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malykaofhearts's review
4.0
Devoured in 48 hours.
A great story about the consequences of the darkest deal. How far would you go for the ones you love? For yourself?
A great story about the consequences of the darkest deal. How far would you go for the ones you love? For yourself?
craigmatthews87's review
4.0
How far would you go to uphold your end of a Faustian bargain?
Every Time I Die is a story about Alex, a man who died in an accident but was given another chance by someone or something to return to life. All they ask in exchange is for him to kill for them, and the frequency and intensity of those demands is ramping up. Can Alex keep it together for the sake of his family, or will this cycle of violence cause him to unravel?
Jay Bower grabbed my attention immediately with an opening chapter that thrusts you into the deep end, revealing the mysteries this story holds in dribs and drabs. Despite the short length our protagonist feels fully fleshed out, and I flew through the book in one evening, eager to find out his fate. I was also excited to get to the next of the relatively frequent, gore-soaked death scenes. This is my first time reading Bower's work, and his engaging writing style ensured it won't be the last.
I do have some minor criticisms. The structure of the book is set up in such a way that the story can occasionally feel a bit repetitive in setting up the next set piece - although these usually end differently enough to not make this too much of an issue - and perhaps the emotional stakes would feel a little higher if we spent a little more time with Alex's family. These in no way effected my enjoyment of the story, but I do wonder if they could have helped to bump my rating up from four stars to five.
I feel I can strongly recommend Every Time I Die for most horror fans, and if the synopsis interests you, I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
Every Time I Die is a story about Alex, a man who died in an accident but was given another chance by someone or something to return to life. All they ask in exchange is for him to kill for them, and the frequency and intensity of those demands is ramping up. Can Alex keep it together for the sake of his family, or will this cycle of violence cause him to unravel?
Jay Bower grabbed my attention immediately with an opening chapter that thrusts you into the deep end, revealing the mysteries this story holds in dribs and drabs. Despite the short length our protagonist feels fully fleshed out, and I flew through the book in one evening, eager to find out his fate. I was also excited to get to the next of the relatively frequent, gore-soaked death scenes. This is my first time reading Bower's work, and his engaging writing style ensured it won't be the last.
I do have some minor criticisms. The structure of the book is set up in such a way that the story can occasionally feel a bit repetitive in setting up the next set piece - although these usually end differently enough to not make this too much of an issue - and perhaps the emotional stakes would feel a little higher if we spent a little more time with Alex's family. These in no way effected my enjoyment of the story, but I do wonder if they could have helped to bump my rating up from four stars to five.
I feel I can strongly recommend Every Time I Die for most horror fans, and if the synopsis interests you, I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
booksinthesky's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
wolfmand13's review
4.0
I was given a review copy of Everytime I Die by Jay Bower and damn am I glad I did. This story is about a man named Alex Bates who makes a deal with an evil entity to save his life and heal his wife after a terrible accident almost kills him and leaves her wheelchair bound. His deal, of course, comes with a steep price. When he is called on, he must kill for the entity to be fed and for Alex’s own pain to subside. As if things weren’t complicated enough for him, the targets start add up, his killings being called on more frequently and with larger stakes. Will Alex be damned to destruction or pay the devil his due? This book is a bloody, wicked good time that doesn’t pull its punches and I would recommend to anyone looking for a Faustian pact-like story. I give it 4/5
vinomanscott930's review
4.0
Finished in one sitting. What would you do for love...or guilt? Alex Bates answers that question and all it costs him is...duty. Forced to do dispicable things to innocent people, otherwise he will die over and over, each time more painful and horrific. All this for his family, until....
Quick read and very entertaining. As always, Jay Bower doesn't disappoint.
Quick read and very entertaining. As always, Jay Bower doesn't disappoint.
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