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The Dirty Heroes Collection #9
Skeleton King
In this town, I’m free from shame
A place where everyone knows my name
Glamorizing corpses to feed a need
That’s why they call me Skeleton King
They all worship me, but they don’t know the real me
All they see is my painted face
Truth is, I’m terrified, all the hope inside me died
Death and cold will forever be my morbid fate
Then she showed me something more
Somehow stealing deaths allure
A place where everyone knows my name
Glamorizing corpses to feed a need
That’s why they call me Skeleton King
They all worship me, but they don’t know the real me
All they see is my painted face
Truth is, I’m terrified, all the hope inside me died
Death and cold will forever be my morbid fate
Then she showed me something more
Somehow stealing deaths allure
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2020
1729 people are currently reading
13476 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,416 reviews
August 6, 2020
Hey, whatever rocks your boat. Okay? If Necrophilia is what counts as reading pleasure for you, then by all means, do whatcha gotta do.
DNF @ 5%
June 28, 2020
WHAT IN THE FRESH FUCKERY DID I JUST READ?????!! Never and I mean NEVER in all my days, have I've read such a messed up, demented, cringe worthy, goosebumps chilling, fucked the hell up book!!! I don't know if I should be in therapy right now because this book scarred me, or applaud this author because she went there!
Let me be very clear on something: these characters are not your normal story book characters Ok? They're fucked up. I'm not talking about them being a little damaged. They have some serious freakin issues and quite frankly.....
I knew going into this book that it was going to be a very different read and I tried my best to prepare myself for it in a sense but I learned very quickly that you can't!! Nothing will ever prepare you for this and if you're brave enough to start this, I highly recommend you splurge on a good therapist because FML!! That was some CRAY CRAY shit right there!!
Let me be very clear on something: these characters are not your normal story book characters Ok? They're fucked up. I'm not talking about them being a little damaged. They have some serious freakin issues and quite frankly.....
I knew going into this book that it was going to be a very different read and I tried my best to prepare myself for it in a sense but I learned very quickly that you can't!! Nothing will ever prepare you for this and if you're brave enough to start this, I highly recommend you splurge on a good therapist because FML!! That was some CRAY CRAY shit right there!!
June 25, 2020
'SKELETON KING' is the ninth full length dark romance book by new to me author Charity B's (The Dirty Heroes ) Collection.
In this you meet John our skeleton king and Sarah, both broken beyond measure but both find love in the most unlikely situation.
So I'd heard a few whispers in the book world that people were out with their pitchforks trying to get this banned off Amazon, so what did I do? I one clicked this b#tch to see what all the fuss was about!!
I'd really love to see this authors search engines on her computer!! Imagine explaining those away if they ever came into question!! lol
I've read a lot of f#cked up sh#t in my time but some scenes in this book definitely had me squirming a wee bit!! So heed the warning the author has placed on this book, it's there for a reason, everything she promised to give us she delivered!! If you have triggers then think carefully before you purchase this, it doesn't muck around, it's in your face, it's dark, gritty, sick and beyond twisted all those boxes us sickos like ticked are ticked. This book will not be for everyone.
'Welcome to Hollow Grove' where the residents give in to their deepest and darkest desires within their private gated community. Where there isn't anything too perverse or too macabre for this place many call home. They have their own ways of doing things there.
When I put on the paint, it's as if I become someone else. The moment the skull is on my face, I transform from John Skelver to Skeleton King.
This was beyond unique, I can honestly say I've never read anything like it before. What started off extremely dark just over half way we see a glimmer of light shining down on us as a romance starts to blossom and takes root, making me love how unconventional it was, an exceptionally dark twist to the 'Nightmare before Christmas story'. So take a step out of your comfort zones and give this one a shot, it's no worse than what you've probably seen on tv, plus it's fiction, two thumbs up by yours truly.
May 12, 2021
I had heard so many rumors about skeleton King and people trying to ban it, So I decided to read it and judge it for myself and man did I love it
This book has trigger warnings on the blurb page, and in case you missed it is in the author's notes in bold lettering. Take the warning very seriously. This book may not be for some people.
Skeleton King is a dark, twisted, taboo, and has hard limits read. Once you get past that, you will just love this book—a great dark twist to the Nightmare before Christmas story.
Jonathan and Sarah are both broken. John, we met in the beginning, to see how he loves his life and what a rough start, and see why he is the way he is. Then comes long, Sarah, and your heart just bleeds for her. How she lived is disgusting. She has only known pain, abuse, evil, and suffering. They fit so well together. There so much darkness, the author did balance it out with some lightness.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with the Skeleton King and couldn't find anything negative. Her writing pulled me in and pushed my boundaries. Buckle up for a wild ride.
This book has trigger warnings on the blurb page, and in case you missed it is in the author's notes in bold lettering. Take the warning very seriously. This book may not be for some people.
Skeleton King is a dark, twisted, taboo, and has hard limits read. Once you get past that, you will just love this book—a great dark twist to the Nightmare before Christmas story.
Jonathan and Sarah are both broken. John, we met in the beginning, to see how he loves his life and what a rough start, and see why he is the way he is. Then comes long, Sarah, and your heart just bleeds for her. How she lived is disgusting. She has only known pain, abuse, evil, and suffering. They fit so well together. There so much darkness, the author did balance it out with some lightness.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with the Skeleton King and couldn't find anything negative. Her writing pulled me in and pushed my boundaries. Buckle up for a wild ride.
