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The Modern Prometheus: An Existential Body Horror Novel
Peter Murphy, a college professor and family man, has lost everything. Following a tragic series of events, he awakens to discover that parts of his body have been replaced with parts from corpses, and his creator is not giving him all the answers he needs. With little to lose, Peter begins an odyssey to reclaim his old life and come to terms with his new one. Finding a world that has long since moved on without him, he descends into destructive madness, leaving blood and death wherever he goes.
THE MODERN PROMETHEUS is a 300 page “existential body horror” novel about a man reanimated from death, and discovers horrific truths about the nature of his death that will bring about a crescendo of violence and catastrophe.
THE MODERN PROMETHEUS is a 300 page “existential body horror” novel about a man reanimated from death, and discovers horrific truths about the nature of his death that will bring about a crescendo of violence and catastrophe.
209 pages, Unknown Binding
First published April 24, 2022
36 people are currently reading
1078 people want to read
About the author
Jayson Robert Ducharme
12 books131 followersNew Hampshire native.
Russian, Modernist, American Literature.
Cats.
Writes contemporary American Gothic fiction mixed with drama, romance, suspense.
Subscribe to my Newsletter for updates on promotions, giveaways, and future releases at www.jaysonrobertducharme.com
Instagram: americanhorrorfiction_author
Russian, Modernist, American Literature.
Cats.
Writes contemporary American Gothic fiction mixed with drama, romance, suspense.
Subscribe to my Newsletter for updates on promotions, giveaways, and future releases at www.jaysonrobertducharme.com
Instagram: americanhorrorfiction_author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 11, 2025
When I read Lisa Vasquez's 'Unfleshed: Tale of the Autopsic Bride," I thought I had gotten my fill of amazing updates to Frankenstein lore. But, after reading several other Ducharme books and immensely enjoying them, I had to try this out, and boy am I glad that I did. This is an absolutely personal, visceral, and heart-wrenching modern spin. There was nothing that I didn't adore about the evolution of Peter, watching him become more monster than man. The process was done in an amazing way and had me constantly unsure of whether to cheer or fear Peter. And then the plight of his poor, remaining family members, his creator, and everyone else affected by his resurrection was just exceptional. Everyone had superb depth and relevance, keeping your attention from start to finish. At no point did the body count or degree of violence and gore feel unnecessary, and never became as important as the characters themselves. But again, it all flowed perfectly and came together for one powerful reimagining. And the directions that the author took this story in was just so unexpected, yet oh so appreciated, that I can't fully express how excited this all made me as a horror fan. Attention all horror fanatics....drop whatever you're doing and get this book now!
April 26, 2022
Grief and Body Horror Done Right
Imagine waking up, not realizing you've died. Imagine not remembering the circumstances surrounding your death. Imagine coming to the understanding that your body has been stitched together with the cadaverous remains of multiple human beings as one deranged scientist's experiment. Welcome to Peter Murphy's second chance at life, but its not all its cracked up to be.
Peter escapes his basement prison in a quest for answers, and he gets way more than he bargained for. The more he finds out about what happened, the more desperate he becomes to reunite with his surviving family. When his quest morphs into one of vengeance and revenge, Peter forces his ailing body and mind to a point previously unthinkable.
Ducharme does an excellent job at describing grief and loss, the anguish one feels at not understanding, the unique pain of fighting against things beyond one's control. Throughout this book there are truly poignant moments that juxtapose perfectly with the various grotesqueries that are described with disgusting detail. This novel is packed with backstory, heart, action, gore, sadness, violence, regret... all the trappings that make for a great horror novel. My only criticism would be that some passages felt a little drawn out, but I suspect that was because I was itching to get back to the action that did not ever disappoint.
Imagine waking up, not realizing you've died. Imagine not remembering the circumstances surrounding your death. Imagine coming to the understanding that your body has been stitched together with the cadaverous remains of multiple human beings as one deranged scientist's experiment. Welcome to Peter Murphy's second chance at life, but its not all its cracked up to be.
Peter escapes his basement prison in a quest for answers, and he gets way more than he bargained for. The more he finds out about what happened, the more desperate he becomes to reunite with his surviving family. When his quest morphs into one of vengeance and revenge, Peter forces his ailing body and mind to a point previously unthinkable.
Ducharme does an excellent job at describing grief and loss, the anguish one feels at not understanding, the unique pain of fighting against things beyond one's control. Throughout this book there are truly poignant moments that juxtapose perfectly with the various grotesqueries that are described with disgusting detail. This novel is packed with backstory, heart, action, gore, sadness, violence, regret... all the trappings that make for a great horror novel. My only criticism would be that some passages felt a little drawn out, but I suspect that was because I was itching to get back to the action that did not ever disappoint.
May 15, 2022
Very original plot and protagonist. Cross between Science Fiction and Fantasy. Not my genre but read a good review and got it free from Amazon on date of publication. Kindle worthy, but not my style.
April 24, 2022
**Minor early-book spoilers; read this review at your own peril.**
There are some things worse than death. It's easy to forget that, stumbling through a quiet American life. But this brilliant debut novel from Jayson Robert Ducharme - whose novellas have become a cult sensation in the indie horror community - smashes that fact in your face over and over again, with a blunt force trauma that left me reeling.
The story follows Peter, who awakens in a basement laboratory to learn he has been revived after dying in a horrible car accident. Yet not all of his body is his own, and the man who performed the experiment to bring him back seems to have done so without any forethought of the consequences of his actions, leaving Peter to figure out on his own both who and what he is in his new second life as a walking corpse: how to navigate relationships with a family who doesn't believe he exists anymore, or cope with the tragic circumstances of his demise and the demise of his son who died in the car crash with him, or deal with the "changes" rapidly taking over his stitched-together body and mind -- not all of them good.
I won't synopsize further than that, because I don't want to give away what ends up being both an extremely unpredictable and satisfying story. I will say I had NO idea where it was going. The buildup of tension and the payoff it led to were a rollercoaster. I don't remember the last time a novel broke my heart this way. I grew to deeply care about Peter and his family over the course of this book.
That is the most powerful element of this novel, the human. It succeeds as both a thriller and a character study, because of its characters. There are a few truly horrifying moments (the teeth part was the one that got me, though there were many others). If I had to file one very minor complaint, it would be that there were times in the middle of the book I felt that certain paragraphs and sentences could have been economized better, and that this slowed the pacing down enough to be noticeable. Other than that, I could not put it down, and finished it in less than a week. I am usually a somewhat slow reader, so this was fast for me.
I give "The Modern Prometheus" my highest recommendation for any reader with a strong stomach... and constitution. You're going to need it. This story will wreck you.
*Edit: forgot to mention how much I LOVE the cover art for this book. Scary stuff. My wife would turn the book face-down every time she came in the room and saw it lying on the table because it creeped her out so much. Success!
There are some things worse than death. It's easy to forget that, stumbling through a quiet American life. But this brilliant debut novel from Jayson Robert Ducharme - whose novellas have become a cult sensation in the indie horror community - smashes that fact in your face over and over again, with a blunt force trauma that left me reeling.
