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Bug Spray
What if you inherited the pain you cause?
Tybalt Ward is a businessman. A boss. Young, good looking, ambitious, he is a man headed to the top and willing to leave behind broken hearts and broken lives along the way.
The world is his, it seems, until he meets someone who turns his world upside down. With all of his calculations dashed, his reason and logic torn to pieces, and the feeling that every bad deed he’s ever done has come back to haunt him, Tybalt begins to learn that love and madness are two sides of the same coin as he descends into this Romance of Horrors.
Bug Spray is a tale of dark deeds, retribution, and the sort of lunacy which can only result from a dose of toxic love.
Tybalt Ward is a businessman. A boss. Young, good looking, ambitious, he is a man headed to the top and willing to leave behind broken hearts and broken lives along the way.
The world is his, it seems, until he meets someone who turns his world upside down. With all of his calculations dashed, his reason and logic torn to pieces, and the feeling that every bad deed he’s ever done has come back to haunt him, Tybalt begins to learn that love and madness are two sides of the same coin as he descends into this Romance of Horrors.
Bug Spray is a tale of dark deeds, retribution, and the sort of lunacy which can only result from a dose of toxic love.
- GenresHorror
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2020
4 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Felix I.D. Dimaro
18 books109 followersBorn in Nigeria, raised in Toronto, Felix I.D. Dimaro is an author of allegorical, dark, psychological fiction often centering around morality, mental health, societal conditions, the environment, or the real-life issues he has experienced. He has released eleven books to date, including the eco-thriller, “Black Bloom: A Story of Survival,” the extreme horror novel, “Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer," and the tale of cat cloning gone wrong, "In the Darkness, Eyes and Teeth.”
When not writing, Dimaro is usually reading, watching professional wrestling, or running even though no one is chasing him.
To find out more about Dimaro and his books, head over to https://www.thingsthatkeepmeupatnight...
When not writing, Dimaro is usually reading, watching professional wrestling, or running even though no one is chasing him.
To find out more about Dimaro and his books, head over to https://www.thingsthatkeepmeupatnight...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 16, 2025
You’ve all heard my rants before concerning the importance of mental health and how it is the basis for my Preternatural trilogy. And I love seeing my colleagues put their own spins on the subject, with this being a really unique story. You have this character, Tybalt (Haven’t heard that name in a book since I read Romeo and Juliet in high school!) or whichever alias he’s using at a given time. He comes from a very traumatic background, never gets the right support along the way, and is now a very damaged adult. On the outside, he seems slick, cunning, and put together, but on the inside, he’s as appealing as green eggs and ham. And the story progresses with his mental health degrading more and more, leaving the reader unsure of what’s in reality versus what’s being imagined. There are some patches where the story is very slow, but all of the information is relevant, so try to be patient. But once you get close to the ending and things are made clear, you feel sad for him and it makes you rethink everything you’ve already read. Just a very cool experience! And the author’s closing remarks, where he advocates for mental health support is really powerful, so kudos for doing that!
September 10, 2022
Being my second Felix Dimaro read, I was really expecting to enjoy this one. However that didn't end up really being the case.
The writing itself didn't flow well for me and the word choices were a bit odd. There were some really entertaining parts but the MC overall was a pretty unlikable guy that was hard to connect with. Also the ending was left a bit too open for my liking.
The writing itself didn't flow well for me and the word choices were a bit odd. There were some really entertaining parts but the MC overall was a pretty unlikable guy that was hard to connect with. Also the ending was left a bit too open for my liking.
February 8, 2023
4.5/5 stars rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads!
“He felt a creeping, uneasy doubt climb its way into his brain and rest there, gnawing. Doubt, presenting itself as a new unbidden nuisance. Doubt, pestering, fluttering in his mind. Like a gnat.”
•
Tybalt Ward isn’t just a successful home + auto insurance manager. Tybalt Ward is a man who calculates, who is disciplined, values power and strength, is a strong believer in “survival of the fittest”, who lacks empathy, and is repulsed by signs of weakness. Tybalt also loves indulging in sex–his type are subservient women he can control–but has no time for romance. Our handsome and ambitious protagonist has a tendency to leave broken hearts in the dust, until one day he meets a mysterious and beautiful woman who becomes his undoing, and his descent into madness takes off.
Bug Spray was my introduction to author Felix Dimaro’s writing and I am officially a fan. His compelling prose and nonlinear storytelling had me fully invested in his flawed characters and their fates–especially our anti-hero Tybalt whom readers will not like but still be shocked to sympathize with. In just under 230 pages, Bug Spray lays out the harms of hurting others to seek power and control, as well as neglecting one’s mental health and suppressing one’s trauma. And Dimaro brilliantly uses insect horror as a creeping, crawling representation of madness.
My only complaint? This book definitely should have been longer because I loved it so much and wanted a bit more explanation for the mysterious raven haired woman that has our protagonist by the balls. She apparently appears in one of Dimaro’s early works (How to Make a Monster) so I guess I’ll be buying myself a copy!
If you’re looking for psychological horror where man and monster are one and the same, please do yourself a favor and read this book!
“He felt a creeping, uneasy doubt climb its way into his brain and rest there, gnawing. Doubt, presenting itself as a new unbidden nuisance. Doubt, pestering, fluttering in his mind. Like a gnat.”
•
Tybalt Ward isn’t just a successful home + auto insurance manager. Tybalt Ward is a man who calculates, who is disciplined, values power and strength, is a strong believer in “survival of the fittest”, who lacks empathy, and is repulsed by signs of weakness. Tybalt also loves indulging in sex–his type are subservient women he can control–but has no time for romance. Our handsome and ambitious protagonist has a tendency to leave broken hearts in the dust, until one day he meets a mysterious and beautiful woman who becomes his undoing, and his descent into madness takes off.
Bug Spray was my introduction to author Felix Dimaro’s writing and I am officially a fan. His compelling prose and nonlinear storytelling had me fully invested in his flawed characters and their fates–especially our anti-hero Tybalt whom readers will not like but still be shocked to sympathize with. In just under 230 pages, Bug Spray lays out the harms of hurting others to seek power and control, as well as neglecting one’s mental health and suppressing one’s trauma. And Dimaro brilliantly uses insect horror as a creeping, crawling representation of madness.
My only complaint? This book definitely should have been longer because I loved it so much and wanted a bit more explanation for the mysterious raven haired woman that has our protagonist by the balls. She apparently appears in one of Dimaro’s early works (How to Make a Monster) so I guess I’ll be buying myself a copy!
If you’re looking for psychological horror where man and monster are one and the same, please do yourself a favor and read this book!
October 8, 2020
So I gotta start this review off with a quick note. I was in the middle of reading @thingsthatkeepmeupatnight other book (How To Make a Monster) a collection of short stories, when I started reading this one. While I've not finished that other one, I feel like I have to mention it before moving onto this one because something clicked for me.
Dimaro has the ability to write horrible. And by horrible I mean horrible situations, horrible characters, dense chunks of hard topics that don't let you breathe from how mean and wicked they are. And I think that's why I'm having a hard time finishing the first book. It's too wicked too much in such a tight space because of the short story format. That's not to say his writing is bad because it's not. He has complete control over the words, and through them the reader. He can dive deep into the nasty and give us the raw feel of it.
All that said, I think that's why I think I was able to power through Bug Spray. Yes the horrible talent is still there, the wickedness has followed and wrecked havoc on new life. Only this time it's in a novel, a format that allows for breath and pause, for small things to settle, and ramp up in a timely manner before going all out batshit insane. And it works in his favor.
A twilight zone-esque tale hitting the hard R (HARD FUCKING R) we get a story of karma and self destruction, as well as destruction on others. Definitely a must read for anyone looking for something with an edge and substance
Dimaro has the ability to write horrible. And by horrible I mean horrible situations, horrible characters, dense chunks of hard topics that don't let you breathe from how mean and wicked they are. And I think that's why I'm having a hard time finishing the first book. It's too wicked too much in such a tight space because of the short story format. That's not to say his writing is bad because it's not. He has complete control over the words, and through them the reader. He can dive deep into the nasty and give us the raw feel of it.
All that said, I think that's why I think I was able to power through Bug Spray. Yes the horrible talent is still there, the wickedness has followed and wrecked havoc on new life. Only this time it's in a novel, a format that allows for breath and pause, for small things to settle, and ramp up in a timely manner before going all out batshit insane. And it works in his favor.
A twilight zone-esque tale hitting the hard R (HARD FUCKING R) we get a story of karma and self destruction, as well as destruction on others. Definitely a must read for anyone looking for something with an edge and substance
November 14, 2020
A tale of madness, that's for sure and I loved it! This is the third book I've read by Felix Dimaro and I adore his writing. I get sucked in and attached to the characters. I even grew to feel sorry for Ty, at times I had to remind myself he deserves what he got! I also love the tie-ins to other stories (Raveena!!)
July 4, 2021
Here's a book that could have been called "When Bad Things Happen to Bad People." The subject of the novel is Tybalt Ward. When I read that name, I thought of Tybalt from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. He was a character motivated by anger and aggression, just like his namesake in Bug Spray. Midway through the book the reader learns how and why the former Tyrone became Tybalt.
Author Dimaro pulls a stunning Hitchcockian POV switch and the reader is left to somehow empathize with a highly unlikeable character as his bad deeds catch up with him, driving him to madness. Themes of racial inequality and mental health are explored here and it makes the case for rooting for an anti-hero.
It's a dark story that smolders before catching fire in the second half. There are moments when the storytelling is so fearless I had to take a moment to appreciate it. You should, too. Highly recommended for horror fans looking for something with more depth than a typical soulless gorefest.
Author Dimaro pulls a stunning Hitchcockian POV switch and the reader is left to somehow empathize with a highly unlikeable character as his bad deeds catch up with him, driving him to madness. Themes of racial inequality and mental health are explored here and it makes the case for rooting for an anti-hero.
It's a dark story that smolders before catching fire in the second half. There are moments when the storytelling is so fearless I had to take a moment to appreciate it. You should, too. Highly recommended for horror fans looking for something with more depth than a typical soulless gorefest.
May 17, 2022
Bug Spray is a dark and extremely powerful, romantic horror story about control and domination of other people in order to get exactly what you require from life. Then again, that little thought of self- doubt is always liable to raise its ugly head - just like a gnat, gnawing away deep inside your brain. And once you let that happen then problems are probably just going to become an awful lot worse. Beware!
Loved the main character, storyline and the great use of supernatural imagery - simply fantastic!
Highly recommended.
Rating: 4.8 rich dark stars of degrading, and perhaps misguided, self-improvement.
Loved the main character, storyline and the great use of supernatural imagery - simply fantastic!
Highly recommended.
Rating: 4.8 rich dark stars of degrading, and perhaps misguided, self-improvement.
September 8, 2020
3.5 rounded up for Goodreads
Bug Spray is an interesting tale about Tybalt who rose up from nothing and wants to climb the company ladder and become powerful in all aspects of his life. He uses and discards employees and others on his way to the top. This was a fast-paced read about s descent into madness. There were some unique aspects to the story that made it original. There was one thing that confused me a bit which kept me from giving it the full four stars. Overall, this was a fun book and I look forward to reading more from Dimaro.
Bug Spray is an interesting tale about Tybalt who rose up from nothing and wants to climb the company ladder and become powerful in all aspects of his life. He uses and discards employees and others on his way to the top. This was a fast-paced read about s descent into madness. There were some unique aspects to the story that made it original. There was one thing that confused me a bit which kept me from giving it the full four stars. Overall, this was a fun book and I look forward to reading more from Dimaro.
October 26, 2022
What a wild book. Tybalt is a manager for Helping Hand Home and Auto Insurance and he has no sympathy for anyone dealing with human emotions. Well, the world is about to teach him a lesson. This is a modern parable about kindness, empathy, and a karma. It"s also a unique and clever story about mental illness and the prejudices tossed at the ill. I really liked this one and recommend but be aware of many trigger warnings.
August 19, 2020
Do you want to dance with the devil, accept the offer of your wildest desires? Would you remember, or care, that everything comes with a cost? Dimaro delivers a ravishing gut-punch with his debut novel "Bug Spray," whilst *genre bending* from his strictly-horror, short story compilation "How To Make A Monster: The Loveliest Shade of Red."
Tybalt Ward is the epitome of "business, first class." His controlling tenancies are often cringe worthy, and most relatable. We all know the type: "no" isn't a word in their vocabulary, success is above all else, humanity and surrounding humans be damned. These are the types who bulldoze anyone in their way, and are often the easiest to unravel. Won't you join him in his erotic journey?
This author uses his (BA in Psychology) training and talents as such to delve into the daunting issues, and makes the reader question many facets of life itself.
This is not a story for the faint of heart, and tackles serious issues such as physical and emotional abuse, and the ramifications of suicide in our world.
Pay close attention to the rhythmic play on words, as they flow like a song, repeating syllables to the tormenting tempo of teasing treachery. An artist with words, who delivers with every story.
Bug Spray with leave you with an itch you can't quite scratch, "like a gnat inside your head." Enjoy or be enjoyed.
Tybalt Ward is the epitome of "business, first class." His controlling tenancies are often cringe worthy, and most relatable. We all know the type: "no" isn't a word in their vocabulary, success is above all else, humanity and surrounding humans be damned. These are the types who bulldoze anyone in their way, and are often the easiest to unravel. Won't you join him in his erotic journey?
This author uses his (BA in Psychology) training and talents as such to delve into the daunting issues, and makes the reader question many facets of life itself.
This is not a story for the faint of heart, and tackles serious issues such as physical and emotional abuse, and the ramifications of suicide in our world.
Pay close attention to the rhythmic play on words, as they flow like a song, repeating syllables to the tormenting tempo of teasing treachery. An artist with words, who delivers with every story.
Bug Spray with leave you with an itch you can't quite scratch, "like a gnat inside your head." Enjoy or be enjoyed.
April 18, 2021
With this, I read the whole Dimaro's bibliography, at least until his new book '2222' will release.
'Bug's Spray' deserves the 5 stars even solely based on the fact that it is a very original and I loved turning page after page to see where everything was headed to.
Dimaro pulls the rug from under your feet a couple of times in this story, which never hurts. He has also an ability of not only carving interesting characters, but more than anything he is brilliant at writing from each of their point of view.
There are some interesting social themes taken in consideration in this book and I like how they are there for anybody who cares to see them, but are not in your face.
There are also a couple of cameos that Dimaro's fans will recognise, but work well even if you don't.
That's it, I don't really want to get too into the plot because you should experience it for you yourself.
When I read Dimaro's debut, I thought he was a talented writer and his work deserved to be followed. I was right, in that not only his books are always worth reading, but they seem to always improve. So, I am very excited to see how '2222' will read.
'Bug's Spray' deserves the 5 stars even solely based on the fact that it is a very original and I loved turning page after page to see where everything was headed to.
Dimaro pulls the rug from under your feet a couple of times in this story, which never hurts. He has also an ability of not only carving interesting characters, but more than anything he is brilliant at writing from each of their point of view.
There are some interesting social themes taken in consideration in this book and I like how they are there for anybody who cares to see them, but are not in your face.
There are also a couple of cameos that Dimaro's fans will recognise, but work well even if you don't.
That's it, I don't really want to get too into the plot because you should experience it for you yourself.
When I read Dimaro's debut, I thought he was a talented writer and his work deserved to be followed. I was right, in that not only his books are always worth reading, but they seem to always improve. So, I am very excited to see how '2222' will read.
August 16, 2021
This was a very addicting read. Amazing writing I was totally hooked right from the beginning. I loved that I absolutley hated the main character Tybalt Ward yet you still want to know more about him and his background what makes him who he is. He was the typical power and control loving type. His frame of thinking was very narcissistic and vain. I saw a few reviews where Tybalt is referred to like Patrick Bateman and I couldn't agree more he reminded me a lot of him. He uses women and people to get what he wants out of life. He has a troubled past which is his weakness in the story and he uses mantras to get by on a daily basis. Loved the ending and what Tybalt had coming to him. This was my first book by Felix and can't wait to read 2222 with a buddy read in September!
August 1, 2020
Bug Spray is a love story like no other, a dark, disturbing love story that refuses to let go no matter how much you break up with it.
I was gifted an ARC copy for an honest review of Bug Spray and I will endeavour to be as honest as possible. It is fantastic, I can’t get much more honest than that. I went in blind to the main thread of the story but found instantly that Dimaro's immersive writing style transferred seamlessly from his debut novel How To Make a Monster. What you get is a fleshed out look at what his previous short stories become when you start adding different character layers. The story is told thought two perspective, firstly Beth, the love interest who is leading a rather mediocre life until she hooks up with the bull goose Tybalt Ward whilst on a business trip. The two hit it off famously and spend many weeks in the throes of the honeymoon period. But of course, this being a work of Dimaro it soon takes a sinister turn. The best way of describing Tybalt is a Patrick Bateman for the I Phone generation. A self-loving narcissist that really can’t look beyond the end of his own nose. A relationship like that can really only end one way.
At a major point in the story flips and you see the story from Tybalt’s twisted point of view. In a similar way to American Psycho the reader is lead down the winding path to feeling sorry for Tybalt despite his horrendous actions. What makes this story such an enticing read is that fact that you get the point of view of both of these characters and their view on each other and the relationship.
Laced though out this love story is a sinister strand of barbed wire that start to fully form once the point of view switches to Tybalt and the weirdness truly blooms. Any fans of Dimaro’s previous work will love the supernatural edge that drops like spectre over the story. There is even reference to other characters from Dimaro’s ‘Monsterverse’ which I personally adore, nothing quite like a good Easter egg.
It is exciting reading a writer’s early works because you get to see how the writing evolves over time and even over the period of a year since his debut release, Dimaro has very much come on leaps and bounds. The dialogue flows beautifully which even in well established authors is very easy to mess up and sound unreal. An understanding of the human mind is also a rare thing, which Dimaro happens to have in spade loads. The spade obviously comes in handy a lot in horror writing.
If you like your love story with a health dollop of supernatural, narcissistic weirdness than add this one to your bookshelf. Best read with ‘Huey Lewis and the News’ playing backwards in the background.
I was gifted an ARC copy for an honest review of Bug Spray and I will endeavour to be as honest as possible. It is fantastic, I can’t get much more honest than that. I went in blind to the main thread of the story but found instantly that Dimaro's immersive writing style transferred seamlessly from his debut novel How To Make a Monster. What you get is a fleshed out look at what his previous short stories become when you start adding different character layers. The story is told thought two perspective, firstly Beth, the love interest who is leading a rather mediocre life until she hooks up with the bull goose Tybalt Ward whilst on a business trip. The two hit it off famously and spend many weeks in the throes of the honeymoon period. But of course, this being a work of Dimaro it soon takes a sinister turn. The best way of describing Tybalt is a Patrick Bateman for the I Phone generation. A self-loving narcissist that really can’t look beyond the end of his own nose. A relationship like that can really only end one way.
At a major point in the story flips and you see the story from Tybalt’s twisted point of view. In a similar way to American Psycho the reader is lead down the winding path to feeling sorry for Tybalt despite his horrendous actions. What makes this story such an enticing read is that fact that you get the point of view of both of these characters and their view on each other and the relationship.
Laced though out this love story is a sinister strand of barbed wire that start to fully form once the point of view switches to Tybalt and the weirdness truly blooms. Any fans of Dimaro’s previous work will love the supernatural edge that drops like spectre over the story. There is even reference to other characters from Dimaro’s ‘Monsterverse’ which I personally adore, nothing quite like a good Easter egg.
It is exciting reading a writer’s early works because you get to see how the writing evolves over time and even over the period of a year since his debut release, Dimaro has very much come on leaps and bounds. The dialogue flows beautifully which even in well established authors is very easy to mess up and sound unreal. An understanding of the human mind is also a rare thing, which Dimaro happens to have in spade loads. The spade obviously comes in handy a lot in horror writing.
If you like your love story with a health dollop of supernatural, narcissistic weirdness than add this one to your bookshelf. Best read with ‘Huey Lewis and the News’ playing backwards in the background.
April 17, 2021
Have you ever been through hell? A personal hell caused by the intoxicating feelings of new love and then the irreparable effects of that love turning toxic?
Have you ever had a taste of your own medicine?
'Bug Spray' by Felix I.D Dimaro is a perfect example of how this feels.
Meet Tybalt Ward. A man who has it all. A prime example of the 'I am god' attitude. A young, good looking, ambitious boss-man who's trajectory to the top, leaves behind a trail of broken hearts and broken lives.
But Tybalt, is soon to be a man who will descent into his own personal hell as upon meeting a new 'flame', the fine line between love and madness will blur to a devastating effect.
The book comes with a warning at its first page as it contains explicit language, adult themes, gender and racial issues, graphic violence, drug use, explicit sex, self-harm and suicide. And that's for a good reason.
Dimaro has managed to to create a uniquely dark and intense read, with all the horrors included, being caused by a monster none other than the one that lives inside each and every human being. Some monsters make it to the surface while others remain confined to the darkest dungeons of the mind.
Dimaro's ability to craft characters that evoke an array of feelings to the reader is unique. I transitioned from hating the main character to feeling sorry about him and then back to 'he had it coming'.
The writing style is done in such a fantastic way, that draws the reader in the story and imposes all the feelings shared in this dark trip to madness.
Coupled with the elements of horror that are thrown in the story in the most effective way, the author succeeds in creating a lovely, creepy and 'maddening' read that will definitely evoke some strong feelings to the reader.
'Bug Spray', will have you thinking if you have ever wronged someone along the way of getting what you want in life. If you have ever being a total a**hole to someone and eventually when you will have a taste of your own venom.
A great read by a fantastic new author that I will definitely keep my eye on for future releases.
I will just leave you to discover on your own where the bugs come in the story 😉🖤🤘
Get it at : https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Spray-Feli...
Have you ever had a taste of your own medicine?
'Bug Spray' by Felix I.D Dimaro is a perfect example of how this feels.
Meet Tybalt Ward. A man who has it all. A prime example of the 'I am god' attitude. A young, good looking, ambitious boss-man who's trajectory to the top, leaves behind a trail of broken hearts and broken lives.
But Tybalt, is soon to be a man who will descent into his own personal hell as upon meeting a new 'flame', the fine line between love and madness will blur to a devastating effect.
The book comes with a warning at its first page as it contains explicit language, adult themes, gender and racial issues, graphic violence, drug use, explicit sex, self-harm and suicide. And that's for a good reason.
Dimaro has managed to to create a uniquely dark and intense read, with all the horrors included, being caused by a monster none other than the one that lives inside each and every human being. Some monsters make it to the surface while others remain confined to the darkest dungeons of the mind.
Dimaro's ability to craft characters that evoke an array of feelings to the reader is unique. I transitioned from hating the main character to feeling sorry about him and then back to 'he had it coming'.
The writing style is done in such a fantastic way, that draws the reader in the story and imposes all the feelings shared in this dark trip to madness.
Coupled with the elements of horror that are thrown in the story in the most effective way, the author succeeds in creating a lovely, creepy and 'maddening' read that will definitely evoke some strong feelings to the reader.
'Bug Spray', will have you thinking if you have ever wronged someone along the way of getting what you want in life. If you have ever being a total a**hole to someone and eventually when you will have a taste of your own venom.
A great read by a fantastic new author that I will definitely keep my eye on for future releases.
I will just leave you to discover on your own where the bugs come in the story 😉🖤🤘
Get it at : https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Spray-Feli...
March 27, 2021
Felix ID Dimaro's latest release, VIRAL LIVES, was one of my favorite horror novellas of 2020. I immediately grabbed a copy of his novel, BUG SPRAY.
This book was a very different experience from VIRAL LIVES. Where the novella was tightly plotted and fast-paced, this book takes a different approach. It wants to build a complete picture of these characters far before the actual story—the "bug spray" and "madness" promised by the title and subtitle—even begins. I've seen and heard people rave about this approach, and I'm very glad it worked for them, but it didn't for me. I was largely uninterested in the first half of this book, and was often wondering where the story was going or what it was.
That being said, the last 25% of this book was fantastic. Much more along the lines of what I felt reader expectations had been built to, with the title, cover art, and "Did the flies invite you in?" opening page. I loved the ending of this book specifically, though I won't go into spoilers here.
Another way BUG SPRAY did not work for me where VIRAL LIVES did was the writing style. In the novella, it felt fresh and unique. Even in the beginning of BUG SPRAY, I loved it. That first page of "She Raged," with its lines like "We'll get there," I felt was absolutely brilliant. But from there, for most of the book the narration style seemed to drag. The writing was constantly drawing attention to itself, which I can appreciate at times but here it pulled me out of the story and slowed the pacing, sometimes to a crawl.
Overall, I think this amounts to a case of my not being the right reader for this book. I maintain that VIRAL LIVES is among the best horror novellas I've read, and I'll still recommend BUG SPRAY to readers, but I don't think this one was for me. I still look forward to Dimaro's future work and am quite impressed by this indie author.
This book was a very different experience from VIRAL LIVES. Where the novella was tightly plotted and fast-paced, this book takes a different approach. It wants to build a complete picture of these characters far before the actual story—the "bug spray" and "madness" promised by the title and subtitle—even begins. I've seen and heard people rave about this approach, and I'm very glad it worked for them, but it didn't for me. I was largely uninterested in the first half of this book, and was often wondering where the story was going or what it was.
That being said, the last 25% of this book was fantastic. Much more along the lines of what I felt reader expectations had been built to, with the title, cover art, and "Did the flies invite you in?" opening page. I loved the ending of this book specifically, though I won't go into spoilers here.
Another way BUG SPRAY did not work for me where VIRAL LIVES did was the writing style. In the novella, it felt fresh and unique. Even in the beginning of BUG SPRAY, I loved it. That first page of "She Raged," with its lines like "We'll get there," I felt was absolutely brilliant. But from there, for most of the book the narration style seemed to drag. The writing was constantly drawing attention to itself, which I can appreciate at times but here it pulled me out of the story and slowed the pacing, sometimes to a crawl.
Overall, I think this amounts to a case of my not being the right reader for this book. I maintain that VIRAL LIVES is among the best horror novellas I've read, and I'll still recommend BUG SPRAY to readers, but I don't think this one was for me. I still look forward to Dimaro's future work and am quite impressed by this indie author.
February 3, 2023
Mantra 26, Never settle for less than what you deserve.
Oh boy, where do I start this review. Continuing my back to back to back reads of a novel that has to do with explicit pleasure and some bdsm type stuff, is a book I finished called Bug Spray.
Here, we follow out asshole of a protagonist, Tybalt Ward, a businessman who is set and stern on everything he does, or did. Before his life went downhill after meeting someone he liked, who ended up committing suicide.
Tybalt ends up being less sad about the suicide, as he is mad. And what descends upon Tybalt, are…bugs?😅
We follow Tybalt as his life spirals out of control. Felix writes it so well that in the end, we actually sympathize with Tybalt, regardless of what he’s done. Then we follow his life as everything goes downhill very quickly for him. I’m not going to say what happens, because I encourage everyone who reads this to buy a copy and read it themselves because it was a wild reading experience!
I mostly enjoyed this book, although the pacing in the beginning was really slow for me, which is ok, but sometimes slow pacing isn’t my cup of tea😅. But besides that, I have no complaints. This book was fun, gory in a few scenes, and made me feel filthy, and made me immediately hop in the shower after I read one part.
Following the same route as The Corruption of Phillip Toles, I do recommend it, but advise you to look into warnings. Its not as disturbing as The Corruption of Phillip Toles, but it does have some warnings that you might want to know of, some being a fuck load of explicit sex, suicide, self harm, depression and some gender and racial issues.
Overall, I gave it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars, only because again, it kicked off pretty slow for me.
Oh boy, where do I start this review. Continuing my back to back to back reads of a novel that has to do with explicit pleasure and some bdsm type stuff, is a book I finished called Bug Spray.
Here, we follow out asshole of a protagonist, Tybalt Ward, a businessman who is set and stern on everything he does, or did. Before his life went downhill after meeting someone he liked, who ended up committing suicide.
Tybalt ends up being less sad about the suicide, as he is mad. And what descends upon Tybalt, are…bugs?😅
We follow Tybalt as his life spirals out of control. Felix writes it so well that in the end, we actually sympathize with Tybalt, regardless of what he’s done. Then we follow his life as everything goes downhill very quickly for him. I’m not going to say what happens, because I encourage everyone who reads this to buy a copy and read it themselves because it was a wild reading experience!
I mostly enjoyed this book, although the pacing in the beginning was really slow for me, which is ok, but sometimes slow pacing isn’t my cup of tea😅. But besides that, I have no complaints. This book was fun, gory in a few scenes, and made me feel filthy, and made me immediately hop in the shower after I read one part.
Following the same route as The Corruption of Phillip Toles, I do recommend it, but advise you to look into warnings. Its not as disturbing as The Corruption of Phillip Toles, but it does have some warnings that you might want to know of, some being a fuck load of explicit sex, suicide, self harm, depression and some gender and racial issues.
Overall, I gave it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars, only because again, it kicked off pretty slow for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2020
📗Spoiler Free Book Review📗
•
After reading (and loving) Felix Dimaro’s anthology of short stories, How to Make a Monster, I couldn’t wait to dive into his debut novel, Bug Spray: A Tale of Madness. Lemme just tell ya; it did not disappoint!
•
Bug Spray follows Tybalt Ward, a businessman on the rise, who’s not afraid to step on a few toes (or necks) to stay on top. Switching POV from Beth, a woman enthralled with Ty, to the man himself, the novel tackles many sensitive topics including love, sexual domination, depression, and suicide.
•
I love Dimaro’s writing style. The story flows so well, I never wanted to stop reading. A good author can create a character you hate, but a great author can make you sympathize with that same character, and that’s what happened here. The horror elements were also well done; I was genuinely creeped out and will probably be seeing bugs in my nightmares.
•
While you don’t have to read How to Make a Monster before Bug Spray, there are some repeating characters that will make a little more sense if you have the complete background. I loved that connection and felt my prior knowledge just made this story stronger and more engaging.
•
My only complaint about Bug Spray is that I wanted more. I would have loved a deeper dive into Tybalt’s past, more about other liaisons and deals he made, just more. I’ve said before and will say again...Dimaro’s work is dark. There are trigger warnings for a reason and you should read them. That being said, if you like dark, I recommend you buy this book and How to Make a Monster. Dimaro is one of my favorite new authors and I can’t wait to see what he does next!
•
After reading (and loving) Felix Dimaro’s anthology of short stories, How to Make a Monster, I couldn’t wait to dive into his debut novel, Bug Spray: A Tale of Madness. Lemme just tell ya; it did not disappoint!
•
Bug Spray follows Tybalt Ward, a businessman on the rise, who’s not afraid to step on a few toes (or necks) to stay on top. Switching POV from Beth, a woman enthralled with Ty, to the man himself, the novel tackles many sensitive topics including love, sexual domination, depression, and suicide.
•
I love Dimaro’s writing style. The story flows so well, I never wanted to stop reading. A good author can create a character you hate, but a great author can make you sympathize with that same character, and that’s what happened here. The horror elements were also well done; I was genuinely creeped out and will probably be seeing bugs in my nightmares.
•
While you don’t have to read How to Make a Monster before Bug Spray, there are some repeating characters that will make a little more sense if you have the complete background. I loved that connection and felt my prior knowledge just made this story stronger and more engaging.
•
My only complaint about Bug Spray is that I wanted more. I would have loved a deeper dive into Tybalt’s past, more about other liaisons and deals he made, just more. I’ve said before and will say again...Dimaro’s work is dark. There are trigger warnings for a reason and you should read them. That being said, if you like dark, I recommend you buy this book and How to Make a Monster. Dimaro is one of my favorite new authors and I can’t wait to see what he does next!
August 28, 2020
Dimaro has crafted yet another tantalizing, nightmarish tale. (This one is subtitled: A Tale of Madness for a reason!)
What I at first thought of as an interesting title turned out to be the perfect title for this story of a young man's descent into insanity.
I do not want to give anything away, but if you have read Dimaro's Anthology of Nightmares - How to Make a Monster - a character from that book is the catalyst of Tybalt Ward's rapid downward spiral in this one. If you have not read Dimaro's previous book (I give it my highest recommendation!) it is not necessary to do so. In fact, the next time I recommend Dimaro to someone, I am going to recommend that they read Bug Spray first. That way they will be lulled into a false sense of security, not already knowing the depravity that Dimaro is capable of.
(In my opinion, Bug Spray is tame compared with How to Make a Monster.)
Even though both books share the same discretional warning, I would also add an additional warning to Bug Spray - not recommended for anyone with even a slight phobia of insects!
What I at first thought of as an interesting title turned out to be the perfect title for this story of a young man's descent into insanity.
I do not want to give anything away, but if you have read Dimaro's Anthology of Nightmares - How to Make a Monster - a character from that book is the catalyst of Tybalt Ward's rapid downward spiral in this one. If you have not read Dimaro's previous book (I give it my highest recommendation!) it is not necessary to do so. In fact, the next time I recommend Dimaro to someone, I am going to recommend that they read Bug Spray first. That way they will be lulled into a false sense of security, not already knowing the depravity that Dimaro is capable of.
(In my opinion, Bug Spray is tame compared with How to Make a Monster.)
Even though both books share the same discretional warning, I would also add an additional warning to Bug Spray - not recommended for anyone with even a slight phobia of insects!
February 21, 2025
Look what has become of us.
Wow. I have to confess that with 99% of all the books I read, no matter how "depraved" the subject matter might seek or claim to be, I generally barely glance at the trigger warnings. 'Cause I'm a big boy, m'kay? You don't have to warn me about gooey, stabby stuff and foul language or even sexy sexy times (of which there are A LOT in this book)! And anyway, most of these I find don't even come to any kind of significant fruitition along the way ("better safe than sorry" though, eh?). But Felix I.D. Dimaro's "Bug Spray: A Tale of Madness" is a true journey into a out-of-control mindfvck where you can use those same warnings as a checklist of all that we'll see and experience along the way. This book is deliciously disturbing as it weaves wildly through different viewpoints and the ultimate demise of more than a couple of its main characters. Beware though because those that appear to us as loving and puppy-eyed may in fact prove to be viscious and rabid! And if you're not convinced you can hear the buzzing of a fly or an annoying gnat just outside your hearing range by the end, well, it may already be too late for you.
The inevitable next step was the downhill portion of things.
Dimaro constructs his tale - which is extremely well-written and utterly cloaked in mystery - and in such a way that we don't know at first who is the main protagonist … or if they aren't really an antagonist after all. To say that we meet people who aren't anything like they purport to be is an understatement to say the least. For every secret shared, for every story told, there seems to be a massive lie involved, one that hides something from everyone's view the more we try to reveal. And this is all being "encouraged" as we bathe in the insincere glow of the corporate world, one where buy-in to a company philosophy is more valued than is being a decent human being. Even something as mundane as where colleagues sit on a bus ride is orchestrated simply for the hope of encouraging "new relationships that might foster new ideas and greater morale." Yeah, right. Been there, worked that, hated it and myself by the time it was all over.
I hadn’t expected this next level of ours would leave me exposed to an… infestation.
In the case of Ty - once Tyrone, now Tybalt (you're supposed to acknowledge your familiarity with "Romeo and Juliet" at this point… you know, THAT Romeo, the one that "was a fool because he had decided not to survive, all because of some chick he barely knew.") - is an amalgamation of conflicting information and behaviors. Mostly known as a tough, Mr. Always-in-a-suit-never-being-compassionate-only-caring-about-survival-of-the-fittest kind of boss, he let's slip for the briefest of moments a vulnerability that attracts a co-worker in a way she never expected. But this facade that is built up is quickly and shockingly torn away as we glimpse into his "Sundays of secrets", an event which shapes the entirety of the rest of the book. For someone that passes as a pure Adonis for his physique and a leader among men, his fall is almost biblical in its scope. Even the so-called "care and concern" he is shown as his world collapses proves to be almost too sad and disgusting for words, where this once bright and rising star is instead being compared near the end to "sentient filth" and "functioning decay".
Who was she to be so disrespectful? This ancient, overweight duck. This overpaid talking Pinterest page.
We're also treated to a kind of misleading evolution of time, as many times we are seeing things that are essentially yet to come before what created these very situations can be revealed. Though somewhat disorienting, it also leads us to realize just how powerful some of the very betrayals that occur affect what seems like a shipwrecked crew trying to survive on some kind of deserted island. And yes, using "Lord of the Flies" as an analogy here would be very apt both simply for its title as well as the brutality the players begin to display. Certainly this would help explain many of the eventual delusions and breaks from reality that people experience or even perhaps embrace. Not everything we see is real in the way that we define it, though the effects are as significant as if we are left with scars and broken bones in the wake of events. Even if some of these are in peoples' minds and not taking place where others can also witness their horrors.
The gnats crawled and flew and climbed further into his mouth. They were everywhere.
The final detritus that remains after the last of the hallucinations are lived is as unsettling as any other aspect of the book. Again, the way Dimaro escorts us through weeks and weeks of human decay and filth is gloriously perverted. This is not a book that you'll read and want to rush to the office on Monday with a pep in your step or a pizazz with your jazz. Heck, if you get anything out of this book, perhaps it will be a SINCERE appreciation for mental health awareness and professional care compared to just the corporate lip service such life-saving support provides. Instead, of course, we find that what the omnipotent god-like mogul really thinks - and wants - is to make make millions from these so-called "snowflakes" that would applaud such efforts, ultimately turning the sympathy and empathy he manages to extract from them to profit. I will say that his final scene is one of the most satisfying of the book!
This was not how it was supposed to go.
Yes, it's all quite cynical when all is said and done, from learning about "war heroes" to being there for real friends and more. But when the girl with the raven hair leans to kiss you softly, know that your time here is almost done. Is it a dream or not? Or does it even matter at this point? Oh and lest it slip your mind: don't forget your mantras! It's important to have something to chant as you slowly choke on the poison all while the buzzing just grows louder …
Wow. I have to confess that with 99% of all the books I read, no matter how "depraved" the subject matter might seek or claim to be, I generally barely glance at the trigger warnings. 'Cause I'm a big boy, m'kay? You don't have to warn me about gooey, stabby stuff and foul language or even sexy sexy times (of which there are A LOT in this book)! And anyway, most of these I find don't even come to any kind of significant fruitition along the way ("better safe than sorry" though, eh?). But Felix I.D. Dimaro's "Bug Spray: A Tale of Madness" is a true journey into a out-of-control mindfvck where you can use those same warnings as a checklist of all that we'll see and experience along the way. This book is deliciously disturbing as it weaves wildly through different viewpoints and the ultimate demise of more than a couple of its main characters. Beware though because those that appear to us as loving and puppy-eyed may in fact prove to be viscious and rabid! And if you're not convinced you can hear the buzzing of a fly or an annoying gnat just outside your hearing range by the end, well, it may already be too late for you.
The inevitable next step was the downhill portion of things.
Dimaro constructs his tale - which is extremely well-written and utterly cloaked in mystery - and in such a way that we don't know at first who is the main protagonist … or if they aren't really an antagonist after all. To say that we meet people who aren't anything like they purport to be is an understatement to say the least. For every secret shared, for every story told, there seems to be a massive lie involved, one that hides something from everyone's view the more we try to reveal. And this is all being "encouraged" as we bathe in the insincere glow of the corporate world, one where buy-in to a company philosophy is more valued than is being a decent human being. Even something as mundane as where colleagues sit on a bus ride is orchestrated simply for the hope of encouraging "new relationships that might foster new ideas and greater morale." Yeah, right. Been there, worked that, hated it and myself by the time it was all over.
I hadn’t expected this next level of ours would leave me exposed to an… infestation.
In the case of Ty - once Tyrone, now Tybalt (you're supposed to acknowledge your familiarity with "Romeo and Juliet" at this point… you know, THAT Romeo, the one that "was a fool because he had decided not to survive, all because of some chick he barely knew.") - is an amalgamation of conflicting information and behaviors. Mostly known as a tough, Mr. Always-in-a-suit-never-being-compassionate-only-caring-about-survival-of-the-fittest kind of boss, he let's slip for the briefest of moments a vulnerability that attracts a co-worker in a way she never expected. But this facade that is built up is quickly and shockingly torn away as we glimpse into his "Sundays of secrets", an event which shapes the entirety of the rest of the book. For someone that passes as a pure Adonis for his physique and a leader among men, his fall is almost biblical in its scope. Even the so-called "care and concern" he is shown as his world collapses proves to be almost too sad and disgusting for words, where this once bright and rising star is instead being compared near the end to "sentient filth" and "functioning decay".
Who was she to be so disrespectful? This ancient, overweight duck. This overpaid talking Pinterest page.
We're also treated to a kind of misleading evolution of time, as many times we are seeing things that are essentially yet to come before what created these very situations can be revealed. Though somewhat disorienting, it also leads us to realize just how powerful some of the very betrayals that occur affect what seems like a shipwrecked crew trying to survive on some kind of deserted island. And yes, using "Lord of the Flies" as an analogy here would be very apt both simply for its title as well as the brutality the players begin to display. Certainly this would help explain many of the eventual delusions and breaks from reality that people experience or even perhaps embrace. Not everything we see is real in the way that we define it, though the effects are as significant as if we are left with scars and broken bones in the wake of events. Even if some of these are in peoples' minds and not taking place where others can also witness their horrors.
The gnats crawled and flew and climbed further into his mouth. They were everywhere.
The final detritus that remains after the last of the hallucinations are lived is as unsettling as any other aspect of the book. Again, the way Dimaro escorts us through weeks and weeks of human decay and filth is gloriously perverted. This is not a book that you'll read and want to rush to the office on Monday with a pep in your step or a pizazz with your jazz. Heck, if you get anything out of this book, perhaps it will be a SINCERE appreciation for mental health awareness and professional care compared to just the corporate lip service such life-saving support provides. Instead, of course, we find that what the omnipotent god-like mogul really thinks - and wants - is to make make millions from these so-called "snowflakes" that would applaud such efforts, ultimately turning the sympathy and empathy he manages to extract from them to profit. I will say that his final scene is one of the most satisfying of the book!
This was not how it was supposed to go.
Yes, it's all quite cynical when all is said and done, from learning about "war heroes" to being there for real friends and more. But when the girl with the raven hair leans to kiss you softly, know that your time here is almost done. Is it a dream or not? Or does it even matter at this point? Oh and lest it slip your mind: don't forget your mantras! It's important to have something to chant as you slowly choke on the poison all while the buzzing just grows louder …
August 8, 2020
Bug Spray is the debut novel by Dimaro. His previous release was an anthology of short stories and novellas that you should definitely check out too!
This story is best summed up by the last line of the synopsis.
"Bug Spray is a tale of dark deeds, retribution, and the sort of lunacy which can only result from a dose of toxic love."
This story follows Tybalt, a young and successful businessman. He will do anything to get ahead, no matter what he leaves in his wake. An encounter with the wrong person leaves him with a new and terrible perspective.
This story was just the best. I love the way Dimaro can craft a character that you hate and love and feel pity for and feel disgusted at. His stories are so based in reality, and yet have an other worldly feel to them. It makes a unique and creative world that his stories take place in. I'm eager to read anything and everything he comes up with.
This story is best summed up by the last line of the synopsis.
"Bug Spray is a tale of dark deeds, retribution, and the sort of lunacy which can only result from a dose of toxic love."
This story follows Tybalt, a young and successful businessman. He will do anything to get ahead, no matter what he leaves in his wake. An encounter with the wrong person leaves him with a new and terrible perspective.
This story was just the best. I love the way Dimaro can craft a character that you hate and love and feel pity for and feel disgusted at. His stories are so based in reality, and yet have an other worldly feel to them. It makes a unique and creative world that his stories take place in. I'm eager to read anything and everything he comes up with.
August 8, 2020
Bug Spray was released on Kindle today, and I am so excited to tell y’all that it is phenomenal. It’s the debut novel from Dimaro and it’s every bit as good as his previous collection How to Make a Monster is. Again, it comes with a warning in the beginning of the book, that you’d be well off to read and consider, because it’s not wrong. Bug Spray is a dark, intense, unsettling look at actions and consequences, and the wreckage that mistreatment of each other and mental illness can leave in its wake. It’s tragic and even though I would wager most readers would agree with me that Tybalt is an overwhelming asshole, by the end of the book, you can’t help but feel sorry for him (even while you can’t help but think if anyone deserves his fate...) It was also really fun/horrifying to see a couple of characters from How to Make a Monster put in an appearance. This was my first romance of horrors read, and I gotta say, I loved it.
August 9, 2020
Legitimate Stephen King vibes in this debut thriller. Dimaro takes his reader on a wild ride that catapults you through the mind of a tormented man whose ideas of routines and order borderline the sociopathic, and whose actions-both direct and indirect-have a shockwave of results. Tybalt Ward studies every move of those around him and manipulates everyone to ensure his success and control, but inside he’s a screwed up narcissist with a penchant for destruction. I love an unreliable and unlovable protagonist, and this character’s slow descent into madness and his comeuppance was truly satisfying. I also felt that Ward’s struggle with unresolved parental issues, the honest and relatable racial inequality experiences, and the spotlight on mental health gave this “unlovable” character a vulnerable side that keeps the reader engaged. Equal parts terrifying, surprisingly emotional, and chill-inducing, Bug Spray will certainly stick with me for a long time to come.
March 8, 2021
The very fact that this book starts off with “Warning: This story contains mature content, including explicit language, adult themes, gender and racial issues, scenes depicting graphic violence, drug use, explicit sex, self-harm and suicide.
Discretion is advised.”
So... it’s not a gentle, fun, light hearted story. It deals with a lot! The question is asked “What if you inherited the pain you cause?” What? Consequences for your actions? A taste of what you’ve been dishing out to others? Oh yeah, that’s not pretty.
My take away.... be considerate, think of others before always putting yourself first. While the situation is bad, is it worth taking your precious life over? Please... please... talk to someone who can help! There are wonderful people who will!
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a hard book for me to read, but only because of the content. It’s VERY well written, flows well, very insightful, very real.
November 22, 2023
I've been enjoying Mr. Dimaro's novels and Novellas for a while now and this one didn't disappoint!
It's a fascinating read about manipulation, self-discipline, ego, the drive for wealth and power and a descent into madness.
This book was incredibly well written, jumping between the heads and inner thoughts of the main characters with ease. The depth of the characters and the reasons they are like they are makes you sympathize somewhat with them. Even the one's you don't want to!
As with many of Dimaro's books there's an undercurrent of a supernatural world that leaves you wanting to know more about some of the characters that you see in passing. A shared universe, if you will, that never stifles the main plot but adds an extra layer that builds as you read more of his work.
Entomophobics read at your own risk!
It's a fascinating read about manipulation, self-discipline, ego, the drive for wealth and power and a descent into madness.
This book was incredibly well written, jumping between the heads and inner thoughts of the main characters with ease. The depth of the characters and the reasons they are like they are makes you sympathize somewhat with them. Even the one's you don't want to!
As with many of Dimaro's books there's an undercurrent of a supernatural world that leaves you wanting to know more about some of the characters that you see in passing. A shared universe, if you will, that never stifles the main plot but adds an extra layer that builds as you read more of his work.
Entomophobics read at your own risk!
April 18, 2021
The author, Dimaro, and I, met at a comedy club in Toronto. His book of horror was the last thing that I thought would come from his mind. The story of the good looking business man, Tybalt Ward, is captivating right from the start. Dimaro's descriptions of the characters and the horrors that they go through are chilling and so real - when I see a bug flying by, I wonder if I have been sucked in to the life of crazy and am living in my own Netflix series - that is how real and horrifying this story is. But with all of that - you want more as Dimaro leaves you feeling empathetic for his main character - Tybalt Ward, and the stream of really terrible things that come back to literally bite him in the butt! A must read!
May 8, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Such wonderful character development. You really get an in depth feel for how each character really is.
I started out disliking Tybalt Ward very much, hated the way he treated Betts, treated his employees and just his smug demeanor altogether....then you get the layer peeled back and it reveals a very sad lonely man, scared from his past. The demons he battles are ones I am sure a lot of people do.
This book has a lot of triggers in it...but these topics need to be discussed. Mental health is not a weakness, and you clear see how ignoring mental health leads to darkness in this book.
Well done @thingsthatkeepmeupatnight well done. I can't wait to read more of you work.
I started out disliking Tybalt Ward very much, hated the way he treated Betts, treated his employees and just his smug demeanor altogether....then you get the layer peeled back and it reveals a very sad lonely man, scared from his past. The demons he battles are ones I am sure a lot of people do.
This book has a lot of triggers in it...but these topics need to be discussed. Mental health is not a weakness, and you clear see how ignoring mental health leads to darkness in this book.
Well done @thingsthatkeepmeupatnight well done. I can't wait to read more of you work.
October 31, 2022
I literally could not put this book down! It was like a drug, drawing me in, wanting to know what happens to the jerk who is the MC named Tybalt. Also wondering why the name of this book is called Bug Spray. And I found out!
This read is a very fast paced rollercoaster with a lot of trigger warnings: suicide, self harm, drugs, 50 shades of gray sex, and racism (Asian and African American).
I would have given this book 5 stars but the main character was such a jerk and there was a lot of explicit sex that I had to knock it down a notch. Maybe I’m just a prude. But overall, the book was fantastic! Thank u so much Felix for sending me an e-copy for an honest review! I am definitely going to be reading more of your books!
This read is a very fast paced rollercoaster with a lot of trigger warnings: suicide, self harm, drugs, 50 shades of gray sex, and racism (Asian and African American).
I would have given this book 5 stars but the main character was such a jerk and there was a lot of explicit sex that I had to knock it down a notch. Maybe I’m just a prude. But overall, the book was fantastic! Thank u so much Felix for sending me an e-copy for an honest review! I am definitely going to be reading more of your books!
July 31, 2020
I was provided with an advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
After tearing through Dimaro’s anthology last summer, I was lucky enough to beta read his debut novel “Bug Spray: A Tale of Madness”. Dimaro hit this one out of the park. A tale of love and horror, with some of the best one liner burns, equals a book that I could not put down. The character development was spot on. Everyone knows a Tybalt Ward in their life; a man yearning for power and money who is willing to do anything to get it. Do yourself a favour and read this book, you will not regret it.
After tearing through Dimaro’s anthology last summer, I was lucky enough to beta read his debut novel “Bug Spray: A Tale of Madness”. Dimaro hit this one out of the park. A tale of love and horror, with some of the best one liner burns, equals a book that I could not put down. The character development was spot on. Everyone knows a Tybalt Ward in their life; a man yearning for power and money who is willing to do anything to get it. Do yourself a favour and read this book, you will not regret it.
August 16, 2020
After reading, and loving, Dimaro's first release, an anthology of short stories and novellas titled How To Make a Monster, I was eagerly anticipating his first novel, Bug Spray. This book definitely did not disappoint me. It's a fine blend of OCD and psychopathy, with the main character, Tybalt, becoming both a villain you love to hate and an anti-hero the reader can't help but sympathize with. With a subtle blend of the supernatural thrown into the mix (because, why not?), this tale reaffirms my belief that the author is as adept at the long story as well as the short, and is sure to be one of the upcoming new generation of writers we shall be enjoying for years to come.
December 3, 2020
I truly believe Karma wrote this book itself. What a brilliant take on "what comes around, goes around. " Third book I read by this author just this week ,and once again I am floored. He sure knows how to make you have "the feels" for characters and to get all wound up in their crummy little lives. I haven't been this taken with an authors work in quite some time. I truly hope this young man gets the notoriety he deserves. I know I shall sing my praises to all the social media gods to try to help. Plus, people who enjoy reading DESERVE this treat. This is the author to read for the ending of 2020.
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