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Apok
Set in 1991 against the prelude to war in Croatia, Apok is a dystopian view of an imperfect world on the brink, as seen through the eyes of the equally imperfect hero sent to save it. For he is the ultimate psychopath, a formidable, soon-to-be-invincible, death machine, an anomaly which science thought impossible yet which religion had always prophesied. Who said the next messiah would be from heaven and that the second coming hasn’t already happened? And what if the battle for humankind’s survival is just about to begin?
Apok is a thought-provoking horror-fantasy, an exhilarating tour de force of forbidden taboos and crippling addiction. It is the stuff of nightmares, a roller coaster ride through the darkest recesses of the human psyche, where demons and monsters from twilight dimensions rip your dreams apart. It takes you through the pain barrier to places none of us want to go but are still curious to explore despite the terror. Apok is about humanity’s failings and how our species is heading for oblivion; it is about one man’s incredible journey and his audacious plan to put things right.
As the plan unfolds, Apok travels through the horrors of a damaged mind and how humankind must first suffer in order to survive. The plan to spread the madness that drives men to do evil things; his mission to wage war on everyone and everything. For his mantra is ‘take no prisoners, dispense death to all and spare no one!’ Apok is the dawn of Hell on Earth ...
Apok is a thought-provoking horror-fantasy, an exhilarating tour de force of forbidden taboos and crippling addiction. It is the stuff of nightmares, a roller coaster ride through the darkest recesses of the human psyche, where demons and monsters from twilight dimensions rip your dreams apart. It takes you through the pain barrier to places none of us want to go but are still curious to explore despite the terror. Apok is about humanity’s failings and how our species is heading for oblivion; it is about one man’s incredible journey and his audacious plan to put things right.
As the plan unfolds, Apok travels through the horrors of a damaged mind and how humankind must first suffer in order to survive. The plan to spread the madness that drives men to do evil things; his mission to wage war on everyone and everything. For his mantra is ‘take no prisoners, dispense death to all and spare no one!’ Apok is the dawn of Hell on Earth ...
244 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 26, 2025
The Prologue to this story was intense, and very involved. It opens a lot of food for thought before we even get into the main story. As we discuss how war, greed and death warped humanities perception. The concept of good vs evil and of course, the unseen puppet master being the guiding hand. A countdown to extinction and one man whose first hand experience with war, the world and darkness. Leading the reader down the rabbit hole, where the question of existence and spiritually come into play.
The narrator reveals his hunger led him to the darkest and most depraved level of some hellish nightmarescape. Known as Jahannam, witnessing every brutal and torturous act possible. Sparking something truly depraved, the narrator has a very Frank Cotton dialogue to them. Like no matter how insane, messed up or disgusting the acts are they witness. They still hunger for more. Adrian doesn't shy away from going into deep and graphic detail of the acts or violence that take place. So the reader gets a visual and very visceral insight into the mind of the narrator. Through this experience the birth of Davo, bringing forth a new level of psychopathy and the ultimate killing machine.
“Killer this vicious is like a drug addict looking for his next fix,” I remember hearing that on an episode of Criminal Minds. This line definitely resonated as I read this brutal story, as Davo speaks about his time in the Croatian army. I do feel like the narrator had a touch of ADHD whether that was intentional or not. It added layers to the story, also made it more human? If that makes sense. As I tend to take an unexpected journey to get to my point of a story. The quirks of the character's personality traits are visible in the way Adrian delivered them in the writing style that he used.
So the story holds a level of complexity within itself, as you read between the lines a bit in certain sections of the dialogue. The way that Davo quotes scripture and of course the scene described with Dan. Carries a deep religious undertone that takes an interesting turn in the way that the end of days is predicted. Questioning how mankind will meet its end or whether it's all actually a new beginning. In which the horrors of war and violence never truly leave a person. Either making or breaking their spirit, but also taking a look into the psyche of those who crave and need violence. In order to fill that deep void within themselves, a whole that will never truly be completed to the point modern society has no place for them. Then it looks at the scopathy of evil, the actions and past deeds that lead to a human being so consumed by darkness. But to hear it explained from the point of view of a psychopath was a little unsettling. I mean, you gotta be a pretty screwed up person to be getting a moral telling off from the person who kills for a living right? Touching on some pretty white knuckle subjects too such as abuse, sexual assault, murder. Adrian wanted to get his point across, to make the reader really consider the arguments being raised. Hell, even raising the question of why the reader themselves finds fascination in such morbid topics. For me I reflect on the Damnation Game by Clive Barker. The chapter involves a pretty graphic game of which bucket contains ‘the ball.’
There is definitely a warped sense of justice to this guy's motives. Almost a little like Rorschach in some aspects. In believing you have to become the devil yourself to control and combat evil. That the only way you can truly become true to your core essence is to be a dark as the void itself. Which is an interesting concept in itself, especially considering his in depth knowledge with regards to aspects of the Bible. The story has a lot of internal monologuing along the way as Adrian sets the stage for Apok’s grand design.
UK or Croatia both seem to hold a level of tension, as Davo said that signals the sign of darker times brewing. The story covers corruption, violence, pre war build up and of course hard topics to swallow. The novel is a slow burner so one of those stories you really need to lock into. Mainly so you do not miss any dialogue crucial to the story development. How far can a good person be pushed before they snap and how long can people be abused then downtrodden before they say.
No more. The book is dialogue heavy but that is because Davo as a character, has a lot to say.
So will you play the game? Choose a victim, choose a weapon and then see what monster hides beneath?
The narrator reveals his hunger led him to the darkest and most depraved level of some hellish nightmarescape. Known as Jahannam, witnessing every brutal and torturous act possible. Sparking something truly depraved, the narrator has a very Frank Cotton dialogue to them. Like no matter how insane, messed up or disgusting the acts are they witness. They still hunger for more. Adrian doesn't shy away from going into deep and graphic detail of the acts or violence that take place. So the reader gets a visual and very visceral insight into the mind of the narrator. Through this experience the birth of Davo, bringing forth a new level of psychopathy and the ultimate killing machine.
“Killer this vicious is like a drug addict looking for his next fix,” I remember hearing that on an episode of Criminal Minds. This line definitely resonated as I read this brutal story, as Davo speaks about his time in the Croatian army. I do feel like the narrator had a touch of ADHD whether that was intentional or not. It added layers to the story, also made it more human? If that makes sense. As I tend to take an unexpected journey to get to my point of a story. The quirks of the character's personality traits are visible in the way Adrian delivered them in the writing style that he used.
So the story holds a level of complexity within itself, as you read between the lines a bit in certain sections of the dialogue. The way that Davo quotes scripture and of course the scene described with Dan. Carries a deep religious undertone that takes an interesting turn in the way that the end of days is predicted. Questioning how mankind will meet its end or whether it's all actually a new beginning. In which the horrors of war and violence never truly leave a person. Either making or breaking their spirit, but also taking a look into the psyche of those who crave and need violence. In order to fill that deep void within themselves, a whole that will never truly be completed to the point modern society has no place for them. Then it looks at the scopathy of evil, the actions and past deeds that lead to a human being so consumed by darkness. But to hear it explained from the point of view of a psychopath was a little unsettling. I mean, you gotta be a pretty screwed up person to be getting a moral telling off from the person who kills for a living right? Touching on some pretty white knuckle subjects too such as abuse, sexual assault, murder. Adrian wanted to get his point across, to make the reader really consider the arguments being raised. Hell, even raising the question of why the reader themselves finds fascination in such morbid topics. For me I reflect on the Damnation Game by Clive Barker. The chapter involves a pretty graphic game of which bucket contains ‘the ball.’
There is definitely a warped sense of justice to this guy's motives. Almost a little like Rorschach in some aspects. In believing you have to become the devil yourself to control and combat evil. That the only way you can truly become true to your core essence is to be a dark as the void itself. Which is an interesting concept in itself, especially considering his in depth knowledge with regards to aspects of the Bible. The story has a lot of internal monologuing along the way as Adrian sets the stage for Apok’s grand design.
UK or Croatia both seem to hold a level of tension, as Davo said that signals the sign of darker times brewing. The story covers corruption, violence, pre war build up and of course hard topics to swallow. The novel is a slow burner so one of those stories you really need to lock into. Mainly so you do not miss any dialogue crucial to the story development. How far can a good person be pushed before they snap and how long can people be abused then downtrodden before they say.
No more. The book is dialogue heavy but that is because Davo as a character, has a lot to say.
So will you play the game? Choose a victim, choose a weapon and then see what monster hides beneath?
January 10, 2023
Apok is gruesome, shocking and deliciously riveting. The way this book embodies the devil as a being living amongst us encapsulates the evil that society is fast becoming. I had constant chills reading this. If you are a true horror fan DO NOT MISS THIS!! Graphic is an understatement. Adrian Lee Baker's ability to write a novel so detailed, politically accessible and timely to multiple is generations is marvellous. Definitely a fantastic debut novel, I can't wait to see what he writes next.
September 23, 2022
‘No prisoners, death to all, and spare no one’ gruesome and gory throughout! Adrian writes very graphically and I found I could visualise the story. Can’t wait for the next book…
August 2, 2025
The prologue in this had me hanging on the edge of my seat. Intense is a good word for that! The author does not shy away from detailed descriptions of brutal, violent acts that make you shiver as you read them from how realistic they feel while you read. The personality of the main character was absolutely incredible. It’s like I knew them personally.
This covers a lot of things within the pages. The deeds of humanity so to speak. Abuse, SA, good and evil this has it all.
This felt like a slow burn to me but it is well worth it at the end. It was impactful how so much can be packed into 200 odd pages
This covers a lot of things within the pages. The deeds of humanity so to speak. Abuse, SA, good and evil this has it all.
This felt like a slow burn to me but it is well worth it at the end. It was impactful how so much can be packed into 200 odd pages
May 14, 2022
This is a must read horror novel. It was written by a horror fan for horror fans. It's got everything you need - fantasy, war, violence, gore, the supernatural, monsters, nightmares, torture - the lot! So give it a go. You won't be disappointed.
September 8, 2025
Apok takes you on a journey into the darkest corners of the human mind. It’s savage, unsettling, but at the same time strangely enlightening. Fans of dystopian horror and psychological thrillers will devour this.
September 8, 2025
A unique masterpiece. Baker’s fearless exploration of taboo, addiction, and prophecy makes Apok one of the boldest horror fantasy novels I’ve read. It reminded me of Barker and King at their most daring.
September 8, 2025
A raw and haunting blend of horror, dystopia, and philosophy. Baker’s storytelling is both terrifying and mesmerizing. The central character is complex, terrifyingly real, and unforgettable.
September 8, 2025
This isn’t just a book it’s an experience. The backdrop of 1991 Croatia adds realism to the chaos, and the psychological depth kept me hooked. Not for the faint of heart, but absolutely brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews