Oh how I have missed horror novels of this caliber.  So graphic and brutal.  Fantastical and exciting. The mundane and the insane.  I loved this story and devoured it's carnage even though it was enough to keep me up at night.  Not for the faint of heart.  So well written!  Reminiscent of the true horror novels I read growing up.  I must read more from Tim Waggoner

Thank you netgalley for this excellent arc

Waggoner’s new novel is a very different book that is not for the faint of heart but if you are a lover of Barker and Lovecraft than this maybe for you.

Waggoner’s excellent book deals with a reality that splits from our own that shows his unique of lulling the reader into a dark world that one hopes they can escape.  Using a graphic fantastical imagery and mixing this with the mundane normal existence of a its main characters, you are left with two very unique experience that mesh together to jarring effects.

The characters are well written and fully three dimensional, although some of these will be forever carved into my brain which when I close my eyes are still present three weeks after finishing which is a huge bonus for me.  The main character of Lorelei does balance on becoming a bit pathetic and heroic and but never annoying which Waggoner does exceptionally well.  The other characters, human and other wise are so well scripted that a shudder goes down your spine not thinking that they are not real.

Plotting wise, this is a book that is like a hearty meal and once a chapter is finished, you need to take a breather before diving back in.  This is not a criticism but there is a lot to unwrap and because the plot is tightly woven, one has to be digest what they have written.

If you are a fan of King’s horror, this doesn’t quite fit this bill as this is beyond the world of King dealing with darker themes and is an overall more rewarding experience that pulp horror.  If you like your horror to be dark, deeply themed with a sly smile on the pulse of Barker and Lovecraft whilst making his own unique addition, you can not go wrong with Your Turn To Suffer.  An Excellent read.

“How can you choose to believe in one impossibility but not the other?”

Are you tired of the same old horror stories?
Do you crave something that will haunt your dreams and make you look twice at the shadows that surround you and wonder what might be lurking there?
Well, then the splatterpunk sub-genre of horror may be precisely what you need.

Lorelei is a woman who is plagued with horrible migraines; she is your average woman going about her life until a tenacious group called the Cabal begin to torment her in unimaginable ways; all to get her to confess and atone—or suffer. Now she must figure out what exactly she has to confess and how to atone for it before things get any worse than they already are…if that is even possible.

To achieve an emotion of real horror, the monster(s) must be both threatening (creating fear) and impure (creating disgust). The creatures that he has given life to in this book absolutely meet the qualifications to evoke horror in the reader. His masterful use of the complex discovery plot draws the reader into the story on such a level that it is easy to lose yourself and still feel that shiver up your spine even when you stop reading. 

This was my first time reading anything by Tim Waggoner, and I am elated to have finally found a writer who can really make me cringe and shudder in revulsion at some of the creatures and acts committed like Clive Barker. There were scenes that I read over multiple times to fully process and take in what I was being shown in my mind. Which usually led to me looking up from the page thinking, “what on Earth did I just read?” I was only a quarter into the book, and I was so in awe of his work that I went on Amazon and ordered all his other books. I can’t wait to read more from him! 

I appreciate Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

*Warning: This book is not for the faint of heart or those with a weak stomach. Some intense graphic gore scenes are quite disturbing (in a good way if you are a fan of gore/shock horror) and might be upsetting to some. 
As for me, I have a new favorite horror author, and I am looking forward to more of his works. That’s all for now, my fellow readers, it’s getting dark, and I need to go make sure all my lights are turned on. 

Did that shadow just move??

I've read a few Tim Waggoner books over the last few years, so when I saw this title available for request, I was happy to be approved and quickly jumped in. 

Lori's a physical therapist plagued by migraines who wants nothing more than to get home for a relaxing night when she crosses paths with a strange woman with a dire warning: Confess and atone--or suffer. For what she needs to confess, she has no idea, but as her dreams become plagued by horrible nightmares that feel too real, and the lines between reality and nightmare become blurred, Lori realizes that if she's going to survive, she has to figure it out. 

I enjoyed this book. 

To start, Waggoner does a superb job structuring a layered and cohesive story. Utilizing minor characters to propel the plot and add depth to both conflict and atmosphere, we get a well-rounded, taut prose that provide another level of horrific unfolding. 

My favorite moments were watching Lori react to the world around her, whether it be our reality or another, and seeing the nightmare moments overlapping. I can't speak enough to the imagery Waggoner was able to achieve. This is every worst fear come to life. Because of that, I will say that this won't be everyone's cup of tea. There are some graphic, disturbing events that are not for the faint of heart.

Don't get me wrong: this isn't just a book with horror for horror's sake. Through Lori's quest, we're given a chance to question our own choices, evaluate our own mistakes. Small decisions oftentimes make the biggest impact, and I appreciated the commentary on morality, faith, and realities. 

Overall, Your Turn to Suffer is a wild, unpredictable, terrifying ride that you won't want to miss. Out in March, add this to your TBRs if you like gore, violence, and feats of unimaginable creatures. 

Big thanks to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.