A review by dayofthetabi
In Excess of Dark by Red Lagoe

dark emotional sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is an interesting dive into grief, Dre press ion and mental health. As a novella it is a quick read. I do think the topics are handled well but really would have benefited from a full length novel. The imagery was perfectly morbid and grotesque. As a horror novel it didn’t work for me as it seemed to rely on that gross factor rather than unease and ambiance. 

The pain and grief the main character goes through though was outstanding. I think this works better as a general fiction exploration with horror elements rather than a true horror novel but I still enjoyed the read. It is a 3 due to the reliance on  body horror and decay as its primary fear factor. It just wasn’t scary but it was dark. 

If you’re a fan of body horror and dealing with the aftermath of a lost loved one, this is worth a read.