We Are Monsters
by Brian Kirk

The book is about mental illness, it's treatment and those who work in the field. There were some good parts, some of the characters were interesting enough, some were horrible. The writing was not bad at all however, as a whole it just wasn't the book for me.

Absolutely enjoyed from start to finish, u didn't want the book to end. Highly recommended, if you like books that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

This one wasn't for me unfortunately. These sorts of books are a let down recently. I need to be more selective in what I request going forward.

This book is divided into three parts and I really enjoyed the first two parts. The author portrays mental illness and the treatment of mental health in a compassionate way while also creating some interesting, even despicable characters. We get multiple POVs from the characters suffering from mental illness and from the healthcare professionals at the institution. In the third part though, the story ventures into metaphysical paths that I didn't really enjoy. I thought the story is interesting enough and terrifying enough set within the mental health discussion that the supernatural aspect came across as flat and unconvincing. That said, there are some really visceral and horrifying scenes and I thought the writing is effective. I would definitely be checking more of the author's work.

‘We Are Monsters’ is the latest book by Brian Kirk.

Some doctors are sicker than their patients. When a troubled psychiatrist loses funding to perform clinical trials on an experimental cure for schizophrenia, he begins testing it on his asylum s criminally insane, triggering a series of side effects that opens the mind of his hospital s most dangerous patient, setting his inner demons free.

Reminiscent of an episode of an ‘American Horror Story’, this book set in a mental asylum is certainly not for the faint hearted. Vividly written with complex characters, this book battles with morals, mental illness and what happens when things go tragically bad.

Alex has always wanted his older brother Jerry to be better, to be the same brother that he grew up with and no longer trapped inside his head. So he creates a drug that hasn’t been approved and uses his brother as a guinea pig with sad results. Alex finds himself becoming the head of Sugar Hill Asylum and trying to prove worthy of his role as well as convince others that he has created the magical cure.

The story is seen through multiple narratives, staff from Sugar Hill as well as patients and between them all, it’s hard to find a reliable narrative within the story and seems that we are joining them all as they descend into chaos.

Unsettling and vivid from the first page, this book delves into the darkness of mental illness and conjures up imagery that literally took my breath away, from cannibalistic children to the demonic nuns, this book has a fear for everyone!

Nominated for a Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in a First Novel, ‘We Are Monsters’ is a dark and grisly story that shows the many sides of mental illness, the paranoia and the fear. Deeply disturbing and well written as well as thoroughly researched. This horror story makes the reader feel unease as well as on their toes as they try to figure out who the bad guy in the story really is.

You can buy ‘We Are Monsters’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

I enjoyed the first half of this book to a certain extent. Medical/body horror is one of my favorite horror subgenres. But, the last half went off the mark for me a little bit, and I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the first half. I still very much appreciate being given a copy of this book in exchange for my review; I always love getting to read new authors!

Surreal, Atmospheric Horror!

Brian Kirk is definitely gifted in how he weaves a world or should I say asylum that has elements of Lovecraft throughout while taking the time to build his characters to enhance the story he is telling.
Everyone at the asylum has problems whether they are patients or the ones treating them.
A psychiatrist tries experimental cures for his patients and in the process, releases his most dangerous patient's darker side.
The descriptive horror of the unleashed nightmare was imaginative to the point where I felt like I was living the nightmare with the characters in the novel. Definitely an entralling and unsettling read.

So, I start by saying asylums are on my list of fears. The "caging" of people who have lost the ability to control their own minds, which inevitably drives them deeper and deeper into an alternate world beyond themselves, just doesn't sit right with me...never has. For some reason, some of my deepest fears are also some of the things I end up loving most in horror books and movies. So, to say I was excited about this book would have been an understatement, but sadly it just didn't deliver as I wished it would have.

As some other reviewers have said, the beginning started off strong. I was totally digging all the treatment descriptions, but I just never found myself connecting to or caring about any of the characters. Then, the story seemed to shift in the middle, and it didn't really hold my attention. It seemed like the story just took a turn, and there was just too much going on that confused me. There were times when I was reading pages over again to try to take it all in, and when I have to do that with a book and the reading becomes more laborious, I tend to just tune out.

I did like that the book tackled issues surrounding the treatment of mental health and the mentally ill, as well as making readers questions who the true monsters are...is it the mentally ill patients, or is it the people who are forcing treatments (sometimes inhumane) on these patients? However, some of this book was just bizarre and too convoluted for my liking.

I think I would probably read another book by Kirk, as he is a well respected author in the horror arena, but this one just wasn't for me. That being said, I can see why some readers would really dig this writing style and this story, but again, I just couldn't get into it without my mind wandering in every direction except on the pages. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it.

*Thank you so much to Flame Tree Press for providing me with this book to read and review.**

I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.  

We Are the Monsters is a book that is complicated for me to review.  Even as I was in the middle of reading it, I was like sheesh, how am I going to explain my thoughts on this one. I liked to cover.  I thought the premise sounded cool.  Ultimately, by the end of the book it just reminded me of a B level thriller/horror movie.

When I first began reading it several months ago, I was intrigued and then abruptly became incredibly bored and stopped reading it until the pandemic started at which point I decided to give it another go. 

I can't say whether I'm glad I read it or not.  The writing wasn't the problem, as far as the ability to write descriptive sentences that allow the reader to really visualize Sugar Hill Hospital/Asylum in all it's "glory."  The symbolism throughout the book and one-liner quotes were pretty great.

There were parts of the book that were very interesting, mostly involving character development and laying the scene out for the reader. 

However, that's where it ends for me as far as positive comments about the book.  The wheels just fell off, it was all over the place.  I mean, I like weird stuff, I'm cool with books about asylums, ghost, murder, mystery, time jumps, lucid dreams, alternate realities, medical advancements, crazy people etc etc but man, the wheels really came off early on in this book.  It was just all over the place and too many different STRONG themes tossed into a literary blender which just didn't do it for me.  I can understand how some people would enjoy it, but I just didn't.  

I would absolutely try to read another book by this author but maybe next time, I'll check out the reviews first.

Dr Alex Drexler is developing an experimental treatment and has gone into debt in an attempt to prove the worth of his compound. He hopes his drug will cure schizophrenia by resetting the patient's mind to function properly. He attempts to heal his own brother with frightening repercussions.
There are several interesting characters eg a serial killer on the loose, the head of hospital afraid of fear, a social worker who wants to save others even if she cant save herself. Everyone will have to let go of their past to have a chance of staying alive and sane.
Even though this was only a novel it did make me question the importance of money over a cure. I also considered how good intentions can go the wrong way.
I'm not sure why but my interest wandered a little in the beginning. The author managed to draw me back in with various interesting and/or unexpected twists. I still shiver at the thought of the section where an electric bone saw was used.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Kirk expertly demonstrates the empathetic power of horror fiction in this novel that will thrill readers while simultaneously encouraging them to take a closer look at the way society views mental illness. Rich characters and atmospheric settings build a story that will stick with you long after you close the book.

Do you like weird, creepy and gory books? Then you’ll enjoy this one. The most fascinating parts I found were when the story explores holistic treatments vs standard medicine.

This is a quick thriller bread, treading a fine line between paranormal and horror. Set in a Mental Institute while a corrupt doctor unlocks something otherworldly whilst conducting immoral experiments on patients. 
The first half of the book is relatively slow, but it does perfectly set up the action-packed second half, and that is where the action really begins.
 Although not my usual cup of tea (I prefer my horror free from paranormal aspects) I did still enjoy the read.

First off, let me say that I truly appreciate Flame Tree Press for giving me the opportunity to review this book. With that said: DNF at 10%. I didn’t hate it quite as much as some other books I’ve given 1-star ratings to, but this is (in my opinion, of course) simply not good. It’s racist, homophobic, and misogynist. Every non-white character is a walking stereotype. The book glibly uses animal cruelty for shock value and to show how “crazy” women are. The main character is utterly despicable and yet completely boring at the same time, and there was no compelling action or any other character interesting enough to make me want to continue.

The start of this book was really good and kept me glued. I like books that sort of deal with the mind and this is no exception. But the last 30% of the book kind of lost my interest and didn’t exactly live up to what I expected in my mind.

Okay, so I don't really know where to start with this one... 
First off, I wouldn't say this was horror. It felt more like science fiction to me and maybe that's why I really didn't enjoy it. 
The first part of the book seemed like it was really building up to something exciting. I mean, it was pretty slow going but it kept me reading. 
Then things started getting weirder and weirder. Normally, I'd love it. My partner doesn't call me Captain Weird for nothing. I LOVE weird! But this was weirder than weird, it took on a whole new level of strange that I just really couldn't enjoy. And honestly, I've found myself feeling a little bewildered now that I've finished it. 

Thanks once again to NetGalley for allowing me to review this.

We Are Monsters is a horrifying tale of what happens when good men try too hard to save someone they love. When a psychiatrist loses his funding for his clinical trial to find a cure for schizophrenia, he begins testing his cure on his patients in the asylum where he works. The more he experiments, the more things go wrong.  This is definitely not a book to read before bed!

I was drawn in immediately by We Are Monsters. The first half of the book was very interesting and creepy but it does take a turn for the weird in the second half. 

The story gets into the holistic vs. medicines debate, but the main point seems to be that some doctors are sicker than their patients (I've always suspected as much).

I love the setting and the description thereof. I would have liked to have known more about Angela earlier in the book.

Overall for a first novel, I think the book was very good. If you like creepy weird and gory this one's for you!

A Surreal And Psychological, Nightmarish Horror Story!

This book involves psychiatrists, patients with severe mental disorders and the institution where many, many events will take place.   One older doctor who is the director of the facility believes in treating patients with behavioral therapy modification instead of debilitating drugs and electric shock treatments where the patient, especially schizophrenic disorders are barely cognitive and functional on the lowest scale possible.   The other physician strongly believes in drug therapy but is working on creating a new drug that will bring schizophrenic patients back to their old selves before their mind started to shatter.   The physicians do have a mutual respect for each other but there will be many unfortunate and unforseen consequences  from the actions of both of these men and to so many others who happen to be in the building on this one particular day and they will have to depend on one another if they are to save any lives.

This was a very creative and at times a mind-boggling story that was well-written and interesting with many cringe worthy moments.   The storyline was very good and there were horror elements although I felt the story was more of a science fiction book.   I did enjoy the book although it never reached the heightened horror that I was hoping for.   The story made me feel sad for so many people that land in these facilities and how many of these patients were mistreated by some of their caretakers.   (Very sad and disheartening).   There are many monsters intertwined whether human or nonhuman.   I am probably in the minority with my opinion but I do recommend reading this book and forming your own ideas.I

I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I have given a rating of 3 Surreal 🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

This novel - We Are Monsters - was a book that I found myself easily highlighting again and again. In fact, it is the only book with highlighted passages compared to all the books that I have read this year!  We Are Monsters  is an eerie and deeply thought-provoking novel about just how far doctors are willing to go in order to “cure” a person who is suffering from mental illness. While reading this novel, it opened my eyes to the internal struggles and the strong willed determination that physicians have for their patients. Whether their medical actions stem from the goodness of their hearts or from the greed of creating a new pharmaceutical drug that can possibly make them rich and famous, it shows just how dangerous trying to “play” God truly is. The human brain is a pathway into the unknown and trying to map it out and understand it completely is something that to this day we have not been able to do. This book was an experience into the realm of the uncharted area of the brain and the possibilities that exist if we dare to take that first step forward into the breach. This book was expertly written and is a definite must read! Favorite Quote - “ I’ve had time to adapt to the insane. This IS  normal compared to where I’ve been, what I’ve been through.“☺️📖👍🏼