A review by howlinglibraries
The Dismembered by Jonathan Janz

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

 

"When someone is trying to kill you," Dunning said, "it's inadvisable to invite them in for tea."

If you've ever wished someone would capture the gorgeous, haunting vibes of an Edgar Allan Poe story and merge it with splatterpunk levels of violence and intensity, you've gotta pick this beauty up.

If you've ever read anything by Jonathan Janz, you're already familiar with his general MO: a lot of violence, a lot of tension, and a lot of heart. The Dismembered follows that pattern in its own way, keeping you on the edge of your seat not only for how intense shit gets but also for how much you genuinely want the characters to make it out unscathed.

Blood dripped from her fingers. Sweat streamed from her brow. Her clothing was ripped and stained. Never had I so yearned to kiss her.

Jonathan also excels at throwing a nice little romantic subplot into his horror tales and he always manages to suck me into those, so I was fully invested in the gothic romance playing out in The Dismembered. My heart was in my throat from start to finish worrying over how things would turn out, but I won't spoil the ending for you!

I've loved everything I've read from this author, but this is one of my favorite works of his yet. If you're new to Jonathan Janz's backlog and are wondering where to start, this is an excellent option: it's quick and engaging, beautifully written, and displays exactly what Janz's fanbase loves so much about his writing. 5 stars!