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7 Smalls: Extreme Horror
This book is a walking trigger warning.
There are seven brothers in the Smalls family, each worse than the last … so it’s safe to say that this book contains extreme violence and scenes of sex that some people will find unpalatable.
Each of the Smalls brothers has a nickname. There’s Sawbones, Snuff, and Bliss. Also, Wasphead, Cockwinder, and Bod. And lastly, Candyboy. Each of them has a special talent, mostly in illegal fields. Their endeavours range from snuff films to drug rings, gangland hits to house clearances (if you get my point). Contained within 7 Smalls is their first seven tales, as a group of unwanted rivals try to move in on their patch, so that needs dealing with, as well as just about everything else going wrong that can go wrong.
The Smalls stories are very, very, violent, and laugh out loud funny. But mostly violent. This book isn’t going to be for everyone, but if you do pick it up, you won’t regret it.
There are seven brothers in the Smalls family, each worse than the last … so it’s safe to say that this book contains extreme violence and scenes of sex that some people will find unpalatable.
Each of the Smalls brothers has a nickname. There’s Sawbones, Snuff, and Bliss. Also, Wasphead, Cockwinder, and Bod. And lastly, Candyboy. Each of them has a special talent, mostly in illegal fields. Their endeavours range from snuff films to drug rings, gangland hits to house clearances (if you get my point). Contained within 7 Smalls is their first seven tales, as a group of unwanted rivals try to move in on their patch, so that needs dealing with, as well as just about everything else going wrong that can go wrong.
The Smalls stories are very, very, violent, and laugh out loud funny. But mostly violent. This book isn’t going to be for everyone, but if you do pick it up, you won’t regret it.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2022
30 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 7, 2022
I loved this collection so much! The Smalls family are brutal killers, drug dealers and have questionable morals, but you can't help but love them. It's always fun when the bad person in a book is actually not the worst character.
This collection is fun, fast paced, will make you laugh and will make you squeamish.
This collection is fun, fast paced, will make you laugh and will make you squeamish.
October 23, 2022
*I'm not going to give you the 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.
1. I'm an Ash Ericmore (Epicmore) stan so there's not much he can do I won't adore, but this collection of novellas was both full of gory brutality and absolutely hilarious.
2. Each of these novellas are available on their own in e-book form on Godless. I wasn't aware of the Smalls family until late; well into the 2nd batch of Smalls family stories and I'm glad for that, because while each of the 7 brothers' stories are stand alone, they do refer back to certain members/situations and I really loved having them all together in physical form in case I had to reference a previous story, and I did utilize this a few times.
3. I felt terrible (not really) laughing at some of the stuff I found hilarious in this collection. How can you not bust a gut over a grown man adhering babies to himself and using them as a literal 'knight suit' of 'baby armor'. 👶⚔️ So yeah, check the content warnings because I'm fairly certain there's nothing off the table here. That goes for Ash in general. I don't want to see anyone dragging him for his work because they bit off more than they can chew or didn't realize what they were reading. That's on you, not on the author.
4. Liam aka Cockwinder is a GD hero. A HERO - and my favorite of the stories, although not by a large margin because they were all absolute gold 🖤.
1. I'm an Ash Ericmore (Epicmore) stan so there's not much he can do I won't adore, but this collection of novellas was both full of gory brutality and absolutely hilarious.
2. Each of these novellas are available on their own in e-book form on Godless. I wasn't aware of the Smalls family until late; well into the 2nd batch of Smalls family stories and I'm glad for that, because while each of the 7 brothers' stories are stand alone, they do refer back to certain members/situations and I really loved having them all together in physical form in case I had to reference a previous story, and I did utilize this a few times.
3. I felt terrible (not really) laughing at some of the stuff I found hilarious in this collection. How can you not bust a gut over a grown man adhering babies to himself and using them as a literal 'knight suit' of 'baby armor'. 👶⚔️ So yeah, check the content warnings because I'm fairly certain there's nothing off the table here. That goes for Ash in general. I don't want to see anyone dragging him for his work because they bit off more than they can chew or didn't realize what they were reading. That's on you, not on the author.
4. Liam aka Cockwinder is a GD hero. A HERO - and my favorite of the stories, although not by a large margin because they were all absolute gold 🖤.
March 25, 2022
Wow! One of the best book i've read, It's really funny but so dark. I was a big fan of Ash Ericmore after reading Sick F*ck but The Smalls Family was even better. Every character are great and they all have a little something 😂. It's incredibly violent be warned, some torture scene are freaking brutal and It's perfect. I really hope for Daddy, Mumma and Valentine to be in Paperback too, I want to learn more about the family, I need to understand why Reed hates His nickname, pleeeaaase.
October 28, 2022
Family fights
I really enjoyed this read. Lots of brutality and well deservedly so. And the best part for me, family. Family, brother and sister love and loyalty and joy to the parents. Each member of The male siblings have their own businesses, their own way of doing things and their own families. But when someone upsets one. Well they will each do whatever it takes to protect the others and the rest of the family. Apart from that they are a good natured bunch with some big hearts, as big as some of their egos. Lots of blood and brains. Violence in spades and a great storyline. They maybe the smalls but their reputation is huge. Definitely worth checking out if you love a good read and good amount of violence. Recommended!
I really enjoyed this read. Lots of brutality and well deservedly so. And the best part for me, family. Family, brother and sister love and loyalty and joy to the parents. Each member of The male siblings have their own businesses, their own way of doing things and their own families. But when someone upsets one. Well they will each do whatever it takes to protect the others and the rest of the family. Apart from that they are a good natured bunch with some big hearts, as big as some of their egos. Lots of blood and brains. Violence in spades and a great storyline. They maybe the smalls but their reputation is huge. Definitely worth checking out if you love a good read and good amount of violence. Recommended!
June 26, 2022
Wild, Crazy, and outlandish. The Smalls Brothers end up in some messed up scenarios, and the stories are a blast to read.
March 22, 2022
Awesome
Three smalls family get up to some nastiness and it's glorious. I'd love to read some more of the wackiness that the family get up to... Maybe include more Backyard lol. Good stuff!!!!
Three smalls family get up to some nastiness and it's glorious. I'd love to read some more of the wackiness that the family get up to... Maybe include more Backyard lol. Good stuff!!!!
September 7, 2025
I got to meet author Ash Ericmore at the Indie Horror Chapter event Chapter 2: Canterbury Horror Tales. I was unfamiliar with their work, asked for their recommendation of a good place to start, and soon found myself with a copy of 7 Smalls in my hands. I had little idea what to expect except for this being an extreme horror, and the blurb on the back certainly sounded interesting. This is a collection of seven novellettes which all build upon the previous, introducing us to the seven Smalls brothers and providing glimpses into their lives. They do not live quiet lives.
Now, I want to preface this with the caveat that I still wouldn't consider myself particularly well-versed in the world of extreme horror. Of the fifty titles featured (as of time of writing) on the first page of Goodreads Extreme Horror Books I have only read ten, so whilst I wouldn't exactly claim to be new to the genre - and beyond the first page of fifty I'm sure there's more that I've read - I also would not suggest that I'm well-read. I enjoy what extreme horror offers, but I'm also still learning what I like (and dislike) about this genre of books. 7 Smalls, for me, does a lot right. But it doesn't quite all land.
Sawbones
Edward 'Sawbones' Small kicks off 7 Smalls by taking on a job to make a snuff film. I liked the calculation put into the targeting of the victim, showing a truly twisted thought process, and then I really liked the escalation as things start going wrong. There is some very strong imagery in this novelette that works really well, and the cliffhanger left at the end made continuing very compelling.
Snuff
Daniel 'Snuff' Smalls takes centre stage in this second story, and although it doesn't quite follow on immediately from the hook that was left dangling in Sawbones, what we get here is another memorable snapshot into the life of one of the Smalls brothers. I enjoyed the rug-pull following the flirtatious set-up, and I liked how events escalated. The action here feels slightly smaller in scale to the previous entry, but the end makes it clear that events are building towards a specific direction. Ericmore also gets to showcase some very imaginative ways to inflict all sorts of pain and nastiness.
Bliss
Adam 'Bliss' Smalls fronts what is perhaps my favourite entry in this collection. There's a wicked sense of humour that runs through this story, but it's also tinged with some actual sweet moments. Of course there's plenty of graphic violence too. The connections between the stories come into slightly sharper focus with this entry, but the timelines between them are still a little hazy. Ericmore certainly has a flair for writing action. And quite graphic depictions of inflicted violence. Backy is a stroke of genius.
Wasphead
Reed 'Wasphead' Smalls is the fourth family member we're introduced to, and this is another entry that I really liked. I thought the dynamic between Reed and Lawrence was portrayed excellently, and like the first entry, Sawbones, we have another violent plot that goes all sorts of wrong. Ericmore really outdoes himself with some truly vile descriptions of the suffering that can be inflicted on the human body. Although this story does build upon the bigger picture, I'll be honest, and this may entirely be a me thing, but it was around this point that I started getting a little lost with exactly what was going on beyond the action presented here. I found it difficult to track the side characters and how they all relate to each other and the overarching plot.
Cockwinder
Liam (hey that's my name!) 'Cockwinder' Smalls stars in a story which feels like it's wandered in from a completely different book. This seems to be a more self-contained story that doesn't particularly contribute to the wider narrative, with a Smalls brother whose heart actually appears to be somewhat in the right place. There is definitely an elation here as justice is (brutally and rightfully) served which feels weirdly out of place in a book like 7 Smalls. Don't get me wrong, I like it, it's just... different.
Bod
Peter 'Bod' Smalls is an endearingly incompetent member of the family, although as evidenced here that incompetence can be dangerous when manipulated. Ericmore nods to American Psycho (2000) for the most memorable part of this story. There is a cruelty to this story that lands a little different to some of the previous entries, and although I can appreciate the necessity of this story to get the narrative rolling towards the conclusion, this is the first one that just didn't quite work for me.
Candyboy
Michael 'Candyboy' Smalls has been a recurring presence throughout 7 Smalls, and so honestly I was expecting a little more from the character. With all of the momentum building to this entry, I couldn't help but feel the climax landed somewhat flat for me. There's still some good moments, and Ericmore even manages to squeeze in another sweet scene or two, but I think by this point my expectations had been built to expect just a little bit more.
The majority of the stories here work well, and Ericmore impresses with the sheer variety of ways he uncovers to depict violence. However, and again maybe this is just my lack of familiarity with the genre, but I'm struggling with placing 7 Smalls as an extreme horror. Don't get me wrong, the way the violence is describes is definitely extreme, but besides some moments in the first story, Sawbones, this felt to me like more of a crime story than a horror story. I saw Nikolas P. Robinson describe Ericmore's writing as 'the literary amalgam of Guy Ritchie and Eli Roth, with just a touch of Tarantino for flavor' and whilst I agree with the sentiment, I think these stories actually lean more heavily towards Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino, with Eli Roth providing the flavouring.
Ericmore's short, sharp sentences took a little adjusting to, but I think they worked well in driving the fast pace of these stories. My only critique with the writing, and again, might be a me thing, but there were a couple of occasions where Ericmore used the word 'lol' - once as spoken dialogue - and I couldn't help but be pulled out of the story by this. It's not a major complaint, but I found it notable.
Since I haven't read more of Ericmore's work, I'm not sure how 7 Smalls stands as an introduction to his writing. However, I will say that I enjoyed this enough to definitely want to pursue more of his work. I certainly intend on picking up more of his books in the future. Hopefully the very near future.
3.5/5
Now, I want to preface this with the caveat that I still wouldn't consider myself particularly well-versed in the world of extreme horror. Of the fifty titles featured (as of time of writing) on the first page of Goodreads Extreme Horror Books I have only read ten, so whilst I wouldn't exactly claim to be new to the genre - and beyond the first page of fifty I'm sure there's more that I've read - I also would not suggest that I'm well-read. I enjoy what extreme horror offers, but I'm also still learning what I like (and dislike) about this genre of books. 7 Smalls, for me, does a lot right. But it doesn't quite all land.
Sawbones
Edward 'Sawbones' Small kicks off 7 Smalls by taking on a job to make a snuff film. I liked the calculation put into the targeting of the victim, showing a truly twisted thought process, and then I really liked the escalation as things start going wrong. There is some very strong imagery in this novelette that works really well, and the cliffhanger left at the end made continuing very compelling.
