notch and makes it special on its own. We explored the physical in the first book, does it not make sense to explore more of the mental in the second? Furthermore with the supernatural with the addition of Ash. I hope this series continues with a third installment that explores this idea further. Actually, hope isn’t a good word choice- I’m begging. I’m afraid I’ve made myself a victim to this series and I’m afraid that I don’t mind it at all. : ) <3
November 24, 2022
Imagine if Law & Order SVU, Criminal Minds, Black Mirror and the Saw movies all smashed together. Then you would have this mindfuck. I HAD to consume this book in one sitting. I tried sleeping, but it was in my mind. I NEED The Dark Triad to be a triad of books. Not just a merging of characters. I must know what the deal with Ash is. Was? I want to know how long Chris can keep the facade up.
Also, I didn’t find it confusing to keep track of who or where we were once everyone was introduced. Definitely a unique writing approach, but it worked for me.
Also, I didn’t find it confusing to keep track of who or where we were once everyone was introduced. Definitely a unique writing approach, but it worked for me.
October 3, 2022
This is one of the most bizarre and beautiful books I’ve ever read and I absolutely loved it. A total fucking masterpiece and I’m so sad it’s over.
Rarely can a sequel live up to a book as great as Claustrophilia but this was mind blowing.
It’s not often a book can leave me in awe with the sheer horror and depravity, while bringing me to tears a few pages later. I loved every second of reading this.
Rarely can a sequel live up to a book as great as Claustrophilia but this was mind blowing.
It’s not often a book can leave me in awe with the sheer horror and depravity, while bringing me to tears a few pages later. I loved every second of reading this.
June 18, 2020
Just as curious and intriguing as the first one. I did feel like it lacked in the gorier, more explicit scenes compared to Claustrophilia but the emotional rollercoaster this was kinda made up for it. Eagerly awaiting for the final book.
November 30, 2023
4/5 stars. Absolutely stunning book. This was even better than the first part. Loved all the characters and how they were written. The ending had a twist I didn’t see coming. And the writing was exquisite. So happy I found this!
August 13, 2022
no words
this book ripped my mind to shreds. i can’t even process thoughts but all i do know is this book was crazy good
this book ripped my mind to shreds. i can’t even process thoughts but all i do know is this book was crazy good
December 11, 2022
compared to claustrophilia this was a huge disappointment:(
March 18, 2025
Masterpiece per usual
August 13, 2025
Didn't love this as much as the first book, which is really the only reason I'm knocking it down a star. I understand why this book was written the way it was, it absolutely sucks you into this chaotic world of drugs, love, loss, paranoia and overall feelings of utter despair! But, I did find it hard to follow at times. Found myself flicking back thinking I'd skipped something. Which in hindsight is, in my opinion, absolutely how it's meant to make you feel. The characters were great, although oddly enough I didn't find Ash as interesting as I'd thought he'd be. I kind of want to read a book all about his life, and how he got to this point. I'll stop rambling in a second, but I still have conflicting feelings about Christopher 🙈 still love him but also want to throw him in the bin! To be clear 😂 I still loved this book, just had more fun reading the first.
November 22, 2025
I should have DNF'd this book. I followed Chris and Ivan's storylines just fine but the 3 new characters were a jumble and honestly it was a hot mess of schizophrenic hallucinations, drug induced fever dreams and confusion. I have no idea what I read and the ending brought absolutely no clarity to the situation that the characters find themselves in at the end of the book. It is also very unclear at the end what truly happened with the main characters of Ivan and Chris. Overall a waste of my time and therefore it was a one star read for me. Hats off to anyone that was able to make sense of and enjoy this book.
June 15, 2020
Huh
I should probably wait a second to post my review but what the hell!! I honestly spent some of this book completely confused and mostly by POVs, they were a bit scattered. It wasn’t as depraved as the first one I didn’t think, I wasn’t as on edge the whole time. It had a slower build up to the psychological torment. There are things that never got explained ahem Ash? What? So that was slightly disappointing lol and is Ivan............? Great mind bending ending.
I should probably wait a second to post my review but what the hell!! I honestly spent some of this book completely confused and mostly by POVs, they were a bit scattered. It wasn’t as depraved as the first one I didn’t think, I wasn’t as on edge the whole time. It had a slower build up to the psychological torment. There are things that never got explained ahem Ash? What? So that was slightly disappointing lol and is Ivan............? Great mind bending ending.
January 4, 2025
I absolutely loved the first book and compared it to exquisite corpse as a compliment. This book seems like a direct poor replication of exquisite corpse. It lost all the tortured beauty and replaced it with a muddled storyline with way too much going on. There’s many plot points that don’t make sense and even more that aren’t explained at all. I still loved the writing but the charm of the first book was completely lost in this one.
June 25, 2025
After finishing the first book, Claustraphilia, I found myself asking: what’s left to read after such an intense experience? For a while, I felt there was nothing that could match that level of depth and darkness. Luckily, I decided to give the second book in the series a chance. At first, I struggled to connect with the new characters and even skipped some of their parts. However, I went back and reread the entire book, and I’m so glad I did. Now, I can confidently say that the second installment is even more intriguing and disturbing than the first. Ezra, please—finish writing the third part of the series, the Dark Triad. I simply can't imagine this dark saga remaining incomplete.
August 9, 2025
I am literally just sitting here frozen after finishing this book. I don't really know what to do or where to go from here? How could I POSSIBLY follow this with another book? Nothing will compare until the next book is released! I am afraid I'll have to take a hiatus from reading. This triad is THAT good.
August 23, 2025
Can’t even imagine
Not as epic as book 1 for sure but that’s really only because several times it felt like I needed to be tripping on acid or something to understand wth was being said or going on. Besides that, this was another tremendous read that will stay with me for a very long time as well.
Not as epic as book 1 for sure but that’s really only because several times it felt like I needed to be tripping on acid or something to understand wth was being said or going on. Besides that, this was another tremendous read that will stay with me for a very long time as well.
January 6, 2026
I wish I could say I love this book. It had so much promise after the first one but I was so damn confused all the time. No clue whose POV it was from. No idea what was going on and no real resolution to the story. Is Ivan really dead or has Chris finally snapped? Maybe it’s in the eye of the beholder to figure out? All in all, great potential but I felt exhausted after reading it.
May 19, 2025
This took me way too long…
The scope was wider than the first one and I’ll be honest half the time I did NOT know what was going on and I still barely understand how it ended which holds it back from any higher rating…Still fun tho
The scope was wider than the first one and I’ll be honest half the time I did NOT know what was going on and I still barely understand how it ended which holds it back from any higher rating…Still fun tho
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews