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dantastic's review
4.0
When Will Longmire went to a prostitute's house, he didn't think she'd kidnap him at gunpoint and he damn sure didn't think he'd see her run over by a grotesque baby doll driving a car...
Yeah, you read that right. This is one messed up little story. Cruelty is a Kindle serial novel by Edward Lorn, a self-published author who seems to do everything right. Other author-publishers take note: Having someone else edit your stuff and getting a professional do to the cover goes a long way. Being a talented writer doesn't hurt either.
This is the first episode and if the quality holds, this thing this is going to take off like a wildfire by the time its finished. A giant murdering baby doll named Cruelty is scary enough but having it call its victims mama is the icing on the creepy cake.
At the end of the tale, there's an author's note saying you're probably cursing at your ereader at the way the first episode ends. He wasn't wrong. The first episode of Cruelty is satisfying as a short story but hints at greater and gorier things to come.
If you're looking for an example of self-publishing done right, look no further. Four out of Five stars.
Yeah, you read that right. This is one messed up little story. Cruelty is a Kindle serial novel by Edward Lorn, a self-published author who seems to do everything right. Other author-publishers take note: Having someone else edit your stuff and getting a professional do to the cover goes a long way. Being a talented writer doesn't hurt either.
This is the first episode and if the quality holds, this thing this is going to take off like a wildfire by the time its finished. A giant murdering baby doll named Cruelty is scary enough but having it call its victims mama is the icing on the creepy cake.
At the end of the tale, there's an author's note saying you're probably cursing at your ereader at the way the first episode ends. He wasn't wrong. The first episode of Cruelty is satisfying as a short story but hints at greater and gorier things to come.
If you're looking for an example of self-publishing done right, look no further. Four out of Five stars.
mckenzierichardson's review
3.0
Received through Booklikes in exchange for an honest review.
This was a terrifyingly creepy story and I enjoyed every minute of it. Good descriptions and loved the multiple perspectives. There were some pretty standard horror story themes, most notably active males and fairly passive females who don't do much and die quickly, but overall it was well done.
This was a terrifyingly creepy story and I enjoyed every minute of it. Good descriptions and loved the multiple perspectives. There were some pretty standard horror story themes, most notably active males and fairly passive females who don't do much and die quickly, but overall it was well done.
b0okcupidity's review
4.0
Best Edward Lorn work I've read so far.
Good imagery, great pacing, creepy set up...
I was very pleased with the character Will, who is both vulnerable and conflicted. I want to continue reading to find out if he is the hero of this story. Neither of the other two Lorn books I've read have a hero, they're purely monster books. Although Cruelty is most definitely a monster, the serial nature of this series tells me that we are going to get more...that's just a paltry prediction though.
Good imagery, great pacing, creepy set up...
I was very pleased with the character Will, who is both vulnerable and conflicted. I want to continue reading to find out if he is the hero of this story. Neither of the other two Lorn books I've read have a hero, they're purely monster books. Although Cruelty is most definitely a monster, the serial nature of this series tells me that we are going to get more...that's just a paltry prediction though.
Spoiler
I was really surprised when Cruelty returned to his home - this is where the story took a turn from just another creepy killer to something vastly more interesting. Exciting!silverneurotic's review
3.0
My review can be read at The Nearly Reader.
http://nearlyreader.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-cruelty-episode-one-by.html
http://nearlyreader.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-cruelty-episode-one-by.html
miztrebor's review
3.0
This is the first episode of Cruelty and I'll throw it out there that I'm not sure if I'll continue onto the next one. It wasn't poorly written or anything like that, but it all felt a bit mundane and was lacking something to hook me in. I was expecting more to the horror elements, but it didn't seem to "scare" or "shock" me. It had a "wtf, that's gross" thing going for it, for some readers, but I felt that it was telling it too much of it, not showing it. Showing would have allowed for more emotional attachment to the scenes.
Still it wasn't a total loss for me if I look at the last bit. While it might have revealed a lot early on (first of ten episodes), I felt it was the only part of the story that really grabbed my attention. I might keep on with the serial to see where it goes from here, because of the ending, but as for the other stuff, it wasn't my thing.
Still it wasn't a total loss for me if I look at the last bit. While it might have revealed a lot early on (first of ten episodes), I felt it was the only part of the story that really grabbed my attention. I might keep on with the serial to see where it goes from here, because of the ending, but as for the other stuff, it wasn't my thing.
avoraciousreader68's review
4.0
*Book source ~ Purchased on Amazon
There’s a serial killer out there and it’s name is Cruelty. But Cruelty is just the tool for the true serial killer. Who else is out there waiting for some unsuspecting stranger to cross paths with Cruelty?
This is Episode One of a 10-part serial and it starts out with a prostitute and a deaf guy walking down the road. No, really. I was like…wtf is going on here? But having read Lorn’s work before I knew this was only the benign beginning and everything was about to go to shit for the characters. I hate when I’m right.
Poor 19-yr-old Will only wants to get laid. His friend Kirk sets him up with a prostitute he happens to know to get the job done, but Will has no idea this one little decision by his small head is going to be the absolute worst one in his entire life. I’m sure there are many guys who have made those same kinds of decisions at one point or another, but for Will it means his decision puts him in the path of Cruelty.
Then there’s Innis who catches her skunk of a boyfriend cheating on her. Her heat of the moment decision to grab her dog Merlo and take off is another such bad decision that certainly didn’t seem bad at the time.
Texas State Trooper Tom Morgan is on his routine nightly patrol when the B&E call comes in. He probably figured it would be a typical call, teens causing trouble or drug addicts trying to score some cash. Little does he know…
This story is well-written and the different POVs come together to dovetail very nicely. The creepiest POV is Cruelty’s. Who wants to be in the mind of a giant baby doll serial killer? Not me. My only complaint about this story is Cruelty’s physical self. I just can’t seem to get scared enough of a giant baby doll. Yes, it is a serial killer. That part of Cruelty is definitely Depends-worthy, but maybe I’m not appropriately scared of Cruelty because baby dolls don’t creep me out. I’m not sure, but the rest of this story is creeptastic and horrifying in a Holy Shit! kind of way and don’t get me started on Cruelty’s Master. Gah! I’m hooked and can’t wait to see what happens next.
There’s a serial killer out there and it’s name is Cruelty. But Cruelty is just the tool for the true serial killer. Who else is out there waiting for some unsuspecting stranger to cross paths with Cruelty?
This is Episode One of a 10-part serial and it starts out with a prostitute and a deaf guy walking down the road. No, really. I was like…wtf is going on here? But having read Lorn’s work before I knew this was only the benign beginning and everything was about to go to shit for the characters. I hate when I’m right.
Poor 19-yr-old Will only wants to get laid. His friend Kirk sets him up with a prostitute he happens to know to get the job done, but Will has no idea this one little decision by his small head is going to be the absolute worst one in his entire life. I’m sure there are many guys who have made those same kinds of decisions at one point or another, but for Will it means his decision puts him in the path of Cruelty.
Then there’s Innis who catches her skunk of a boyfriend cheating on her. Her heat of the moment decision to grab her dog Merlo and take off is another such bad decision that certainly didn’t seem bad at the time.
Texas State Trooper Tom Morgan is on his routine nightly patrol when the B&E call comes in. He probably figured it would be a typical call, teens causing trouble or drug addicts trying to score some cash. Little does he know…
This story is well-written and the different POVs come together to dovetail very nicely. The creepiest POV is Cruelty’s. Who wants to be in the mind of a giant baby doll serial killer? Not me. My only complaint about this story is Cruelty’s physical self. I just can’t seem to get scared enough of a giant baby doll. Yes, it is a serial killer. That part of Cruelty is definitely Depends-worthy, but maybe I’m not appropriately scared of Cruelty because baby dolls don’t creep me out. I’m not sure, but the rest of this story is creeptastic and horrifying in a Holy Shit! kind of way and don’t get me started on Cruelty’s Master. Gah! I’m hooked and can’t wait to see what happens next.
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