Snuff
Daniel 'Snuff' Smalls takes centre stage in this second story, and although it doesn't quite follow on immediately from the hook that was left dangling in Sawbones, what we get here is another memorable snapshot into the life of one of the Smalls brothers. I enjoyed the rug-pull following the flirtatious set-up, and I liked how events escalated. The action here feels slightly smaller in scale to the previous entry, but the end makes it clear that events are building towards a specific direction. Ericmore also gets to showcase some very imaginative ways to inflict all sorts of pain and nastiness.
Bliss
Adam 'Bliss' Smalls fronts what is perhaps my favourite entry in this collection. There's a wicked sense of humour that runs through this story, but it's also tinged with some actual sweet moments. Of course there's plenty of graphic violence too. The connections between the stories come into slightly sharper focus with this entry, but the timelines between them are still a little hazy. Ericmore certainly has a flair for writing action. And quite graphic depictions of inflicted violence. Backy is a stroke of genius.
Wasphead
Reed 'Wasphead' Smalls is the fourth family member we're introduced to, and this is another entry that I really liked. I thought the dynamic between Reed and Lawrence was portrayed excellently, and like the first entry, Sawbones, we have another violent plot that goes all sorts of wrong. Ericmore really outdoes himself with some truly vile descriptions of the suffering that can be inflicted on the human body. Although this story does build upon the bigger picture, I'll be honest, and this may entirely be a me thing, but it was around this point that I started getting a little lost with exactly what was going on beyond the action presented here. I found it difficult to track the side characters and how they all relate to each other and the overarching plot.
Cockwinder
Liam (hey that's my name!) 'Cockwinder' Smalls stars in a story which feels like it's wandered in from a completely different book. This seems to be a more self-contained story that doesn't particularly contribute to the wider narrative, with a Smalls brother whose heart actually appears to be somewhat in the right place. There is definitely an elation here as justice is (brutally and rightfully) served which feels weirdly out of place in a book like 7 Smalls. Don't get me wrong, I like it, it's just... different.
Bod
Peter 'Bod' Smalls is an endearingly incompetent member of the family, although as evidenced here that incompetence can be dangerous when manipulated. Ericmore nods to American Psycho (2000) for the most memorable part of this story. There is a cruelty to this story that lands a little different to some of the previous entries, and although I can appreciate the necessity of this story to get the narrative rolling towards the conclusion, this is the first one that just didn't quite work for me.
Candyboy
Michael 'Candyboy' Smalls has been a recurring presence throughout 7 Smalls, and so honestly I was expecting a little more from the character. With all of the momentum building to this entry, I couldn't help but feel the climax landed somewhat flat for me. There's still some good moments, and Ericmore even manages to squeeze in another sweet scene or two, but I think by this point my expectations had been built to expect just a little bit more.
The majority of the stories here work well, and Ericmore impresses with the sheer variety of ways he uncovers to depict violence. However, and again maybe this is just my lack of familiarity with the genre, but I'm struggling with placing 7 Smalls as an extreme horror. Don't get me wrong, the way the violence is describes is definitely extreme, but besides some moments in the first story, Sawbones, this felt to me like more of a crime story than a horror story. I saw Nikolas P. Robinson describe Ericmore's writing as 'the literary amalgam of Guy Ritchie and Eli Roth, with just a touch of Tarantino for flavor' and whilst I agree with the sentiment, I think these stories actually lean more heavily towards Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino, with Eli Roth providing the flavouring.
Ericmore's short, sharp sentences took a little adjusting to, but I think they worked well in driving the fast pace of these stories. My only critique with the writing, and again, might be a me thing, but there were a couple of occasions where Ericmore used the word 'lol' - once as spoken dialogue - and I couldn't help but be pulled out of the story by this. It's not a major complaint, but I found it notable.
Since I haven't read more of Ericmore's work, I'm not sure how 7 Smalls stands as an introduction to his writing. However, I will say that I enjoyed this enough to definitely want to pursue more of his work. I certainly intend on picking up more of his books in the future. Hopefully the very near future.
3.5/5
March 24, 2022
I have read all of Ash Ericmores books with the exception of the apocalypse type series. Which I will be starting on soon. I have to say, out of all of his books (which I absolutely loved) this is my favorite one. I like that it’s longer. It’s just such a fantastic story and in a cool format. The dark humor is impressive. I caught myself laughing out loud through the entire book. Was very difficult to put down and was sad when I was finished. I’m hoping that Ash will create a series on the Small family!!! I look forward to many more of his books.
December 12, 2022
A 5 star rating book for me,a mix of stories about the 7 Small brothers,getting into bad...very bad trouble with horrendous consequences,filled with plenty of violence and gore,this book leaves nothing to the imagination....I wanted to highlight so many bits of this book as it was so good....the description of some of the action was unbelievable....I loved this book and will be looking at more from this author in the future. Well worth reading for those of us that like the experience of extreme horror....but not for everyone!!!! Be warned!!!
August 4, 2023
I tried explaining this to my wife. “Tried” being the operative word.
The best I managed to come up with was, “Imagine Shameless, but directed by Guy Ritchie, and add a pinch of ultraviolence…”
I would like to take a moment to thank Ash for 1. all the incredibly imaginative butt stuff, and 2. Backy.
Someone needs to pick this up for, at the very least, a graphic novel adaptation.
(Looking at you, Jacen Burrows, and Avatar Press…)
The best I managed to come up with was, “Imagine Shameless, but directed by Guy Ritchie, and add a pinch of ultraviolence…”
I would like to take a moment to thank Ash for 1. all the incredibly imaginative butt stuff, and 2. Backy.
Someone needs to pick this up for, at the very least, a graphic novel adaptation.
(Looking at you, Jacen Burrows, and Avatar Press…)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2023
I could write about how this tells the story of the Smalls a family of brutal criminals. About all the great kills and the buckets of blood that fill the pages. Or how enjoyable I found it to be. Or I could make it easier on myself and say. It's fucking amazing. Easily one of my top reads for the year. So get off your ass and buy a copy because trust me you don't want any of the smalls knocking at your door.
October 16, 2023
Many years ago I devised the concept of 'bawdy violence'. This is something similar - OTT bloodthirstiness as we follow the Smalls family of criminal propensities in their misguided attempts to build a criminal empire, avoid getting killed in the process, and somehow end up with a bunch of babies to take care of.
As Avram Davidson put it years ago, "would make stevedores blench." Yes, it probably would, but whatever.
As Avram Davidson put it years ago, "would make stevedores blench." Yes, it probably would, but whatever.
October 3, 2022
This collection of the novellas of the seven brothers of the Smalls family was a combination of over the top, ridiculous, funny, and brutally extreme. Each brother was worse than the last and ended up in situations that could have only come from a mind disturbed in the best possible way. From using babies as body armor to a very twisted clam bake, 7 Smalls delivers in every way.
November 11, 2022
Gratuitous Violence for the Fun of It
Loved this for the violence alone. Sometimes you need to read a book like this to live vicariously through characters. This book is fun, gorey, jarring, lude and I couldn't ask for anything more. Definitely not for the sensitive type, but you only live once so you should give this one a go anyway.
Loved this for the violence alone. Sometimes you need to read a book like this to live vicariously through characters. This book is fun, gorey, jarring, lude and I couldn't ask for anything more. Definitely not for the sensitive type, but you only live once so you should give this one a go anyway.
January 25, 2023
I think I need to see a doctor!
I've never been concerned about my mind until I read this book.. it undoubtedly the best book I've read. Its full of very gruesome acts... but yet I some how found myself laughing. Does this make me now sick 🤣 very good book and it should be but very funny too . The flying babies finished me off. Hats off to you
Very well done
I've never been concerned about my mind until I read this book.. it undoubtedly the best book I've read. Its full of very gruesome acts... but yet I some how found myself laughing. Does this make me now sick 🤣 very good book and it should be but very funny too . The flying babies finished me off. Hats off to you
Very well done
August 19, 2024
Made it through three Smalls but just couldn’t seem to stick with this one. Maybe it was the writing or maybe it was that it didn’t seem too extreme. Maybe I’ll try to finish at a later time.
April 22, 2025
my favorite book by Ericmore so far! Sometimes it's too much, but this one hit the balance just right and made me "lol" a number of times. Perfection!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews