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Fans of horror stories, especially obscure ones that blur the lines between good and evil, will likely appreciate this intriguing tale. It begins with a boy held hostage in a cold basement, suffering harrowing abuse. Here, the sinister undertones of the novel are set, leaving the reader with one eye open for the duration of the story. Luckily, the boy is accidentally rescued by a woman named Amy, and they immediately bond like a mother and son. As a prostitute, Amy similarly endures shocking maltreatment while protecting the boy until a woman named Katlyn comes to their rescue. But like any horror story, nothing is that simple. Their lives remain in grave danger, with the angry Zefron seeking revenge for Amy's escape and the boy's retribution on his men.
This grim, nightmarish fantasy explores the far-reaching ramifications of abuse. It is a disquieting read due to the novel's difficult and mature themes. The author employs the weird and supernatural, most notably with the phenomena surrounding the boy's physical and psychological being. The boy, who calls himself "K," wrestles with identity, battling against the "I" while divorcing himself from the graphic horrors of his reality, which make for the most compelling moments of the tale. Through the boy, the author explores the physical and mental scars of a person so shattered and vulnerable and how these ultimately shape one's future. What is actually happening during these extreme sequences of violence is largely up to the reader's interpretation. Tim also relies on surprising shifts in narrative and character perspectives, bringing the plot full circle by its end. There are some noticeable grammatical errors within the narrative. However, the author's complex novel still leaves a lasting impression with salient commentary on monstrous cruelty.