Hardcore Kelli

by Wrath James White

Bullets whizzed past Katy as she dashed through the grass and weeds, and the maze of broken recreational vehicles, farm equipment, and other slowly oxidizing junk. She gripped the gleaming battle axe in both hands as she waded through gunfire, determined to reach her archnemesis and end his reign of terror forever. Murder Man stood in the doorway of the rundown mobile home, firing at will. She had found his lair. Now it was time to bring him to justice.
Katy hurdled the rusting skeleton of an old '77 Ford Thunderbird like an Olympic gymnast. She had once been a cheerleader, a good one. Once upon a time she could do flips, handsprings, and somersaults with ease. That was so long ago it felt more like an ancient story from some dusty old history book than something that had actually occurred in her lifetime.
Like someone else's life...

Genres: Horror, Novella

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2022

About the author

Wrath James White is a badass motherfucker who writes baddasss books for other badass motherfuckers. He is a J.F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a Bram Stoker Award nominee with over two dozen books in print.

Wrath is the author of RABBIT HUNT, THE BUG COLLECTOR, and such extreme horror classics as THE RESURRECTIONIST (now a major motion picture titled "Come Back To Me") SUCCULENT PREY, it's sequel PREY DRIVE, 400 DAYS OF OPPRESSION, and many others.

To follow his Substack, purchase books, get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books, merchandise, and more, go to:

https://linktr.ee/wrathjameswhite

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the concept here. A superhero born out of a devastating life of abuse, trauma, and raw anger. Then again, I’m a sucker for DC comics, and this felt right at home there. Now I really enjoyed this story, but it needed to be a little longer and more developed to come full circle. There were a lot of coincidences throughout, which may or may not have our lead, Katy, having a psychological breakdown, believing that she became Hardcore Kelli. Maybe it was a build up of her abuse and aggression, or maybe it was too many hard hits in the boxing ring? Or maybe it wasn’t? Or maybe seeing her sister abducted was the final straw? Perhaps we saw the birth of something more? Creatively crafted and executed, it leaves the door open for a lot of interpretation, which is always fun. This was my first outing with Wrath James White and he certainly has Peter Topside’s attention now.

[Mort · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review available at The Mort Report:

https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...

3.5 Stars

[Richard Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of extreme horror and of all the extreme horror writers working today, nobody quite manages the fine balance of strong stories and social commentary without skimping on the guts and gore quite as well as Wrath James White. His books are memorable just as much for the characters as they are the hardcore horror and they always have an underlying message or moral that elevates the material beyond the work of his contemporaries. I was more than a little intrigued when I heard that his latest would tackle the world of superheroes.

Katy is a former boxer who is currently working as a stripper when her fighting career came to an abrupt end after a disastrous fight put a stop to her calling before it could even begin. A head injury has left her quick to anger and quicker to lash out at those around her. When an incident at the club leaves her unemployed and with nowhere to go, she is forced to return home to stay with her mother and young sister, whom she hasn’t spoken to for years.

Katy’s young sister idolises her and is thrilled when she agrees to come out trick or treating with her on Halloween. Even better, Katy dresses up as her favourite superhero; Hardcore Kelli, somebody to whom Katy bears an uncanny resemblance… When her young sister goes missing, the line between Katy and Hardcore Kelli becomes blurred as she sets out to find her, leaving a trail of bodies in her wake.

With comic book TV shows like ‘The Boys’ and ‘Invincible’ currently getting headlines and rave reviews for deconstructing superheroes, I thought at first that ‘Hardcore Kelli’ would be in a similar vein. After all, the uber-violent and morally grey worlds these shows depict seem to be well within White’s wheelhouse. I was surprised when the book took a decidedly different approach to the genre.

White makes the wise decision to keep things vague in regards to the superheroics. It is never expressly said one way or another whether Katy and Hardcore Kelli are one and the same, and it is strongly suggested that Katy’s mental health issues are causing these delusions, triggered by her desire to save her sister, although some hints in the books big finale leave things open to interpretation. The most memorable segments of the book for me were those where Katy spends time with her sister, and there are some genuinely touching, but sad moments to be had from these characters.

While the book builds up a little slower than other works by the author, once we reach the final act, all hell breaks loose, and fans of Wrath James White won’t be left wanting in terms of bloodshed and general grotesquery. While it may not be as extreme as, say ‘The Resurrectionist’ or ‘Succulent Prey’, it is a far from tame ending to an altogether excellent book.
Wrath James White never disappoints, and ‘Hardcore Kelli’ is another in a long line of books that cement his reputation as the go-to author for extreme horror. It is a book that takes all of his strengths (great characters, subtext, inventive gore) and puts them all together into a new and different genre (superheroes), resulting in a fun read with a big heart and a bigger body count.


You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/richard-m...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter and Instagram - @RickReadsHorror

[Jeffrey Caston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique and well executed!

This was the first Wrath James White book I’ve had the pleasure to read and I found it very entertaining and engaging. We have Katy who’s had a really rough go of life but like a real hero, she picks herself up and keeps coming, even after getting knocked down and abandoned by those who claim to care about her.

This is a short book and it clips right along. It gets to the point and gives you a lot to think about. Katy, who becomes “Hardcore Kelli,” is someone you can really care about and you simultaneous want her to succeed and want her to be okay, while also being empathetic to all the crap she’s endured. I particularly liked the her mental illness issues manifest in a convincing “unreliable narrator” situation that, for me, worked pretty effectively. The combat scenes worked well. They weren’t overly detailed, yet conveyed the visceral brutality that someone like Katy/Kelli quite nicely. There’s a good amount of gore without being the point of the story. The point of the story—to me, anyway—seemed like it was to highlight Katy/Kelli as a character and her struggles. That being said, I found the ending particularly satisfying when she starts hacking through truly bad guys!

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katy has been used, abused and traumatized, and now the former boxer turned ex-stripper is on her way home to the mother she hasn't seen in years, and the little sister she never really got to know.

Events of the past have left Katy suffering night terrors and a host of emotional and mental disturbances and what may also be undiagnosed PTSD.

Her happy homecoming turns sour when she goes out to hunt down the reason why her sister has gone missing after school. Believing she is the super hero "Hardcore Kelli" from her little sister's comic books she sets off down a dark path of death and destruction. Has she really become a super hero or has she suffered a psychotic break with reality? I'll leave it for you to decide.

This was a quick read with a lot of blood spatter and a very gruesome ending. It's not my usual type of horror because I tend to go for the more supernatural, occult, ghostly reads. This book focuses on the horror that humans perpetrate, and a woman who has been pushed to and beyond the brink.

Revenge may not always be sweet but the vengeance here is quite satisfying.

4 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the review copy.

[John The Crippledgimp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good short read. This is what happens when your Halloween costume \persona comes to life. Hardcore Kellie is a bad ass you don't want to mess with. I liked this one. My only complaint is that I wish it was more in depth and longer 4 stars for me on this one

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Novella from WJW. Hardcore Kelli is so good. Probably one of the best reads of the year. The Tp from Cemetery Dance has some awesome illustrations. Katy has a great back story. In under a 100 pages there is great character development, and great action. Hardcore Kelli is a different kind of Superhuman. It does have some triggers for some people.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extreme horror author Wrath James White writes kick-ass characters very well and Hardcore Kelli is no exception. Katy used to be a small town athlete who became a boxer, then a stripper before returning back to her old hometown where she finds more trouble. "Hardcore Kelli" is a superhero that her little sister introduces her to, sort of like Jessica Jones but with a gigantic axe.

The author's background as a former MMA fighter plays a huge part of most of his works, and is a dynamic component that helps the prose jump off the page. Katy has been amateur boxing until her last fight goes badly and she's put to pasture. Even though this is the reality of one of the most brutal combat sports, it's something that bothers me as a fan, seeing many female fighters who still have so much fight in them being told to hang up their gloves when they don't perform "up to par" and how quick viewers are to forget the training--the hours, months, and years of dedication--that go into these careers, which some people are far too cavalier about. Katy also has substance abuse issues and experiences PTSD from assaults in her past, which the author portrays authentically. Readers will get a kick out of seeing Katy deliver just desserts to creeps who deserve it.

The illustrations are also amazing and greatly enhance the text. Fans who enjoyed the Halle Berry film "Bruised" and who love final girls in horror need to buy "Hardcore Kelli" as soon as possible.

[Stephen Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun Splatter Superhero Novella with interesting characters, a trippy storyline, and a fuck ton of awesome villain names.

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hardcore Kelli is my first foray into Wrath James White’s world and, even though it is a novella, it rocked my world and has stuck with me, leaving me wanting more. I love reading off the wall, twisted works and Wrath supplied me with a few hours of reading entertainment. I thought it would have a three rating, but seeing I can’t get it out of my head that seemed so wrong, so four it is.

Katy is a boxer, with a losing record. A garden variety type. She only did it for the money. Her world changed when she was introduced to Hardcore Kelli by her sister, Samantha. I love her. I couldn’t help but smile and laugh, until the story took an ugly turn, one I never saw coming.

If you love a quirky tale, with blood, guts, and gore, this could be for you.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Harcore Kelli by Wrath James White.

[Paul Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much to this short book. Hardcore Kelli has a deep layer about the long term effects of abuse.
Kati is strong, fierce, and independent. She turned to boxing as a means of personal rehabilitation from some abusive relationships. Kati finds that all she has done was just become someone else’s punching bag. Without giving too much of the story away, Kati’s sanity is balanced on an axe blade as trauma after trauma lead her to an extreme reinvention of self that may be too far over the edge for her to come back from.
Hardcore Kelli is a well written lighthearted story about just a few horrible things that life throws at women. There was a reunion scene between mom and daughter that almost brought me to tears.
Sure there is over the top violence and gore but this book is more than what is on the surface.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 more thoughts in my vlog!

https://youtu.be/HwiNburHdac?si=0YFnv...

[Richard Longmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katy's been mistreated and abused by men all her life. Sometimes it's a clear violation, like rape. Other times it's murkier - like a boxing trainer who has no regard for her health or safety. Her days as an up-and-coming boxer have passed and she's left selling what's left of her body at the local strip club just to get by.

Circumstances lead her home, catching up with her mother and little sister. Her young sister shares some of her interests, including comic books - specifically one called Hardcore Kelli, who seems to not really have "superpowers" as much as she has a high pain tolerance and seemingly unlimited willpower and tenacity. Her sister begs Katy to take her out for Trick or Treating while dressed as Hardcore Kelli. As the night goes on, Katy is going to need some of the same skills that Hardcore Kelli has if she (and her sister) want to see the morning.

I found this to be quite different than most of Wrath James White's books, which I suppose was the point of taking on a "comic" story instead of the horror/erotic books that he's known for. I missed some of the more flowery prose that he often provides, as this story is a little more straightforward. The character of Katy, however, was very interesting - the delusion of grandeur that is needed to believe you are a vigilante superhero comes out of nowhere. But the way Wrath James White presents the mix of her rage, trauma, mental illness, fear for the other women in her life, etc - it came together for me.

It's short - as it should be, since there isn't an epic story here. But it hits the mark and moves on. Not the WJW I wanted, but maybe the WJW we needed. 3.5, rounded to 4.

[Yolanda Sfetsos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book at the top of my Paperwhite TBR list for several weeks. And tonight, I decided to check it out. What I mean by that is that I read it in one sitting.

Katy is a boxer. She's also a stripper. And after going through some terrible things in her past, suffers from PTSD and night terrors. After a really bad night at work, she leaves the city and goes back to the small town she tried to escape years ago. Only to find more trouble...

Yikes! This novella is like a gut-punch. Hits you hard and deep, because so much of what happens to Katy is sad, uncomfortable and so very disturbing. In spite of her violence, and the harsh way she handles everything, I still felt for her.

A woman can't be abused and treated so badly without severe repercussions. Without her attitude to life and men being altered in severe ways. Katy is a strong woman struggling to stay in control every minute of the day.

Also, when Hardcore Kelli is introduced in the story, everything got even better. I love how the author wrote the parallels between Katy's mental illness and the storyline in the comic books her much younger sister introduces her to. And those last few chapters were fucking killer!

I enjoyed the hell out of this! But be warned, the mention of hardcore in the title isn't a mistake. Everything about this story is just that.

[John J Questore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three years ago at Scare That Care I got to hear Wrath James White perform a reading from one of his novels, and loved it. Sadly, things were so hectic that I forgot to swing by his table to (a) introduce myself, and (b) grab a copy. When I heard he was going to be at the 2022 STC AuthorCon, I knew I wasn't going to make the same mistake. And one of the first books I picked up when the convention started was HARDCORE KELLI.

First, let me say that this book might not be for everyone. The use of the word "hardcore" in the title wasn't chosen lightly. This novella falls into that category one hundred percent. But that shouldn't dissuade you from giving it a read (unless you're squeamish about blood and guts).

This story would be PERFECT for a graphic novel. It has all of the right elements; a boxer turned stripper turned, well... uhm... Hmmm... not quite sure. Is Katy a superhero, antihero, vigilante, or misguided villain? You will have to decide for yourself.

Like a boxer dancing in the ring, Wrath delicately tackles Katy's PTSD and mental breakdown - until the final knockout where all bets are off, and the blood begins to fly. I would love to see more of HARDCORE KELLI, and will be picking up more by Mr. White.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a short novella, there are so many things that are referenced by the author. Taken purely at face value, it is the story of vigilantism - a female "batman" archetype - setting out to rid the world of some very evil villains.
A young woman with mental illness and PTSD has a break from reality. She believes herself to be a 'superhero' or 'antihero' from a bloody comic. She sets out to fight her nemeses - of course these nemeses are actually real people who are pretty awful.
I saw so many things in this novella - how lack of money and resources lets mental illness run rampant. How abuse of girls and women is overlooked or written off by a patriarchal society. How adult entertainers are not afforded even the same, basic, fundamentally lacking 'protections' the rest of society is given. The glorification of violence in today's society. How vigilantes are lauded by a people who feel disenfranchised. This is a very sad, bleak look at society today.
It is also a bloody, fun, graphic novella. Is this a cry for change? Or is this just a piece of horror entertainment? You decide. I liked it and it made me think - a lot. Kudos.

[Russell Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun, and brutal read from one of the guys who does it best. White may be a bit of a cult author, but to me he's not too far from Jack Ketchum in that you will always get a solid baseline of gritty extreme horror combined with an interesting premise.

This story follows a former boxer, down on her luck and working as a stripper, who finally swallows what's left of her pride and moves back to her small town. Katy is a bit of an unreliable narrator because of some mental issues she stopped taking medication for, one that causes her to hallucinate. Taking her younger sister out for Halloween while dressing as a comic superhero, Hardcore Kelli, takes the reader down a path of PTSD trauma, hallucination, and a comic book story fantasy.

White's stories are always a mix of fun and discomfort - this one was no different, and I got what I expected. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, extreme horror read.

[Betsy]

Hardcore Kelli appealed to my weakness for women who fight. The story starts with the female protagonist having a boxing career gone awry. Later one Halloween she dresses as Hardcore Kelli who is superhero who seeks justice for women and children. Katy embraces this persona and turns to fighting again, only this time it is in pursuit of vengeance.

For such a short book it does an excellent job of delving into the dynamics of what makes women want to fight. This quick read really punched me in the gut.

Thanks to Cemetary Dance who provided me a copy for an honest review.

[Willard Lawson Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katy is hardcore. From boxing, stripping and bartending, she's done it all, seen it all and has honestly had enough.

After an incident at work, Katy moves back home and is reunited with her mom and little sister who she hasn't seen in many years.

During a night of trick r treating dressed as her little sister's favorite comic book character, there are a couple mishaps and then...

"BANG!"
"SLASH!"
"SWOOSH"

You are suddenly reminded, "you're in Wrath James White's world, b1tch!"

God, this book was a lot of fun! If you like superheroes, action and gore, HARDCORE KELLI is for you!

[SpareTheBS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is an auto-buy for me.

Loved this book. Short yet you didn’t feel like you got screwed by the ending. I’ve become a huge fan of Mr. Wrath James White and am starting to collect all his book. His writing style might not be for everyone but if you’re into extreme WTF kinda horror, check him out!

Don’t want to say to much because it’s super short but you’ll find yourself rooting for this crazed super hero.

Still cracking up at the name “Jiggle Joint”

[stwdscrwdntat2d · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book pop up in my recs from Amazon and was pleasantly surprised. I went in blind and was thrown a few times about what was happening. Its a short book so I dont want to give any spoilers but I would definitely recommend reading.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody interesting novella of revenge. Recommended

[Melissa Bastek · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review published on Horror Obsessive

https://horrorobsessive.com/2022/05/0...

[Ryuk Yagami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrath James White is the best!

[Weinlachgummi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurz aber gut hätte gerne mehr über Hardcore Kelli gelesen ^^

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

a disgraced boxer returns home and becomes some kind of super hero that carries a huge battle axe. Gory, violent, and most of all loved the artwork.

[AmsayEadsrayEverythingyay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great mixture of splatterpunk and superhero!

[Sheena Forsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Hardcore Kelli rose from the floor. They needed her help, and that’s what heroes did. They helped the weak and innocent. Hardcore Kelli was neither weak nor innocent. What she was, was pissed off’”

Katy is a former boxer down on her luck; we’re talking no options but to work as a stripper who sometimes gives handjobs.
One particular bad evening sees Katy killing a patron who tries to assault her, and she now has nowhere to go but to a home she hasn’t been to for years. Once there, she starts to form a bond with her younger sister, Samantha, who’s a fan of a certain comic book series (Hardcore Kelli) and is ecstatic to have Katy back so they can form a sisterly bond. Katy also happens to be a sexual assault survivor and relates just a little bit too much to Hardcore Kelli when asked to dress up like her for Halloween. Katy/Kelli is about to bring justice, and an axe.. and sometimes the two amount to the very same thing.

A full on pedal to the metal & high octane story dealing with sexual assault & mental illness. One can’t help but feel for Katy/Hardcore Kelli in spite of the more troubling aspects of her personality. This is a character who carries a heavy burden and struggling to deal with her traumatic past to the point where there’s a disconnect between her and reality itself. This is a person who under the wrong stressors (e.g. someone abducting girls in the area) starts to see potential enemies everywhere and who’ll end up bringing karma on roids to those she deems deserving.

I enjoyed this story a lot. Merging themes of mental illness, SA, and drug abuse with extreme horror and a superhero arc is not an easy job to get right; but White does it well. It doesn’t come across as exploitative but as an ultimately refreshing tale. If I had to liken it to anything, I’d point out that it reminded me a little bit of My heart is a Chainsaw, albeit faster paced & more violent. Well worth a read.