July 22, 2021
Its CREEPY not in the way its written or projected but in a way that my over-imaginative mind kept connecting the contents in this book with the movie (The Nightmare Before Christmas). 💔
My stomach actually lurched when i thought about Sally going through what Sarah did or what John (Jack) did. 🤮
I never had trigger warnings when it comes to books or movies (anything fiction) but this came close. I can't even describe the feeling i want to puke and cry 😣
The book is well written and it was such a page turner. There no issue in this. The issue is with me that i can't take out the picture of Sally's scars and dress from my fucked-up mind 🤮🤮🤮🤮
My stomach actually lurched when i thought about Sally going through what Sarah did or what John (Jack) did. 🤮
I never had trigger warnings when it comes to books or movies (anything fiction) but this came close. I can't even describe the feeling i want to puke and cry 😣
The book is well written and it was such a page turner. There no issue in this. The issue is with me that i can't take out the picture of Sally's scars and dress from my fucked-up mind 🤮🤮🤮🤮
June 18, 2020
DNF at 44%. I’m going to explain exactly what I read, so please don’t continue if you don’t want Spoilers. For those who want the details, I hope you haven’t just eaten.
If you enjoy horror, then maybe this book will be for you.
S P O I L E R S -
The main characters are John Skelver and Sarah, and they live in a horrific little town known as Hallows Grove where perversions and horrors are gleefully embraced.
John Skelver searches obituaries and digs up and steals dead bodies in the night. Some he sells to the residents of Hallows Grove, like the spinster sisters who make crafts out of skin, and another who makes jewelry and sex toys out of bones. But there are special bodies John keeps for himself. These lucky women are his “girlfriend” for as long as he can make them last.
And yes, we get detailed sex between John and his special lady. There’s even a set of creepy, sociopathic young triplets who ask if they can watch what John does with his new girlfriend.
John has severe mother issues, and became a necrophiliac out of insecurity of rejection and derision from females.
Sarah was stolen - I think she was 9? Or maybe younger - by a man who lost his daughter and wants Sarah (which is actually his daughter’s name, but she no longer remembers what hers was) to replace her. Sarah is Finks literal rag doll. He dismembers pieces of her and then crudely sews her back together. As a punishment, we get to read Fink slicing her cheeks open and crudely sewing them back together so she can finally smile and look happy. Oh, and Fink and his weirdo Igor-type, dog biscuit eating, sidekick have been raping her since she was a child. We get several (not) delightful scenes of them having sex with her.
Sarah’s been enamored with John since she first saw him as a child, even wanting to be one of his special ladies when she dies. She finally gets her moment with him (alive!), and John is amazed at how soft and warm she is...because he’s so used to hard coldness (I’m gagging).
Meanwhile, Sarah’s “father” is fed up with her rebelling of constantly trying to leave the house, so he sells her to the town’s mayor, who’s the father of the triplets and is a human trafficker. Lovely.
Sarah’s new “husband” brings along Esty, one of his “whores” for a threesome, which Sarah is actually enjoying and into because this woman is kind and they’ve made each other orgasm, when, while fucking the woman from behind as she’s on top of Sarah, he slits the woman’s throat, allowing the blood the rain upon Sarah and then he “fingers” the newly opened slit to release. Still fucking her with his clock.
Oh there’s more.
The mayor - he had a weird name that I can’t remember - makes Sarah come out to eat dinner where the five of them sit down to a delightful family meal. It’s in the middle of this meal that Sarah discovers they’re eating Esty, the woman they were fucking earlier, shocking and terrifying her. Mayor then yells at her for being ungrateful and, to make her useful for something, has Sarah give him a blowjob at the dinner table with his three young children.
And I was out. I don’t care how “beautiful” the love story may have turned out between John and Sarah, I’m fucking out and wish I didn’t have what I do in my brain.
If you enjoy horror, then maybe this book will be for you.
S P O I L E R S -
The main characters are John Skelver and Sarah, and they live in a horrific little town known as Hallows Grove where perversions and horrors are gleefully embraced.
John Skelver searches obituaries and digs up and steals dead bodies in the night. Some he sells to the residents of Hallows Grove, like the spinster sisters who make crafts out of skin, and another who makes jewelry and sex toys out of bones. But there are special bodies John keeps for himself. These lucky women are his “girlfriend” for as long as he can make them last.
And yes, we get detailed sex between John and his special lady. There’s even a set of creepy, sociopathic young triplets who ask if they can watch what John does with his new girlfriend.
John has severe mother issues, and became a necrophiliac out of insecurity of rejection and derision from females.
Sarah was stolen - I think she was 9? Or maybe younger - by a man who lost his daughter and wants Sarah (which is actually his daughter’s name, but she no longer remembers what hers was) to replace her. Sarah is Finks literal rag doll. He dismembers pieces of her and then crudely sews her back together. As a punishment, we get to read Fink slicing her cheeks open and crudely sewing them back together so she can finally smile and look happy. Oh, and Fink and his weirdo Igor-type, dog biscuit eating, sidekick have been raping her since she was a child. We get several (not) delightful scenes of them having sex with her.
Sarah’s been enamored with John since she first saw him as a child, even wanting to be one of his special ladies when she dies. She finally gets her moment with him (alive!), and John is amazed at how soft and warm she is...because he’s so used to hard coldness (I’m gagging).
Meanwhile, Sarah’s “father” is fed up with her rebelling of constantly trying to leave the house, so he sells her to the town’s mayor, who’s the father of the triplets and is a human trafficker. Lovely.