The story follows Peter, who awakens in a basement laboratory to learn he has been revived after dying in a horrible car accident. Yet not all of his body is his own, and the man who performed the experiment to bring him back seems to have done so without any forethought of the consequences of his actions, leaving Peter to figure out on his own both who and what he is in his new second life as a walking corpse: how to navigate relationships with a family who doesn't believe he exists anymore, or cope with the tragic circumstances of his demise and the demise of his son who died in the car crash with him, or deal with the "changes" rapidly taking over his stitched-together body and mind -- not all of them good.
I won't synopsize further than that, because I don't want to give away what ends up being both an extremely unpredictable and satisfying story. I will say I had NO idea where it was going. The buildup of tension and the payoff it led to were a rollercoaster. I don't remember the last time a novel broke my heart this way. I grew to deeply care about Peter and his family over the course of this book.
That is the most powerful element of this novel, the human. It succeeds as both a thriller and a character study, because of its characters. There are a few truly horrifying moments (the teeth part was the one that got me, though there were many others). If I had to file one very minor complaint, it would be that there were times in the middle of the book I felt that certain paragraphs and sentences could have been economized better, and that this slowed the pacing down enough to be noticeable. Other than that, I could not put it down, and finished it in less than a week. I am usually a somewhat slow reader, so this was fast for me.
I give "The Modern Prometheus" my highest recommendation for any reader with a strong stomach... and constitution. You're going to need it. This story will wreck you.
*Edit: forgot to mention how much I LOVE the cover art for this book. Scary stuff. My wife would turn the book face-down every time she came in the room and saw it lying on the table because it creeped her out so much. Success!
April 26, 2022
It seems like lately I have been reading a lot of retellings of modern classics. Some are great, some not so much. This one, a retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, is one of the great ones.
Peter Murphy wakes up with no memory of where he is or how he got there. He can't move, can't talk, can barely see. Consciousness comes in waves. Sometimes a mysterious shadowy figure leans over him. A voice fades in and out, a voice determined to save Peter--but from what?
As days pass, Peter becomes more alert, more coherent. He assumes at first that he's in a hospital but quickly realizes the bare concrete walls that surround him don't belong to any such respectable institution.
Peter has memories which float to the surface and then drop back down again. He remembers enough to know that he has a wife, a daughter, a son. Finally the shadowy figure resolves itself into the face of a worried young man, a man who holds Peter's life in his hands, a man who has done terrible things in the name of research and the quest to conquer death. A young man who has been playing God.
Peter is Peter, but he's also someone else. Not all the parts of his body are his, and all of the parts--his own included--were once dead. As his brain wraps itself around the truth of his existence, we follow along with him on his journey to discover who--or what-- he is in this strange new reality. His family think they're hallucinating when they see him. Strangers are afraid of him. His new body, once detached from the machines which kept him alive, quickly begins to deteriorate. Shunned by everyone he comes into contact with, Peter is pushed to the edge of sanity. His love for his family mutates into a twisted desire for revenge. Terrible things will happen when a man has nothing left to lose.
At turns horrific, psychological, and philosophical, this book takes the reader on a journey into the dark corners of the human mind and shows what happens when two men--a willing doctor and an unwilling experiment--will do whatever it takes to quell their own fears, no matter how much collateral damage is strewn in their wake.
Another stunning offering from Jayson Robert Ducharme!
Peter Murphy wakes up with no memory of where he is or how he got there. He can't move, can't talk, can barely see. Consciousness comes in waves. Sometimes a mysterious shadowy figure leans over him. A voice fades in and out, a voice determined to save Peter--but from what?
As days pass, Peter becomes more alert, more coherent. He assumes at first that he's in a hospital but quickly realizes the bare concrete walls that surround him don't belong to any such respectable institution.
Peter has memories which float to the surface and then drop back down again. He remembers enough to know that he has a wife, a daughter, a son. Finally the shadowy figure resolves itself into the face of a worried young man, a man who holds Peter's life in his hands, a man who has done terrible things in the name of research and the quest to conquer death. A young man who has been playing God.
Peter is Peter, but he's also someone else. Not all the parts of his body are his, and all of the parts--his own included--were once dead. As his brain wraps itself around the truth of his existence, we follow along with him on his journey to discover who--or what-- he is in this strange new reality. His family think they're hallucinating when they see him. Strangers are afraid of him. His new body, once detached from the machines which kept him alive, quickly begins to deteriorate. Shunned by everyone he comes into contact with, Peter is pushed to the edge of sanity. His love for his family mutates into a twisted desire for revenge. Terrible things will happen when a man has nothing left to lose.
At turns horrific, psychological, and philosophical, this book takes the reader on a journey into the dark corners of the human mind and shows what happens when two men--a willing doctor and an unwilling experiment--will do whatever it takes to quell their own fears, no matter how much collateral damage is strewn in their wake.
Another stunning offering from Jayson Robert Ducharme!
April 16, 2022
Lovers of Frankenstein rejoice! We have a new spin on the old tale being set in modern times and from the point of view of the monster. THE MODERN PROMETHEUS by Jayson Robert Ducharme.
This book haunted me when I wasn’t reading it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it as it was so engaging. It is truly different from Frankenstein but similar enough to make a worthy companion. You do not need to have read Frankenstein or really even know the original story to appreciate this book.
This is a cerebral horror story with a dash of philosophy. It makes you think but it is not over the top. Mainly it is a creature feature and has the gore to go with it. Parts had my stomach churning and parts had my brain seething with anger.
If you know Mary Shelley’s classic story, then you know the real question is -Who is the monster? The creator or the created? That is not ambiguous by the end of this book as it was in Frankenstein
This book haunted me when I wasn’t reading it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it as it was so engaging. It is truly different from Frankenstein but similar enough to make a worthy companion. You do not need to have read Frankenstein or really even know the original story to appreciate this book.
This is a cerebral horror story with a dash of philosophy. It makes you think but it is not over the top. Mainly it is a creature feature and has the gore to go with it. Parts had my stomach churning and parts had my brain seething with anger.
If you know Mary Shelley’s classic story, then you know the real question is -Who is the monster? The creator or the created? That is not ambiguous by the end of this book as it was in Frankenstein
April 24, 2022
“You’re back, Peter,” that voice said, clearer now than before.
“Magnificent.”
May 17th, 2021 was Peter Murphy’s second birthday.
🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼
The Modern Prometheus by Jayson Robert Ducharme is a beautifully horrific tale of a man who wakes up to his own hell on earth. How did he get here? Why do parts of his body feel foreign to him? Where is his family? Who is that shadowy figure standing over him?
Peter unravels the tragic answers to his questions bit by bit over the course of his story. As he finds answers, more questions surface, and it seems as if he’ll never fully understand what has happened to him.
When one finds themselves in a distressing situation, they typically have two choices: accept their heartache and take steps to move toward betterment, or embrace the rage and wreak havoc on anyone and anything that stands in their way while seeking justice (or revenge). Peter faces this dilemma head-on, often questioning his own motives as each new chapter unfolds.
This story flows effortlessly between multiple perspectives, presenting the harrowing details and exposing the most intimate thoughts and feelings of each character.
I was blown away by how deeply these circumstances affected me. At times, I gasped in horror. I found myself weeping over certain circumstances, relating to the heartache while subconsciously placing myself in the character’s shoes.
This was not the first Ducharme book to grace my shelves and impact my world, and it most definitely will not be the last. The Modern Prometheus has found itself among the top dogs in my book nook. A favorite I will read time and time again.
Thank you, Jayson, for this captivating story, and for trusting me to sing its praises from my little corner of the book world.
Publishing date: Tuesday, April 26th, 2022. Grab a copy and lose yourself for a while. It’s a ride worth taking! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
“Magnificent.”
May 17th, 2021 was Peter Murphy’s second birthday.
🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼🥼
The Modern Prometheus by Jayson Robert Ducharme is a beautifully horrific tale of a man who wakes up to his own hell on earth. How did he get here? Why do parts of his body feel foreign to him? Where is his family? Who is that shadowy figure standing over him?
Peter unravels the tragic answers to his questions bit by bit over the course of his story. As he finds answers, more questions surface, and it seems as if he’ll never fully understand what has happened to him.
When one finds themselves in a distressing situation, they typically have two choices: accept their heartache and take steps to move toward betterment, or embrace the rage and wreak havoc on anyone and anything that stands in their way while seeking justice (or revenge). Peter faces this dilemma head-on, often questioning his own motives as each new chapter unfolds.
This story flows effortlessly between multiple perspectives, presenting the harrowing details and exposing the most intimate thoughts and feelings of each character.
I was blown away by how deeply these circumstances affected me. At times, I gasped in horror. I found myself weeping over certain circumstances, relating to the heartache while subconsciously placing myself in the character’s shoes.
This was not the first Ducharme book to grace my shelves and impact my world, and it most definitely will not be the last. The Modern Prometheus has found itself among the top dogs in my book nook. A favorite I will read time and time again.
Thank you, Jayson, for this captivating story, and for trusting me to sing its praises from my little corner of the book world.
Publishing date: Tuesday, April 26th, 2022. Grab a copy and lose yourself for a while. It’s a ride worth taking! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
April 15, 2022
They say your whole life flashes before your eyes right before your eternal rest.
May 17, 2021 was Peter Murphy’s second birthday.He got a brand new life, one he never asked for, and a brand new body. A body made from others.
Reborn in a decrepit cellar with a putrid stench permeating the room. A new Peter. Something that should not exist.
What follows is the journey of a creation falling apart and trying to figure out what happened to him and his family, while piecing together the parts of this broken life puzzle.
A modern Frankenstein; a twisted retelling of the man who is forced to live again, only to discover that some things are better left resting in urns or under tombstones.
Will he embrace his new life? Balance monster and man within? Or will he descend in a downward spiral to destruction for him and others around him?
For Peter was given existence, and he created essence.
Jayson Robert Ducharme was once again awesome enough to send me a copy of his latest novel 'The Modern Prometheus',for review. (Available on Amazon on April 26th)
Having read the full back catalog of the author's fantastic novellas, I was more than excited to dive into this one.
A full length novel with space enough for the author to fully flex his amazing storytelling craftsmanship and character building abilities.
The relationship between creation and maker and the mindset of each character is fully portrayed in such a way that you cannot but wonder 'what would I do if I was in their position?'.
The story is dark and keeps building up beautifully until the climax on a dramatic, stab in the gut, heartbreaking finale.
The author injects horror in the actions of the characters and their tragic nature creating a cinematic, suspenseful thrill-ride that keeps you reading religiously and even raises philosophical questions.
Some authors have the rare quality to continously deliver fantastic books.
Jayson Robert Ducharme is a prime example.
Keep an eye on this author. He does amazing things through the pages of his books.
May 17, 2021 was Peter Murphy’s second birthday.He got a brand new life, one he never asked for, and a brand new body. A body made from others.
Reborn in a decrepit cellar with a putrid stench permeating the room. A new Peter. Something that should not exist.
What follows is the journey of a creation falling apart and trying to figure out what happened to him and his family, while piecing together the parts of this broken life puzzle.
A modern Frankenstein; a twisted retelling of the man who is forced to live again, only to discover that some things are better left resting in urns or under tombstones.
Will he embrace his new life? Balance monster and man within? Or will he descend in a downward spiral to destruction for him and others around him?
For Peter was given existence, and he created essence.
Jayson Robert Ducharme was once again awesome enough to send me a copy of his latest novel 'The Modern Prometheus',for review. (Available on Amazon on April 26th)
Having read the full back catalog of the author's fantastic novellas, I was more than excited to dive into this one.
A full length novel with space enough for the author to fully flex his amazing storytelling craftsmanship and character building abilities.
The relationship between creation and maker and the mindset of each character is fully portrayed in such a way that you cannot but wonder 'what would I do if I was in their position?'.
The story is dark and keeps building up beautifully until the climax on a dramatic, stab in the gut, heartbreaking finale.
The author injects horror in the actions of the characters and their tragic nature creating a cinematic, suspenseful thrill-ride that keeps you reading religiously and even raises philosophical questions.
Some authors have the rare quality to continously deliver fantastic books.
Jayson Robert Ducharme is a prime example.
Keep an eye on this author. He does amazing things through the pages of his books.
January 22, 2023
3.5 out of 5 stars.
I am a big fan of 'Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus' by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, which I think is nothing less than a written piece of art,
this story is obviously inspired by that, and I respect how the author based this (like the original) more in the 'monsters' mindset, as apposed to a mindless zombie type story.
The writing was good, easy to read, but I had trouble connecting to the characters, which made it hard for me to care about them.
All in all this is a very enjoyable and respectable read
I am a big fan of 'Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus' by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, which I think is nothing less than a written piece of art,
this story is obviously inspired by that, and I respect how the author based this (like the original) more in the 'monsters' mindset, as apposed to a mindless zombie type story.
The writing was good, easy to read, but I had trouble connecting to the characters, which made it hard for me to care about them.
All in all this is a very enjoyable and respectable read
April 15, 2022
Jayson’s work is quickly becoming some of my favorite on the shelf. I was blown away by this really wonderful story that felt like a wholly new creation in the vein of a classic. Refreshing and terrifying. The attention to detail is outstanding and Ducharme’s inception and development of characters makes me feel immersed in a way few authors can. I’m a big fan of this one and cannot wait for you all to read it when it drops on April 26th!!
December 27, 2024
I’ve had this book on my Kindle for far too long. Featuring a stunning cover by Francois Vaillancourt, it was released only a few months after my own novel ‘Mastodon’ was released, which also has a Francois cover. Because of that, I was excited to see all of the other books that Francois’ artwork was adorning – and I still am to this day – which meant, I snagged this one when it was released… and it languished on my TBR ever since. Over and over, other readers whom I chat with books about a bunch kept telling me to give this one a go, and when I saw it coming up on the top of my TBR I was excited to dive into this.
Going in, I decided to not re-read the synopsis, instead wanting to be surprised and fresh.
What I liked: The story follows a man, who awakens in a strange place. He’s hooked up to machines, body feeling odd and off, and as he comes to, he begins to remember that his name was Peter. His life and memories slowly return, but one of the hands is not his own, instead a woman’s hand. He’s scarred, stapled and stitched and when the person who brought him back to life arrives, he manages to escape.
It’s evident that this is influenced by Shelley’s genre-creating classic, but parts of this also reminded me of M. Shaw’s ‘One Hand to Hold, One Hand to Carve.’ This ‘who am I’ mentality with the ‘what of me still exists.’ It makes for some really intriguing and claustrophobic moral dilemma’s. Peter knows who he was, but he’s not that man anymore. He sees this at his gravesite. He sees it when he returns to his home and runs into his wife.
But all the while he continues to change, to transform and when the end arrives, he understands he’s no longer Peter and he questions what his life will be like going forward. It’s got shades of what Tim McGregor’s ‘Eynhallow’ presented within it’s pages as well.
Ducharme gives us a lot of questions, but also presents a variation of possible answers, which worked perfectly to give us both a very solid fictional story, but also one that walks that line of bringing the fictional world into every readers real lives.
What I didn’t like: I really wanted to love this book, but the reality was, it was good, not great. Compared to Shaw and McGregor’s books, this one got close to the elevated ideas and delivery, but didn’t completely deliver when all was said and done.
Why you should buy this: Purely for what I said at the end of a previous section of this review, this novel worked so well to make the reader uncomfortable while reading it, but also to really force the reader to ask themselves what would they do while in that position in their real lives.
The story gallops along, the emotions are high and the introduction of accessory characters really gives this an extra depth.
Overall, it was a really solid and engaging read, and fits that bit nicely for a reader looking for a novel that’ll make them squirm but also want to hold their loved ones close. And this was does that fantastically.
Going in, I decided to not re-read the synopsis, instead wanting to be surprised and fresh.
What I liked: The story follows a man, who awakens in a strange place. He’s hooked up to machines, body feeling odd and off, and as he comes to, he begins to remember that his name was Peter. His life and memories slowly return, but one of the hands is not his own, instead a woman’s hand. He’s scarred, stapled and stitched and when the person who brought him back to life arrives, he manages to escape.
It’s evident that this is influenced by Shelley’s genre-creating classic, but parts of this also reminded me of M. Shaw’s ‘One Hand to Hold, One Hand to Carve.’ This ‘who am I’ mentality with the ‘what of me still exists.’ It makes for some really intriguing and claustrophobic moral dilemma’s. Peter knows who he was, but he’s not that man anymore. He sees this at his gravesite. He sees it when he returns to his home and runs into his wife.
But all the while he continues to change, to transform and when the end arrives, he understands he’s no longer Peter and he questions what his life will be like going forward. It’s got shades of what Tim McGregor’s ‘Eynhallow’ presented within it’s pages as well.
Ducharme gives us a lot of questions, but also presents a variation of possible answers, which worked perfectly to give us both a very solid fictional story, but also one that walks that line of bringing the fictional world into every readers real lives.
What I didn’t like: I really wanted to love this book, but the reality was, it was good, not great. Compared to Shaw and McGregor’s books, this one got close to the elevated ideas and delivery, but didn’t completely deliver when all was said and done.
Why you should buy this: Purely for what I said at the end of a previous section of this review, this novel worked so well to make the reader uncomfortable while reading it, but also to really force the reader to ask themselves what would they do while in that position in their real lives.
The story gallops along, the emotions are high and the introduction of accessory characters really gives this an extra depth.
Overall, it was a really solid and engaging read, and fits that bit nicely for a reader looking for a novel that’ll make them squirm but also want to hold their loved ones close. And this was does that fantastically.
November 30, 2022
I have read everything Ducharme has written and believe me when I say that he never disappoints. He is a wizard that draws you in with his amazing storytelling. I was completely and utterly enthralled from the beginning to the end. He has a way of evoking feelings of grief and loss that is impeccable. I love that his stories always have a heart and he makes you feel connected to the characters. The first person narrative makes it so personal. Being inside Peter's head and getting to know him through his memories, thoughts and feelings was just amazing and gave me goosebumps.
Being there with him as he was transformed from a man to a monster was very well executed. I could feel his struggle and his pain fighting against things he couldn't control. I really enjoyed the philosophical discussion about existens and right and wrong that we got to be a part of in Peter's monologues. I also appreciated that Ducharme took Peter's family in consideration and showed us how they were affected from his resurrection. That twist though.
This story made me think about a quote from Hjalmar Söderbergs Doktor Glas "We want to be loved; failing that, admired; failing that, feared; failing that, hated and despised. At all costs we want to stir up some sort of feeling in others. Our soul abhors a vacuum. At all costs it longs for contact."
4.5 stars
Being there with him as he was transformed from a man to a monster was very well executed. I could feel his struggle and his pain fighting against things he couldn't control. I really enjoyed the philosophical discussion about existens and right and wrong that we got to be a part of in Peter's monologues. I also appreciated that Ducharme took Peter's family in consideration and showed us how they were affected from his resurrection. That twist though.
This story made me think about a quote from Hjalmar Söderbergs Doktor Glas "We want to be loved; failing that, admired; failing that, feared; failing that, hated and despised. At all costs we want to stir up some sort of feeling in others. Our soul abhors a vacuum. At all costs it longs for contact."
4.5 stars
April 26, 2022
Jayson Robert Ducharme returns to what he does best --- the gothic tale --- in his unrelenting debut novel, The Modern Prometheus. It is not a retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus, but rather an entirely new story which shares the traditional theme of re-animation.
For many first-time novelists, their book ends up being a ghastly experiment not unlike a Frankenstein’s monster in itself—a book which reads like an assemblage of other author’s works and styles. However, it must here be said that Ducharme’s prose style is his own. It is stripped down, highly effective, and utilizes a narration solely based upon its character’s emotions, perceptions, and philosophies.
Side note: avid readers of Ducharme will find much to appreciate here, including characters which harken back to his 2020 novella, Ceremony of Ashes—a pleasing ‘easter egg’ for fellow fans.
Here’s what I believe Ducharme does best (both in this novel, as well as his previous excellent novellas Come Forth in Thaw and Alyssa’s Melody)—he creates believable characters the reader cannot help but relate to and deeply sympathize with.
Very skillfully, the author weaves character history into the tale without it becoming an ‘information dump’ for the reader. Each character is drawn with multiple dimensions and depth—and this makes us reel back in shock, or cringe in anticipation, whenever we feel something potentially disastrous might befall someone we are rooting for.
NOTE: Spoilers ahead. While nothing too detailed is given away in this review, but don’t read on if you’d like to go in blindly.
One of the most interesting aspects of The Modern Prometheus is when our Creature (formerly family man and academic Peter Murphy) begins to suffer from what I like to call “post-mortem complications”. Brought into the world by our ‘mad-scientist’ (Jacob Abbott), the Creature develops horrible skin rashes and random bleeding as his cells begin to decay. This is soon followed by other curious mental and physical maladies, which I won’t give away.
Suffice it to say, there is much opportunity for existential philosophy regarding human reanimation. Ducharme does not waste such an opportunity.
Now, what didn’t I like about this book? There are a few scenes where I felt a false chord was struck. This means, essentially, something in the description or telling of the tale didn’t ring true for me. There are only a few of these in the book, however, and they are truly minor.
Now, the conclusion of this gothic tale is a matter of subjective taste (as is the whole of any review, of course). Without doubt, this novel is a tragedy. Perhaps rightfully so. Overstepping the bounds of nature, coupled with outright revenge, will inevitably result in disaster! However, the danger in writing a tragic ending is creating an unsatisfying feeling in the reader once they’ve turned the last page. It’s fine to leave a reader unsettled—and in this genre of literature, it is best to do so. But unsatisfied is a different aspect, and it’s how I felt upon finishing this book.
I believe, all in all, this is a solid debut novel from Ducharme, but that he has yet to pen his magnum opus. I have little doubt that in future, his readers will be treated with such a creation, and it will be more ghastly, debauched, and heartfelt than anything we’ve read of this promising writer thus far. Certainly, he has already gifted us several fantastic creations, including this novel.
I highly recommend The Modern Prometheus for those who appreciate tragic tales, fully realized characters, and are fond of the themes in M. Shelley’s classic novel.
For many first-time novelists, their book ends up being a ghastly experiment not unlike a Frankenstein’s monster in itself—a book which reads like an assemblage of other author’s works and styles. However, it must here be said that Ducharme’s prose style is his own. It is stripped down, highly effective, and utilizes a narration solely based upon its character’s emotions, perceptions, and philosophies.
Side note: avid readers of Ducharme will find much to appreciate here, including characters which harken back to his 2020 novella, Ceremony of Ashes—a pleasing ‘easter egg’ for fellow fans.
Here’s what I believe Ducharme does best (both in this novel, as well as his previous excellent novellas Come Forth in Thaw and Alyssa’s Melody)—he creates believable characters the reader cannot help but relate to and deeply sympathize with.
Very skillfully, the author weaves character history into the tale without it becoming an ‘information dump’ for the reader. Each character is drawn with multiple dimensions and depth—and this makes us reel back in shock, or cringe in anticipation, whenever we feel something potentially disastrous might befall someone we are rooting for.
NOTE: Spoilers ahead. While nothing too detailed is given away in this review, but don’t read on if you’d like to go in blindly.
One of the most interesting aspects of The Modern Prometheus is when our Creature (formerly family man and academic Peter Murphy) begins to suffer from what I like to call “post-mortem complications”. Brought into the world by our ‘mad-scientist’ (Jacob Abbott), the Creature develops horrible skin rashes and random bleeding as his cells begin to decay. This is soon followed by other curious mental and physical maladies, which I won’t give away.
Suffice it to say, there is much opportunity for existential philosophy regarding human reanimation. Ducharme does not waste such an opportunity.
Now, what didn’t I like about this book? There are a few scenes where I felt a false chord was struck. This means, essentially, something in the description or telling of the tale didn’t ring true for me. There are only a few of these in the book, however, and they are truly minor.
Now, the conclusion of this gothic tale is a matter of subjective taste (as is the whole of any review, of course). Without doubt, this novel is a tragedy. Perhaps rightfully so. Overstepping the bounds of nature, coupled with outright revenge, will inevitably result in disaster! However, the danger in writing a tragic ending is creating an unsatisfying feeling in the reader once they’ve turned the last page. It’s fine to leave a reader unsettled—and in this genre of literature, it is best to do so. But unsatisfied is a different aspect, and it’s how I felt upon finishing this book.
I believe, all in all, this is a solid debut novel from Ducharme, but that he has yet to pen his magnum opus. I have little doubt that in future, his readers will be treated with such a creation, and it will be more ghastly, debauched, and heartfelt than anything we’ve read of this promising writer thus far. Certainly, he has already gifted us several fantastic creations, including this novel.
I highly recommend The Modern Prometheus for those who appreciate tragic tales, fully realized characters, and are fond of the themes in M. Shelley’s classic novel.
April 16, 2022
The Modern Prometheus by Robert Ducharme is the tale of a man reawakened from the dead, and then driven to insanity by the loss and rejection of his loved ones. It not only centers around the monster himself, but also the impact his demise had on his family, and him being but a mere shadow of his former self looking in from the outside.
I really enjoyed Ducharme’s take on the obsessed scientist/ reanimation trope, and found that he brought something new and heartfelt to the table. The story is a mixture of heartbreaking family drama, and gory body horror; which is all wrapped into one fast paced read. The horror elements are well executed, and dark enough to feel the terrible transformation the protagonist is going through.
I want to thank Robert for letting me read his book early, it was a pleasure as always!
I really enjoyed Ducharme’s take on the obsessed scientist/ reanimation trope, and found that he brought something new and heartfelt to the table. The story is a mixture of heartbreaking family drama, and gory body horror; which is all wrapped into one fast paced read. The horror elements are well executed, and dark enough to feel the terrible transformation the protagonist is going through.
I want to thank Robert for letting me read his book early, it was a pleasure as always!
April 29, 2022
Jayson sent me a copy of this book to read before publication (which, as of this writing, is in a little over a week), and first off, I need to say thanks. I would have purchased and read it anyway, but it was nice to get in on the ground floor, as it were.
This novel blew me away. It has everything you might need from a horror story: great characters, an interesting, damn-near apocalyptically heartbreaking story, some nice gore/violence (and yes, we've definitely got some body horror goings-on), great writing, and a story to make you think. What is it to really be alive? To be human? What is life after death? Nice introspection throughout.
This book took a few turns that I wasn't expecting. It also didn't take one turn I WAS expecting, and it's better for not doing it. Overall, this book was fantastic and I'd highly suggest it to any horror fans. Especially those that like anything I mentioned above. Just be warned, it's bleak as hell, and deals with some really tragic things (losing children/family members).
This novel blew me away. It has everything you might need from a horror story: great characters, an interesting, damn-near apocalyptically heartbreaking story, some nice gore/violence (and yes, we've definitely got some body horror goings-on), great writing, and a story to make you think. What is it to really be alive? To be human? What is life after death? Nice introspection throughout.
This book took a few turns that I wasn't expecting. It also didn't take one turn I WAS expecting, and it's better for not doing it. Overall, this book was fantastic and I'd highly suggest it to any horror fans. Especially those that like anything I mentioned above. Just be warned, it's bleak as hell, and deals with some really tragic things (losing children/family members).
May 12, 2022
Um. Wow. So as someone who always liked (but didn't love) the Frankenstein story ..I was apprehensive. This was phenomenal. Body horror in just the right amounts and lots of twists! An excellent read!!
June 9, 2022
Y'all, Jayson is brilliant, a master of the macabre, a fucking genius! This book is amazing, and it's his debut novel?! GTFOH!!!! This novel is a work of art, a modern retelling of our old buddy frankenstein. Horror fans, this is the book for you. It's not for the squeamish or faint of heart. The emotions just pour from the pages and my heart was breaking for Peter Murphy. It's bloody disgusting and I'm here for every bit of it!!! This book has given me a book hangover and I cannot get into anything else! This book drops on April 26th so please check it out. 🖤💀
July 25, 2025
DNFed at 25% It was boring and I could not put myself through the other 75%
June 9, 2023
This book is a masterpiece that blends heartbreak and terror with amazing descriptions of gross body-horror. I’m officially a huge fan of this book and urge horror hounds to read it! Imagine waking up in a body that’s not your own? And then seeking out your family that’s been grieving your death, only to now be seen as a monster in their eyes? It gets very emotional and I really felt for Peter and his family as the POV shifts to his wife and daughter at times. It seems hopeless for Peter and it all goes downhill from there as his mind and body descend into a new nightmarish form that even Jacob his creator has trouble keeping up with.
I loved that it gave me Frankenstein meets Darkman vibes with just a hint of Robocop (waking up in a new body and the “Murphy” name) and I was hooked from beginning to end. Read this if you’re looking for a moving and captivating story that’ll pull at your heartstrings all the while making you squirm in your seat with shocking horror.
