Matthew Stokoe

Honestly, it's not that bad; it's just empty violence.

I spent around 3 hours reading this emotionless gore, and personally, it didn't disgust me, bother me, or stick with me – these types of books are what I like to call "Torture-porn". And yet it has its moments.
The biggest issue with this book for me is its lack of engagement. I had no motivation to read the next page, which is a shame because the book had a promising start and some creative ideas. The beginning chapters hinted at a book with a message, tackling difficult topics such as domestic abuse, mental health, and the feeling of alienation.

Where the book did not disappoint was the language; the descriptions and imagery were vivid, disgusting, and at times, haunting. I particularly admired how monstrously the protagonist's mother is portrayed; it's very fitting for her character. But while the characters are mostly well-written, their actual involvement in the story falls flat. You know a book is structured poorly when the pacing of a character passing in and out of consciousness feels no different from the previous fifty pages of the novel. I am disappointed to say how boring and empty the book felt despite having a literal secret sewage society of cows that talk like thugs.

In summary, this book is not worth your time aside from the talking cows.
I like the cover designs.

And the dog name Dog deserved better. RIP for Dog.… (mer)