Sarah’s new “husband” brings along Esty, one of his “whores” for a threesome, which Sarah is actually enjoying and into because this woman is kind and they’ve made each other orgasm, when, while fucking the woman from behind as she’s on top of Sarah, he slits the woman’s throat, allowing the blood the rain upon Sarah and then he “fingers” the newly opened slit to release. Still fucking her with his clock.
Oh there’s more.
The mayor - he had a weird name that I can’t remember - makes Sarah come out to eat dinner where the five of them sit down to a delightful family meal. It’s in the middle of this meal that Sarah discovers they’re eating Esty, the woman they were fucking earlier, shocking and terrifying her. Mayor then yells at her for being ungrateful and, to make her useful for something, has Sarah give him a blowjob at the dinner table with his three young children.
And I was out. I don’t care how “beautiful” the love story may have turned out between John and Sarah, I’m fucking out and wish I didn’t have what I do in my brain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2020
4.25 ★
While living in the town of Hallows Grove, Jack Skevers earned his moniker of Skeleton King due to his occupation and peculiar proclivities. Because of his past in the Mundane World, Jack has certain sensitivities but when a longtime friend, Sarah Stein, needs help he is willing to make sacrifices.
From the outset, the setting is like stepping into an alternate universe where oddity is the norm, as all the citizens have a quirk that is fulfilled by their community. Assimilating into world is intriguing, to say the least. With Jack, he is conflicted but he has a comfort level in the routine he’s created. For Sarah, she somehow is able to be a source of light considering her circumstance.
Going into this story, I had high hopes the author would deliver a dark and depraved tale and she completely did. While limits are pushed, these characters show more than just odd traits. Bringing some heart into such a taboo and dark story can be hard to balance, but this one does it well! I felt for Jack and Sarah and also found the other characters entertaining.
Skeleton King is about moving from the past but also remaining true to oneself. This book would appeal to those seeking an eccentric world.
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.*
*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey!*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
While living in the town of Hallows Grove, Jack Skevers earned his moniker of Skeleton King due to his occupation and peculiar proclivities. Because of his past in the Mundane World, Jack has certain sensitivities but when a longtime friend, Sarah Stein, needs help he is willing to make sacrifices.
“My desires are seen as perversions in the Mundane World. I would be a pariah if I ever tried to survive out there. But here? I’m a king.”
From the outset, the setting is like stepping into an alternate universe where oddity is the norm, as all the citizens have a quirk that is fulfilled by their community. Assimilating into world is intriguing, to say the least. With Jack, he is conflicted but he has a comfort level in the routine he’s created. For Sarah, she somehow is able to be a source of light considering her circumstance.
“I may have a pit in my soul, but it isn’t hollowed out completely.”
Going into this story, I had high hopes the author would deliver a dark and depraved tale and she completely did. While limits are pushed, these characters show more than just odd traits. Bringing some heart into such a taboo and dark story can be hard to balance, but this one does it well! I felt for Jack and Sarah and also found the other characters entertaining.
Skeleton King is about moving from the past but also remaining true to oneself. This book would appeal to those seeking an eccentric world.
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.*
*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey!*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
August 28, 2020
3.5 ⭐
Before I even get into the review I wanted to point out there are LLOOTTT of triggers in this book. From sexual assult to body disfigured.. so yeah I list more triggers below if you're intrested. PLEASE BECAREFUL WHEN READING!!!
When I saw this book on my feed I was intrested in reading a retelling of nightmare before Christmas since I dont believe there is one. and we start off with John and well John is a fucked up person who likes picking out his new dead bride from the graves.. yes he likes to fk dead bodies.. which was something crazy. Now it can be count as OW but uhh they dead so it was hard lol and that's how he meets Sarah.. they have this small friendship at first they both feel something but never act on it until they do.
I did skimm most of John sex with dead ow lol and few Scene where Sarah was raped by the doctor and Ogier. Some of those scenes were very graphic. Beside those drama and mess. John and Sarah had some fucked up life was glad they got to have some bright moments between them in their darkness.
I do wish they would have more romance in this like alittle more... was disappointed that when Sarah was sold off to Ogier it took John awhile to figure out she was sold.. 😒
Angst, sorta ow drama (they deadlol) om drama, Drama, sex, no virgins manwhore lol
Recommend- maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐
Slow-burnish
Pinning
Push away from H
Necrophilia
Tiny F/F & M/F
Abuse
Body disfigured/amputations
Humiliation
infertility
Mentions Pedophilia (Doctor Fink likes underage girls)
Punishments (in the flashbacks and present)
Cutting (well Sarah is a rag doll)
Sexual assault (even if the victim is dead and alive)
Torture-ish (electric shock)
No condoms
Hea
Epilogue
Before I even get into the review I wanted to point out there are LLOOTTT of triggers in this book. From sexual assult to body disfigured.. so yeah I list more triggers below if you're intrested. PLEASE BECAREFUL WHEN READING!!!
When I saw this book on my feed I was intrested in reading a retelling of nightmare before Christmas since I dont believe there is one. and we start off with John and well John is a fucked up person who likes picking out his new dead bride from the graves.. yes he likes to fk dead bodies.. which was something crazy. Now it can be count as OW but uhh they dead so it was hard lol and that's how he meets Sarah.. they have this small friendship at first they both feel something but never act on it until they do.
I did skimm most of John sex with dead ow lol and few Scene where Sarah was raped by the doctor and Ogier. Some of those scenes were very graphic. Beside those drama and mess. John and Sarah had some fucked up life was glad they got to have some bright moments between them in their darkness.
I do wish they would have more romance in this like alittle more... was disappointed that when Sarah was sold off to Ogier it took John awhile to figure out she was sold.. 😒
Angst, sorta ow drama (they deadlol) om drama, Drama, sex, no virgins manwhore lol
Recommend- maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐
Slow-burnish
Pinning
Push away from H
Necrophilia
Tiny F/F & M/F
Abuse
Body disfigured/amputations
Humiliation
infertility
Mentions Pedophilia (Doctor Fink likes underage girls)
Punishments (in the flashbacks and present)
Cutting (well Sarah is a rag doll)
Sexual assault (even if the victim is dead and alive)
Torture-ish (electric shock)
No condoms
Hea
Epilogue
May 29, 2020
Genre: Dark Romance
Type: Standalone Book 9 of The Dirty Heroes Collection
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
For years he built up his reputation as the respected Skeleton King. But one taste of Sarah Stein crumbled down the walls he carefully built. Now, he must face his fears or never again feel what it’s truly like to be alive.
I loved John and his depravity. He also broke my heart with his painful past and insecurities. Sarah didn’t fare any better. She had her own pain to endure. They were broken pieces that needed something to glue them back together.
This book is inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas movie which I’ve never watched, so I didn’t know what to expect. It certainly has the author’s signature no holds barred level of darkness but it’s also sweet and quirky. The neighborhood and its residents were well... fascinatingly eclectic. I actually have a soft spot for the triplet lol!
Skeleton King is a story of facing fear and taking chances. It would appeal to readers who enjoy dirty taboo content with heart.
See books in the collection HERE.
👑💀👑 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . 👑💀👑
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
Type: Standalone Book 9 of The Dirty Heroes Collection
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
For years he built up his reputation as the respected Skeleton King. But one taste of Sarah Stein crumbled down the walls he carefully built. Now, he must face his fears or never again feel what it’s truly like to be alive.
I loved John and his depravity. He also broke my heart with his painful past and insecurities. Sarah didn’t fare any better. She had her own pain to endure. They were broken pieces that needed something to glue them back together.
I could finally feel some version of affection without risking pain or cruelty. For either of us.
This book is inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas movie which I’ve never watched, so I didn’t know what to expect. It certainly has the author’s signature no holds barred level of darkness but it’s also sweet and quirky. The neighborhood and its residents were well... fascinatingly eclectic. I actually have a soft spot for the triplet lol!
Skeleton King is a story of facing fear and taking chances. It would appeal to readers who enjoy dirty taboo content with heart.
See books in the collection HERE.
👑💀👑 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . 👑💀👑
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
April 26, 2021
So like all Charity B.'s books, it would always push you out of your normal boundary.
In this one, we got necrophilia, torture, and paedophilia. Which again, not for anyone. However, the low rating was not for these troublesome issues.
It's because I was bored halfway through it. It was pretty good initially, but later it fizzled out. Plus, there are some people I wished were dead by the end of it...
In this one, we got necrophilia, torture, and paedophilia. Which again, not for anyone. However, the low rating was not for these troublesome issues.
It's because I was bored halfway through it. It was pretty good initially, but later it fizzled out. Plus, there are some people I wished were dead by the end of it...
February 2, 2021
This is a way more ominous, macabre version of a Nightmare Before Christmas. As if Sally couldn’t be more depressing, Charity managed to not only make Sarah’s life more damnable but distasteful in every sense imaginable. I mean it would have to be pretty bad if a necrophiliac is far more appealing.
But I suppose that’s what our writer was going for in this world; everyone is accepted no matter how disturbing.
Who else wants to cut stuff off Fink and sew it back in random places? Are you thinking what I’m thinking? 🙈
Oh John! This is a tough read when even he hurts her. Goddam! When is this girl gonna catch a break?! Ugh, I want to punch him in his skeleton face! 🤦🏼♀️
Even though Hallow’s Grove was made for degenerates to have freedom to fly the freakiest flag. It’s still a world made by men, for men.
Omg! Oregon Trail!!! Only the best computer game that ever existed. Ok maybe not the best but for a green screen, that game was dope!
It was a long road but well worth it!
But I suppose that’s what our writer was going for in this world; everyone is accepted no matter how disturbing.
Who else wants to cut stuff off Fink and sew it back in random places? Are you thinking what I’m thinking? 🙈
Oh John! This is a tough read when even he hurts her. Goddam! When is this girl gonna catch a break?! Ugh, I want to punch him in his skeleton face! 🤦🏼♀️
Even though Hallow’s Grove was made for degenerates to have freedom to fly the freakiest flag. It’s still a world made by men, for men.
Omg! Oregon Trail!!! Only the best computer game that ever existed. Ok maybe not the best but for a green screen, that game was dope!
It was a long road but well worth it!
November 9, 2020
I’ve Got A Burning Desire
*read on KU*
What’s this book about? (I'm trying to give as little spoilers as possible)
This is a crazy book. Not everyone is going to LIKE or ENJOY it. This isn’t meant for everyone. That’s okay. It’s very dark and twisted. That’s all you need to know!
This is my first official Charity B. book. I read her story in the Another Family Affair Anthology, and I was impressed. Skeleton King was an INSANE book that I thoroughly enjoyed purely because of its audacity to be so bloody EXTRA. K. Web, WHO?!?!?!?!? This is one of the darkest books I’ve read all year. I think I should’ve read it on Halloween because it just had that spooky vibe about it. It’s an easy read if you don’t take these things too seriously. It’s definitely well-written, and it’s a fresh of breath air to have this type of extra content have such great story-telling. I recommend this to people who can stomach a lot of CRAZINESS, tortured heroes/heroines, and lots of treacherous twists.
ORIGINAL COMMENT
Well that was a book I've never read before
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June 28, 2020 What in cousin fuckin tarnation Alabama Betty Crocker miss fuckin Betty white shit is this? Holy shiiitt
I thought nothing would surprise me but here I am! 😳
I thought nothing would surprise me but here I am! 😳
Want to read
July 5, 2020not sure if i can deal with necrophilia.. i shall come back once i feel like it 🙄
May 3, 2020
Only an exceptionally innovative writer like Charity B. would even think of writing a book based off the movie A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!! Although you don’t need to watch that movie to enjoy this book, I’m really glad I read it, helping me more clearly imagine the transformation of the already odd movies cartoon characters into Charity’s twisted ones! Once again, she has written something unlike anything else out there, filled with scenes that will have you gasping out loud!
June 28, 2020
WTF did I just read!? I was in the mood for something dark and I heard there was a campaign to ban this book so I had to read it. I do not condone censorship at all. Having said that, I feel that this book was so gratuitously violent and depraved that it stole all the wind from the “love story”. This isn’t a romance, it’s a horror book. I generally enjoy the macabre. I was born on Dia de los Muertos and I have skulls all over my house so I didn’t think I’d be so disturbed. This story was completely lost to me in all of the gore.
Necrophilia... yep. The H does it with dead people. There is a brutal murder...
The poor h was kidnapped as a 9 yo and has been dissected and reassembled and even given a permanent joker smile. You wouldn’t recover enough to be able to function after all of those surgeries- arms amputated and reattached, etc. You’d have nerve damage and crippling pain IF you were lucky enough to be able to use the appendage at all. I suspended my disbelief for the sake of following the story, but I couldn’t help but think about how messed up she would truly be. In addition to that she is raped brutally and repeatedly.
But, somehow she is sane, and the H is “sane” and they have a functional relationship and a HEA. The h chooses to remain in the community that was essentially her prison... and raise a child in it. This community is worse than a cult!
This book... I am so bewildered. I will give it to this author for being creative. It’s like the Nightmare Before Christmas with sex and unimaginable depravity...
I need to read something light before I go to bed so I don’t dream about this messed up stuff. This book was fast-paced and I was hooked, but the story and subject matter... shew! This is the darkest book I think I’ve ever read. There was a disclaimer, but I didn’t heed it, obviously!
Necrophilia... yep. The H does it with dead people. There is a brutal murder...
The poor h was kidnapped as a 9 yo and has been dissected and reassembled and even given a permanent joker smile. You wouldn’t recover enough to be able to function after all of those surgeries- arms amputated and reattached, etc. You’d have nerve damage and crippling pain IF you were lucky enough to be able to use the appendage at all. I suspended my disbelief for the sake of following the story, but I couldn’t help but think about how messed up she would truly be. In addition to that she is raped brutally and repeatedly.
But, somehow she is sane, and the H is “sane” and they have a functional relationship and a HEA. The h chooses to remain in the community that was essentially her prison... and raise a child in it. This community is worse than a cult!
This book... I am so bewildered. I will give it to this author for being creative. It’s like the Nightmare Before Christmas with sex and unimaginable depravity...
I need to read something light before I go to bed so I don’t dream about this messed up stuff. This book was fast-paced and I was hooked, but the story and subject matter... shew! This is the darkest book I think I’ve ever read. There was a disclaimer, but I didn’t heed it, obviously!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2021
While the extreme dark content of this book wasn’t quite for me, (and most people would hate it), the reason I gave this book a lower rating is because I was disappointed in the romance aspect. There’s no romance at all, until all of a sudden John and Sarah are in love. I needed a little more build up, more interactions with them, or at least insta-love to explain this away. I was also disappointed that the town wasn’t really described all that well, and honestly, if we’re reading a book based on The Nightmare Before Christmas, I want to see more of the author’s disturbing dark romance interpretation of the town.
There’s a lot of unsettling content in this book, and it honestly felt like it was happening for shock value. There wasn’t a whole lot of plot to go with it. As a horror fan, I needed a bit more depth to it all.
All that said, despite being 350 pages, it’s a quick read, and if you’re a fan of the movie (and if you can stomach the extremely disturbing content), you should give it a shot. The disturbing bits start happening literally immediately (almost on the first page), so you’ll know right away if you can handle it or not.
There’s a lot of unsettling content in this book, and it honestly felt like it was happening for shock value. There wasn’t a whole lot of plot to go with it. As a horror fan, I needed a bit more depth to it all.
All that said, despite being 350 pages, it’s a quick read, and if you’re a fan of the movie (and if you can stomach the extremely disturbing content), you should give it a shot. The disturbing bits start happening literally immediately (almost on the first page), so you’ll know right away if you can handle it or not.
June 27, 2020
HEED THE AUTHOR'S WARNING! I always hate it when readers completely ignore the trigger warnings and then wanna give the author a low rating for the things they find offensive. Rate the author on her ability to tell the tale! Not because your an idiot and can't pay attention to the bright red stop sign at the beginning of the journey!
True, this book definitely falls in the dark DARK romance category but if you've got the stomach for it, you will actually find a gem underneath! Although our H does what some may find indisputably atrocious, you have to understand in his world ,this is normal and acceptable behavior. I feel like that's part of the whole point of the story, literally transplanting yourself to an entirely different world. If you can look beyond that and discover why he does the things he does, what made him this way, you will discover the true sadness at the heart of the tale. In the end, I found a truly compassionate, loyal, shy boy hidden behind the mask of a freak. In the end, all he longed for was for someone to peek behind the mask, look behind the curtain and love him for who they found but he was too afraid to show. That is what truly captured my heart in this exquisitely morbid gem of a read! I tend to like to linger on the edges of crude, to dip my toes inworldto some weird make believe and as long as the author can actually give some characters who have dimension and substance and not just the scary or creep factor part of the story, they truly suck me in. Charity B. blew me out of the water with this one! This is the first book of hers I have read and I hope it won't be the last! She did an amazing job of throwing me head first into her world of wrong and I absolutely loved it! She has a maddening ability of using her talent to describe the settings, characters and make you feel the emotions. I fell right into Skelton King and didn't come up for air until I was done reading, stayed up all night for this one! Cannot wait for the next one! Thank you Charity B for truly awesome fresh breath of air unlike anything I've read before!! You've definitely become one of my favs with just one trip into your grotesque world!!
True, this book definitely falls in the dark DARK romance category but if you've got the stomach for it, you will actually find a gem underneath! Although our H does what some may find indisputably atrocious, you have to understand in his world ,this is normal and acceptable behavior. I feel like that's part of the whole point of the story, literally transplanting yourself to an entirely different world. If you can look beyond that and discover why he does the things he does, what made him this way, you will discover the true sadness at the heart of the tale. In the end, I found a truly compassionate, loyal, shy boy hidden behind the mask of a freak. In the end, all he longed for was for someone to peek behind the mask, look behind the curtain and love him for who they found but he was too afraid to show. That is what truly captured my heart in this exquisitely morbid gem of a read! I tend to like to linger on the edges of crude, to dip my toes inworldto some weird make believe and as long as the author can actually give some characters who have dimension and substance and not just the scary or creep factor part of the story, they truly suck me in. Charity B. blew me out of the water with this one! This is the first book of hers I have read and I hope it won't be the last! She did an amazing job of throwing me head first into her world of wrong and I absolutely loved it! She has a maddening ability of using her talent to describe the settings, characters and make you feel the emotions. I fell right into Skelton King and didn't come up for air until I was done reading, stayed up all night for this one! Cannot wait for the next one! Thank you Charity B for truly awesome fresh breath of air unlike anything I've read before!! You've definitely become one of my favs with just one trip into your grotesque world!!
June 4, 2020
Mrs Bailey's universe will always transport me to a challenging place. With Skeleton King, she once more pushed my boundaries.
It's always with a great anticipation that I start her new stories; I love going in totally blind and truly I recommend you to do the same.
This retelling of The Nightmare Before Christmas, gritty, ultra dark is set in an atmosphere of deviance and depravity that twisted my stomach, several times, and I absolutely loved the feeling.
"You’re as empty as a Russian doll at a thrift store.”
The main characters, Jonh and Sarah broke my heart and warmed it.
"My desires are seen as perversions in the Mundane World."
They are scared, damaged, have demons. The strength hey show in their day-to-day lives is palpable, their vulnerabilities and doubts touched me.
"Since I was a child, he’s taken me apart only to put me back together again like a demented puzzle."
The equilibrium between the most gut-wrenching scenes and the gentle moments kept me enthralled. Skeleton King is a story about healing and finding your happy place that I devoured with great pleasure!
"I could finally feel some version of affection without risking pain or cruelty. For either of us."
Happy reading!
I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK. THANK YOU!!!
October 8, 2021
Hold on tight before embarking on this journey, it's dark and cold and oh so so sad and when you think it couldn't get any worse it definitely will... but never lose hope, a feeble light waits for you right ahead and once that glimmer shows on your way make sure to follow it. Love awaits at the end, hope, happiness and voice is given back to those who had it taken from them.
I know this story isn't for everyone and it will push you so out of your comfort zone you wonder if you will ever find your way back, but at the same time in this fictional world it sheds such clarity on how innocents are often mistreated and how love can heal everyone especially the people who were so harshly wronged and could never stopped searching the darkness beause they needed it to see the light.
I know this story isn't for everyone and it will push you so out of your comfort zone you wonder if you will ever find your way back, but at the same time in this fictional world it sheds such clarity on how innocents are often mistreated and how love can heal everyone especially the people who were so harshly wronged and could never stopped searching the darkness beause they needed it to see the light.
May 28, 2020
Only Charity B can make me love a WTF did I just read story.
I had to disassociate The Nightmare Before Christmas while reading because damnit I won’t have that ruined for me! It was hard, not gonna lie. Charity B really does spin this tale similar yet with different situations that I loved and hated it hit close to home. I still couldn’t put this book down.
John and Sarah were everything dark romance lovers want in a story. Their characters had so much depth and emotional baggage you are rooting for them and their HEA.
The villains? There were quite a few actually, were characters that molded the story so well it was the perfect amount of evil and depravity.
This story was gruesome, raw, dirty, emotional, suspenseful, erotic and hilarious at times.
For the love of baby Jesus, give me more of this story! That epilogue was a damn tease!! Okay???