I loved that it gave me Frankenstein meets Darkman vibes with just a hint of Robocop (waking up in a new body and the “Murphy” name) and I was hooked from beginning to end. Read this if you’re looking for a moving and captivating story that’ll pull at your heartstrings all the while making you squirm in your seat with shocking horror.
April 19, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this clever take on the Frankenstein story, filled with compelling narrative and suspense. This is a novel in which my feelings toward the characters were constantly shifting from empathy one moment to disgust the next, and then to pity and back to anger toward them again.
Always a fan of body horror, The Modern Prometheus did not disappoint in that department. However, psychological horror fans will also be pleased as the novel is quite cerebral at times, exploring what it means to be human and the nature of memory.
My only minor critique is the pacing felt somewhat slow at times, but the unexpected twists and turns captured my attention again when it was starting to wander. Definitely check out The Modern Prometheus by Jayson Robert Ducharme when it’s released on April 26th if you enjoy intriguing retellings and edge of your seat horror-thrillers.
Thanks again to Jayson for sending me an ARC of this novel! Looking forward to whatever story you come up with next. 😁
Always a fan of body horror, The Modern Prometheus did not disappoint in that department. However, psychological horror fans will also be pleased as the novel is quite cerebral at times, exploring what it means to be human and the nature of memory.
My only minor critique is the pacing felt somewhat slow at times, but the unexpected twists and turns captured my attention again when it was starting to wander. Definitely check out The Modern Prometheus by Jayson Robert Ducharme when it’s released on April 26th if you enjoy intriguing retellings and edge of your seat horror-thrillers.
Thanks again to Jayson for sending me an ARC of this novel! Looking forward to whatever story you come up with next. 😁
February 25, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this, but I must admit I was expecting something different. It’s very well written, but I just felt like the story was perhaps lacking a little something to give it that extra level of spice and push it over the 4 star mark.
A solid read however and there will be people who will love this, so I hope they find it. It just fell a tad short for me in terms of the story.
A solid read however and there will be people who will love this, so I hope they find it. It just fell a tad short for me in terms of the story.
August 11, 2022
My review here: http://hells-library.com/the-modern-p...
CW: Severe body horror, child harm/death, suicide
Genre: Body Horror; Existential Horror
Length: 209 Pages (Kindle Edition)
Publisher: Independently Published
Release date: April 24, 2022
ASIN: B09YR7DFT8
I read this book via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. I am not sponsored.
Back-of-the-book Blurb:
Peter Murphy, a college professor and family man, has lost everything. Following a tragic series of events, he awakens to discover that parts of his body have been replaced with parts from corpses, and his creator is not giving him all the answers he needs. With little to lose, Peter begins an odyssey to reclaim his old life and come to terms with his new one. Finding a world that has long since moved on without him, he descends into destructive madness, leaving blood and death wherever he goes.
THE MODERN PROMETHEUS is a 300 page “existential body horror” novel about a man reanimated from death, and discovers horrific truths about the nature of his death that will bring about a crescendo of violence and catastrophe.
My Review:
Welcome, dear readers, to my first book review! I had the fortune to find quite a gruesome little independently published novel for my first official read.
First, allow me to recommend that you enjoy a delightful penne pasta in alfredo sauce:
https://thedefineddish.com/one-pot-pe...
...and a glass of Witching Hour Chardonnay:
https://www.totalwine.com/wine/white-...
...while you’re reading The Modern Prometheus: An Existential Body Horror Novel by Jayson Robert Ducharme.
Jayson Robert Ducharme, whose previous foray into horror included both After Me, the Great Flood: A Haunted House Novella and Ceremony of Ashes: A Horror Novella about Witchcraft and Vengeance, tackles bringing Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus into the 21st Century with his new novel, The Modern Prometheus: An Existential Body Horror Novel.
Peter Murphy awakes to find himself trapped in a basement, with body parts that don’t belong to him. His creator, Dr. Jacob Abbott, won’t explain how he died, so Peter manages an escape and learns the truth about his death and everything he lost.
Along the way, we see glimpses into the lives that Peter touched and how they’re dealing with their loss – his wife Marjorie’s depression and stint in a mental health facility, his brother Owen’s drinking, and his daughter Erin’s sense of loss.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who are curious about the similarity between this novel and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s Frankenstein. The basic outline is there: a scientist, looking to reverse death, reanimates a composite being that feels isolated from humanity and goes on a rampage. But Ducharme has made his tale a completely novel entity. The reader should go in as a blank slate, without letting Shelley’s work influence how she feels about Ducharme’s novel.
What I loved!
* Ducharme handled the issue of mental health very well. Marjorie reminds me of myself when she struggles with Major Depression, and she takes steps to try to get better. There is no stigma attached to any of the characters as they suffer the stress of their situations.
* The characters are extremely relatable. Peter resurrects with his memories intact and his sense of self still in place, letting the reader feel his anguish at the changes in his world during his death. Dr. Abbot’s conscience nags at him every step of the way once his experiment proves “successful.” Both of these men struggle with a world where they don’t feel wanted. Their mistakes are realistic, and they’re sympathetic enough that, even when they do something wrong, I can understand their reasoning.
* The gore… THE GORE! So much visceral description, so much realistic decay and rot! When I read body horror, I want body horror, and Ducharme delivers.
* I’ve never been to New Hampshire, so I don’t know whether Ducharme is describing real highways and byways, or if he set any of this in a fictitious town, but it doesn’t matter. Either he was describing an area he knows well, or he mapped his own world out ahead of time, because even without knowing the layout, I could feel the passage of time and the type of town, city, or suburban neighborhood the characters drove through. I could see the land spread out before me in my mind. Ducharme did an excellent job with the setting.
What dissatisfies me…
* This is a very fast story, taking place over the course of a few days. The action is rapid, and the book is a page-turner, but when I read the last words, I wondered where the rest of the book was. It presents itself as a novel, but feels more like a novella. I’m one who enjoys a good slow-burn story, so this went a little too fast for me.
How I feel overall.
I loved the book! Good gore, good characters, and lots of existential terror. On balance, I give this novel 4 out of 5 bloody kisses!
CW: Severe body horror, child harm/death, suicide
Genre: Body Horror; Existential Horror
Length: 209 Pages (Kindle Edition)
Publisher: Independently Published
Release date: April 24, 2022
ASIN: B09YR7DFT8
I read this book via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. I am not sponsored.
Back-of-the-book Blurb:
Peter Murphy, a college professor and family man, has lost everything. Following a tragic series of events, he awakens to discover that parts of his body have been replaced with parts from corpses, and his creator is not giving him all the answers he needs. With little to lose, Peter begins an odyssey to reclaim his old life and come to terms with his new one. Finding a world that has long since moved on without him, he descends into destructive madness, leaving blood and death wherever he goes.
THE MODERN PROMETHEUS is a 300 page “existential body horror” novel about a man reanimated from death, and discovers horrific truths about the nature of his death that will bring about a crescendo of violence and catastrophe.
My Review:
Welcome, dear readers, to my first book review! I had the fortune to find quite a gruesome little independently published novel for my first official read.
First, allow me to recommend that you enjoy a delightful penne pasta in alfredo sauce:
https://thedefineddish.com/one-pot-pe...
...and a glass of Witching Hour Chardonnay:
https://www.totalwine.com/wine/white-...
...while you’re reading The Modern Prometheus: An Existential Body Horror Novel by Jayson Robert Ducharme.
Jayson Robert Ducharme, whose previous foray into horror included both After Me, the Great Flood: A Haunted House Novella and Ceremony of Ashes: A Horror Novella about Witchcraft and Vengeance, tackles bringing Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus into the 21st Century with his new novel, The Modern Prometheus: An Existential Body Horror Novel.
Peter Murphy awakes to find himself trapped in a basement, with body parts that don’t belong to him. His creator, Dr. Jacob Abbott, won’t explain how he died, so Peter manages an escape and learns the truth about his death and everything he lost.
Along the way, we see glimpses into the lives that Peter touched and how they’re dealing with their loss – his wife Marjorie’s depression and stint in a mental health facility, his brother Owen’s drinking, and his daughter Erin’s sense of loss.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who are curious about the similarity between this novel and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s Frankenstein. The basic outline is there: a scientist, looking to reverse death, reanimates a composite being that feels isolated from humanity and goes on a rampage. But Ducharme has made his tale a completely novel entity. The reader should go in as a blank slate, without letting Shelley’s work influence how she feels about Ducharme’s novel.
What I loved!
* Ducharme handled the issue of mental health very well. Marjorie reminds me of myself when she struggles with Major Depression, and she takes steps to try to get better. There is no stigma attached to any of the characters as they suffer the stress of their situations.
* The characters are extremely relatable. Peter resurrects with his memories intact and his sense of self still in place, letting the reader feel his anguish at the changes in his world during his death. Dr. Abbot’s conscience nags at him every step of the way once his experiment proves “successful.” Both of these men struggle with a world where they don’t feel wanted. Their mistakes are realistic, and they’re sympathetic enough that, even when they do something wrong, I can understand their reasoning.
* The gore… THE GORE! So much visceral description, so much realistic decay and rot! When I read body horror, I want body horror, and Ducharme delivers.
* I’ve never been to New Hampshire, so I don’t know whether Ducharme is describing real highways and byways, or if he set any of this in a fictitious town, but it doesn’t matter. Either he was describing an area he knows well, or he mapped his own world out ahead of time, because even without knowing the layout, I could feel the passage of time and the type of town, city, or suburban neighborhood the characters drove through. I could see the land spread out before me in my mind. Ducharme did an excellent job with the setting.
What dissatisfies me…
* This is a very fast story, taking place over the course of a few days. The action is rapid, and the book is a page-turner, but when I read the last words, I wondered where the rest of the book was. It presents itself as a novel, but feels more like a novella. I’m one who enjoys a good slow-burn story, so this went a little too fast for me.
How I feel overall.
I loved the book! Good gore, good characters, and lots of existential terror. On balance, I give this novel 4 out of 5 bloody kisses!
Read
June 29, 2023Looking for an intriguing rethinking of Mary W. Shelley’s classic horror tale? Look no further than The Modern Prometheus: An Existential Body Horror written by Jayson Robert Ducharme. The point of view is split between a few characters, with the main POV coming from a teacher and family man named Peter. Peter wakes, unable to recognize parts of his body and without any understanding of how he came to be where he wakes.
Set in modern USA, the reader makes horrifying discoveries along with the characters. There’s body horror. Psychological trauma. Aspects of the thriller. And through it all, the author explores existential reality. When does science cross moral lines? What is the responsibility between a parent/creator and its offspring? Loneliness and human interaction. What makes a person? Their body or their mind? What happens when a mind becomes diseased? Is vengeance justified? (There’s a properly nasty twist here!)
These are explored in this novel, just as they were integral in the 1818 original. Jayson Robert Ducharme shares his appreciation of philosophy through his prose. Please know, however, if you haven’t read the Shelley original (though I highly recommend it!), this is still a thoroughly enjoyable story on its own.
Set in modern USA, the reader makes horrifying discoveries along with the characters. There’s body horror. Psychological trauma. Aspects of the thriller. And through it all, the author explores existential reality. When does science cross moral lines? What is the responsibility between a parent/creator and its offspring? Loneliness and human interaction. What makes a person? Their body or their mind? What happens when a mind becomes diseased? Is vengeance justified? (There’s a properly nasty twist here!)
These are explored in this novel, just as they were integral in the 1818 original. Jayson Robert Ducharme shares his appreciation of philosophy through his prose. Please know, however, if you haven’t read the Shelley original (though I highly recommend it!), this is still a thoroughly enjoyable story on its own.
January 14, 2025
Humans are abstract and find their essence after they are born---their existence precedes their essence, in other words. We are brought into this world, we learn who we are, how we function, what we like, and we try to find purpose for why we were born based on those characteristics."
Jayson’s work is quickly becoming some of my favorite on the shelf. I was blown away by this really wonderful story that felt like a wholly new creation in the vein of a classic. ( Frankenstein).
Set in modern America, the reader makes horrifying discoveries along with the characters. There’s body horror, psychological trauma, and aspects of a thriller. Through it all, the author explores existential reality. When does science cross moral lines? What is the responsibility between a parent/creator and its offspring? Loneliness and human interaction. What makes a person? Their body or their mind? What happens when a mind becomes diseased? Is vengeance justified?
This story is dark and makes you contemplate some pretty serious topics. It pushes right to the final page, leaving you feeling grief, loss and sadness.
This is the third book I’ve read by Ducharme and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark horror.
Jayson’s work is quickly becoming some of my favorite on the shelf. I was blown away by this really wonderful story that felt like a wholly new creation in the vein of a classic. ( Frankenstein).
Set in modern America, the reader makes horrifying discoveries along with the characters. There’s body horror, psychological trauma, and aspects of a thriller. Through it all, the author explores existential reality. When does science cross moral lines? What is the responsibility between a parent/creator and its offspring? Loneliness and human interaction. What makes a person? Their body or their mind? What happens when a mind becomes diseased? Is vengeance justified?
This story is dark and makes you contemplate some pretty serious topics. It pushes right to the final page, leaving you feeling grief, loss and sadness.
This is the third book I’ve read by Ducharme and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark horror.
April 26, 2022
I read my first novella from Jayson a year and a half ago and haven't looked back. I have been anxiously awaiting his first novel.
It did not disappoint.
From the first pages, I was engrossed in this story. Divided into five sections, the author weaves an incredibly creepy and surreal tale. Beginning with Jacob Abbott reanimating Peter Murphy, moving through the journey that he takes as he realizes what has happened to him, finding family and what happens next. This story is dark and makes you contemplate some pretty serious topics. It pushes right to the final pages leaving you feeling grief, loss and sadness. Honestly the ending - on point and perfectly unexpected for me in this jam-packed horror novel. The main thing I love about his stories - they linger and make you keep thinking long after you finish reading them.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves dark horror.
Thanks to the author for sending me a gifted copy of his first novel! As always, it was an absolute pleasure!!!
It did not disappoint.
From the first pages, I was engrossed in this story. Divided into five sections, the author weaves an incredibly creepy and surreal tale. Beginning with Jacob Abbott reanimating Peter Murphy, moving through the journey that he takes as he realizes what has happened to him, finding family and what happens next. This story is dark and makes you contemplate some pretty serious topics. It pushes right to the final pages leaving you feeling grief, loss and sadness. Honestly the ending - on point and perfectly unexpected for me in this jam-packed horror novel. The main thing I love about his stories - they linger and make you keep thinking long after you finish reading them.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves dark horror.
Thanks to the author for sending me a gifted copy of his first novel! As always, it was an absolute pleasure!!!
July 5, 2023
“𝘔𝘢𝘺 17𝘵𝘩, 2021 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘩𝘺’𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺.“
Wow, I seriously loved this one!
Peter Murphy awakes one day following a tragic series of events, to find out that some of his body parts have been replaced. A new eye, a woman’s hand, and skin patches that aren’t his.
Peter, oblivious to what happened, escapes his captors basement and sets off to find his family. Only, things aren’t quite as normal as they used to be.
For being a horror book, this one was surprisingly really emotional, you find yourself rooting for the broken peter hoping he can find some peace after he discovers what happened to him. But after another tragic event, you find yourself rooting against him.
This novel plays with your heartstrings from the beginning chapter to the end. And speaking of end, holy shit, that ending has left me depressed.
Jayson Robert Ducharme has so much talent, which is why I immediately grabbed another one of his books that I hope to get to soon, I cant wait to dive into his work more!
Overall, this gets ✋🏻🦶🏻👁️👃🏻👄/5 dismembered body parts out of 5! (Equates to 5/5 stars!)
Wow, I seriously loved this one!
Peter Murphy awakes one day following a tragic series of events, to find out that some of his body parts have been replaced. A new eye, a woman’s hand, and skin patches that aren’t his.
Peter, oblivious to what happened, escapes his captors basement and sets off to find his family. Only, things aren’t quite as normal as they used to be.
For being a horror book, this one was surprisingly really emotional, you find yourself rooting for the broken peter hoping he can find some peace after he discovers what happened to him. But after another tragic event, you find yourself rooting against him.
This novel plays with your heartstrings from the beginning chapter to the end. And speaking of end, holy shit, that ending has left me depressed.
Jayson Robert Ducharme has so much talent, which is why I immediately grabbed another one of his books that I hope to get to soon, I cant wait to dive into his work more!
Overall, this gets ✋🏻🦶🏻👁️👃🏻👄/5 dismembered body parts out of 5! (Equates to 5/5 stars!)
August 18, 2023
The grief and heartbreak in this book is what really makes it, as well as the IMMACULATE body horror. This is a Frankenstein retelling- but still very original, and SCARY. The message is very similar, that largely being- wtf don't bring back dead people? And then arguably the danger that comes with science, but that's less fun.
Peter Murphy is happy, an academic, proud father and great husband- life is good. Until that is, he dies. Peter wakes up in a dingy basement six months later, only to find that parts of his body have been replaced by those of corpses. Determined to find answers, and longing for his previously content livelihood- Peter begins his search, in a society that has long forgotten him, bringing only death and destruction.
This is such an interesting character study, exploring grief and revenge. We follow Peter for the entirety of the novel, and by the end we're very well acquainted with him- the heartache is real.
Peter Murphy is happy, an academic, proud father and great husband- life is good. Until that is, he dies. Peter wakes up in a dingy basement six months later, only to find that parts of his body have been replaced by those of corpses. Determined to find answers, and longing for his previously content livelihood- Peter begins his search, in a society that has long forgotten him, bringing only death and destruction.
This is such an interesting character study, exploring grief and revenge. We follow Peter for the entirety of the novel, and by the end we're very well acquainted with him- the heartache is real.
December 27, 2023
Wow, a retelling of Frankenstein?! Sign me up! Especially when the best #bookstagrammers of horror recommend it! Thank you to @spooky_booknerd_4ever and @rosedevoursbooks for this! What made this even cooler was chatting with @americanhorrorficton_author while reading it!
Before we chat about the book, let me say this might be one of my favorite covers of all times. It’s amazing in all its detail! Now, the story. I loved that the story is told in POV from our main character “the monster”, Peter. His decline physically and mentally was what propelled me to flip pages. The story is heartbreaking and the grief done so well. His remaining family members and the devastation they have gone through is so raw, realistic, and sad.
For my friends who are squeamish, go forward with caution. Ducharme is very visceral with is writing and you can vividly picture all the body horror. This story is dark, sprinkled with philosophy and so well done. I can’t wait to read more of Ducharme!
Before we chat about the book, let me say this might be one of my favorite covers of all times. It’s amazing in all its detail! Now, the story. I loved that the story is told in POV from our main character “the monster”, Peter. His decline physically and mentally was what propelled me to flip pages. The story is heartbreaking and the grief done so well. His remaining family members and the devastation they have gone through is so raw, realistic, and sad.
For my friends who are squeamish, go forward with caution. Ducharme is very visceral with is writing and you can vividly picture all the body horror. This story is dark, sprinkled with philosophy and so well done. I can’t wait to read more of Ducharme!
July 3, 2023
The premise for this was interesting—I love a good existential horror novel.
However, the way it was done felt didactic and a bit weird. This felt like reading a Philosophy 101 textbook at certain points. For instance, the direct quotes from Jean-Paul Sartre; the existential philosophy blatantly discussed through characters and narration (for example, something like, “In Existentialism, there is no meaning to life. You create your own meaning.”)
Just because existentialism is candidly mentioned, that doesn’t make it an existential book. There were a few things discussed like the existence of god/a creator and free will/making choices. There wasn’t, however, much exploration of Peter’s life purpose (or, “essence,” if we’re using existential terminology).
With all that said, it wasn’t a bad book. And, I’m sure many people will love the Frankenstein vibes going on.
However, the way it was done felt didactic and a bit weird. This felt like reading a Philosophy 101 textbook at certain points. For instance, the direct quotes from Jean-Paul Sartre; the existential philosophy blatantly discussed through characters and narration (for example, something like, “In Existentialism, there is no meaning to life. You create your own meaning.”)
Just because existentialism is candidly mentioned, that doesn’t make it an existential book. There were a few things discussed like the existence of god/a creator and free will/making choices. There wasn’t, however, much exploration of Peter’s life purpose (or, “essence,” if we’re using existential terminology).
With all that said, it wasn’t a bad book. And, I’m sure many people will love the Frankenstein vibes going on.
June 16, 2023
"The glass shattered, cutting his knuckles, and shards cluttered to the floor. He grabbed his face and began pulling on the flesh attached to his skull. 'It's not me! IT'S NOT ME! IT'S NOT! IT'S NOT!'"
I love Frankenstein and this takes that and goes a step past. I was not seeing that twist coming. The ending was tragic and Ducharme held nothing back. The story starts with Peter Murphy slowly waking up and realizing he has a mesh of body parts, some his own, some not. There's also a mystery he desperately needs to solve--while he remembers his wife and daughter, when he thinks of his two year old son, there's a bad feeling.
I don't want to say more, it's best to not know too much before reading this one.
I love Frankenstein and this takes that and goes a step past. I was not seeing that twist coming. The ending was tragic and Ducharme held nothing back. The story starts with Peter Murphy slowly waking up and realizing he has a mesh of body parts, some his own, some not. There's also a mystery he desperately needs to solve--while he remembers his wife and daughter, when he thinks of his two year old son, there's a bad feeling.
I don't want to say more, it's best to not know too much before reading this one.
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