Yes this isn’t for the faint of heart but by now you should know that’s how Charity B rolls. So if you’re triggered and offended that’s on you. You’ve been warned, so suck it up buttercup.
I had to disassociate The Nightmare Before Christmas while reading because damnit I won’t have that ruined for me! It was hard, not gonna lie. Charity B really does spin this tale similar yet with different situations that I loved and hated it hit close to home. I still couldn’t put this book down.
John and Sarah were everything dark romance lovers want in a story. Their characters had so much depth and emotional baggage you are rooting for them and their HEA.
The villains? There were quite a few actually, were characters that molded the story so well it was the perfect amount of evil and depravity.
This story was gruesome, raw, dirty, emotional, suspenseful, erotic and hilarious at times.
For the love of baby Jesus, give me more of this story! That epilogue was a damn tease!! Okay???
Yes this isn’t for the faint of heart but by now you should know that’s how Charity B rolls. So if you’re triggered and offended that’s on you. You’ve been warned, so suck it up buttercup.
August 31, 2023
BEFORE I EVEN START - WARNING. Skeleton King is NOT for the faint of heart and I’m so so serious. If you have literally any Tr!gg3rs at all, do not even think about picking up this book. And even then, probably about 5% of the people that have no tr!gg3rs will like this book, HAHAHAHAH ME BEING ONE OF THEM 💃🏻💃🏻
I was completely captivated and consumed with the Skeleton King. He is an intense and very disturbëd MMC but he is also caring with a dark past that haunts him everyday. His childhood broke my heart and made me love him right from the start. This is a VERY PITCH BLACK DARK version of Nightmare Before Christmas. I was like 🫨 for so much of this book. It was disturb!ng, gruësome and over all just so messed up, which is why I binged it. 5 stars 😂💀
Tr0pes:
🖤 Pitch Black Nightmare Before Christmas Retell
🖤 Horror
🖤 🍆💦⚰️
🖤 Halloween Vibes
🖤 Masked Possess!ve MMC
🖤 JUST A LOT OF TRAUM@ ALL AROUND
🖤 T@b00
🖤 Dual POV
🖤 HEA
I was completely captivated and consumed with the Skeleton King. He is an intense and very disturbëd MMC but he is also caring with a dark past that haunts him everyday. His childhood broke my heart and made me love him right from the start. This is a VERY PITCH BLACK DARK version of Nightmare Before Christmas. I was like 🫨 for so much of this book. It was disturb!ng, gruësome and over all just so messed up, which is why I binged it. 5 stars 😂💀
Tr0pes:
🖤 Pitch Black Nightmare Before Christmas Retell
🖤 Horror
🖤 🍆💦⚰️
🖤 Halloween Vibes
🖤 Masked Possess!ve MMC
🖤 JUST A LOT OF TRAUM@ ALL AROUND
🖤 T@b00
🖤 Dual POV
🖤 HEA
June 3, 2020
HEED THE AUTHOR'S WARNING. If you're squeamish or easily disturbed then skip on by this Dirty Hero, but if you're brave, or just freaking enjoy the wickedly depraved books like I do, then dive on in.
Skeleton King held me captivated right from the very beginning. This story was an incredible rendition of an old favourite movie of mine. Skeleton King's story both intrigued me, surprised me, and yet also tugged on my heartstrings. The descriptions were extremely vivid and at times felt like I was there watching it unfold. Charity did not hold back and I commend her for the level of detail and development that she put in. Not for the faint of heart, I loved every gruesome, downright disturbing, emotionally and mentally shocking, brilliant page of this retelling.
I need this in paperback and I'll definitely be rereading this one.
Skeleton King held me captivated right from the very beginning. This story was an incredible rendition of an old favourite movie of mine. Skeleton King's story both intrigued me, surprised me, and yet also tugged on my heartstrings. The descriptions were extremely vivid and at times felt like I was there watching it unfold. Charity did not hold back and I commend her for the level of detail and development that she put in. Not for the faint of heart, I loved every gruesome, downright disturbing, emotionally and mentally shocking, brilliant page of this retelling.
I need this in paperback and I'll definitely be rereading this one.
June 21, 2020
Dark and depraved, but also had heart felt moments and a love that didn’t discriminate. John and Sarah were perfect for each other and I loved how good and sweet John really was.
**this story has several scenes that will make even the toughest of us squeamish.
**this story has several scenes that will make even the toughest of us squeamish.
March 19, 2021
Skeleton King (The Dirty Heroes Collection #9)
Charity B.
“It’s me and her. John and Sarah. Forever.”
First of all while I was reading this I can't seems to stop my goddamn mind to"compare" those disturbingly hot sex scene/s when
I just keep comparing the sex scenes to The Red Market the storyline though keeps me immersed, likewise for the characterization. I don't know probably I'm just desensitized, the more sickening the better.
Anyway, this book is a holy grail, and ever since I read Anointed, Charity B. become one of my favorite dark romance author. I couldn't highly recommend her books enough!
Charity B.
“It’s me and her. John and Sarah. Forever.”
First of all while I was reading this I can't seems to stop my goddamn mind to
I just keep comparing the sex scenes to The Red Market the storyline though keeps me immersed, likewise for the characterization. I don't know probably I'm just desensitized, the more sickening the better.
Anyway, this book is a holy grail, and ever since I read Anointed, Charity B. become one of my favorite dark romance author. I couldn't highly recommend her books enough!
June 19, 2020
Okay.
OOOOKAAAAY.
So.
3.5 stars.
Heed the trigger warnings. This legit has necrophilia. Straight up. The Hero does it and he loves it. This author does not sugar coat any of the dark, depraved and disgusting scenes in this book. This was one twisted take on the Nightmare before Christmas. I will never look at Jack Skellington the same again.
I liked the author's writing but felt like a lot of things were thrown in for shock value. The first half of the book was rough and it just seemed like scenes were gross and brutal just to be gross and brutal. If that makes sense? Thrown in there without purpose.
The two main characters are broken. Most definitely fucked up but they find warmth in each other. A warmth that was lacking from their lives and they didn't realize they needed.
Overall: By the end, things are turned almost completely around. I don't know how but the author manages to end with the couple reaching such a sweet and happy ending. It ALMOST makes up for the journey to get there. So yeah, 3.5 stars! I won't be rereading this one but I can't say I hated it.
OOOOKAAAAY.
So.
3.5 stars.
Heed the trigger warnings. This legit has necrophilia. Straight up. The Hero does it and he loves it. This author does not sugar coat any of the dark, depraved and disgusting scenes in this book. This was one twisted take on the Nightmare before Christmas. I will never look at Jack Skellington the same again.
I liked the author's writing but felt like a lot of things were thrown in for shock value. The first half of the book was rough and it just seemed like scenes were gross and brutal just to be gross and brutal. If that makes sense? Thrown in there without purpose.
The two main characters are broken. Most definitely fucked up but they find warmth in each other. A warmth that was lacking from their lives and they didn't realize they needed.
Overall: By the end, things are turned almost completely around. I don't know how but the author manages to end with the couple reaching such a sweet and happy ending. It ALMOST makes up for the journey to get there. So yeah, 3.5 stars! I won't be rereading this one but I can't say I hated it.
June 27, 2020
As usual Charity B pushes my boundaries with this dark retelling of The Nightmare Before Christmas and I LOVED it ! This story is dark , twisted , gritty and steamy hot ! I was intrigued and captivated from the beginning ,I fell in love with the characters and this story right away and if you are a dark romance lover and have no triggers than you need to read this book ! I absolutely love that this was a retelling and I think she knocked it out of the park ! Definite must read and definite 5 stars from me ! I Highly recommend a Charity B book to all the dark lovers you can never go wrong with her words and her imagination knows no bounds !
* I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book *
* I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book *
May 23, 2020
Absolutely loved this mix of sweet and fucked up. Definitely hit all the marks. 😌
May 28, 2020
If you are new to this author, get ready for a dark gritty and devious ride. This is a story that will not soon leave your thoughts. If you have read her before, well then, no warning needed, LOL. Jump in.
This story is an amazingly well written and addictive dark Dark story. I has depravity within the pages written so even those of us who normally wouldn't enjoy certain things (listing would be a spoiler), beg for more. This story feels real and raw but also very emotional and heavy (in a good way). The way the author created her characters I experienced every choice, every steamy moment, every feeling and every action. The characters are beyond anything I have read before. She also added some levity to break up the darkness and the dirty aspects. It really is a well balanced story. I can't really say more without spoilers so I will leave it here: what a killer ride!!!
What I love about this author is that she pushes my boundaries and desires with every book. She has a way of writing the pulls me in and makes me expand my comfort level. I may be uncomfortable at times when reading her stories but I am always glad that I read them once they are through. 4.5 stars. I received an ARC and am leaving an honest review.
This story is an amazingly well written and addictive dark Dark story. I has depravity within the pages written so even those of us who normally wouldn't enjoy certain things (listing would be a spoiler), beg for more. This story feels real and raw but also very emotional and heavy (in a good way). The way the author created her characters I experienced every choice, every steamy moment, every feeling and every action. The characters are beyond anything I have read before. She also added some levity to break up the darkness and the dirty aspects. It really is a well balanced story. I can't really say more without spoilers so I will leave it here: what a killer ride!!!
What I love about this author is that she pushes my boundaries and desires with every book. She has a way of writing the pulls me in and makes me expand my comfort level. I may be uncomfortable at times when reading her stories but I am always glad that I read them once they are through. 4.5 stars. I received an ARC and am leaving an honest review.
June 18, 2020
Wild.
That's the only way this book can be described. Wild. Actually you could probably use; dark, depraved, dirty and most accurately... TABOO!!!!! But let's keep it short and sweet with wild.
don't get me wrong I read the negative reviews and wasn't sure if this was a book I could like let alone get into but honestly this book was written so well I felt like I was watching a crazy as hell movie unfold in front of my eyes.
The first 50% was so touch and go for me as this is where all the darkness happens but honestly the way this book ended warmed my heart so much and I have never ever ever been happier for characters to get their HEA.
is this a book that I will recommend? Probably not to a lot of people. Was it a good read on a super gross yet intriguing way? Hell yeah !!!!!
That's the only way this book can be described. Wild. Actually you could probably use; dark, depraved, dirty and most accurately... TABOO!!!!! But let's keep it short and sweet with wild.
don't get me wrong I read the negative reviews and wasn't sure if this was a book I could like let alone get into but honestly this book was written so well I felt like I was watching a crazy as hell movie unfold in front of my eyes.
The first 50% was so touch and go for me as this is where all the darkness happens but honestly the way this book ended warmed my heart so much and I have never ever ever been happier for characters to get their HEA.
is this a book that I will recommend? Probably not to a lot of people. Was it a good read on a super gross yet intriguing way? Hell yeah !!!!!
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