This book is another example of something that in theory should have been right up my proverbial alley, weird horror with a literary approach that's at the intersection of technology and body horror with a social media aspect and under 200 pages long, can we say ticks all the boxes?

There was just something about the main character Marshall's disaffection that didn't quite work. The body horror didn't land because it didn't really seem like he cared and we rarely lingered on it, much to my dismay.

The timeline was hard to pin down it sounded like both aeons (weeks/months) had gone by and minutes at the same time and not in a good way. The prose felt like it was trying too hard to be surreal and deep.

Oh and there's a part where binary code spoken aloud, that might have been cool once upon a time but someone I know did that one at an improv session like 20 years ago so and even then it felt like it was getting a little old, the whole thing had a new millennium anxiety kind of vibe to it that just feels out of touch with the moment.

Neutral 2.5 rounded up.

Marshall is the internet's most desired porn performer. He accepts a risky job with twelve mysterious men who push him past every boundary. He consumes an unknown substance that rewrites his system from the inside out and his body is no longer his own. As his body begins to transform, the world is watching. Marshall is fighting for control against the parasitic tenant in his own body.

I requested this book because a friend told me it was "weird literary horror," and I'm all here for that! I think I didn't jive with the writing style - it felt too disjointed for me. But, I liked the story overall...it was such an interesting idea that is an intense exploration of society's obsession with extreme sensational content and how media consumption can dehumanize or blur boundaries. This definitely evoked a visceral reaction to extreme body horror, so be prepared for that (check content warnings). Overall, I thought it was a unique and interesting perspective on technology consumption in the modern world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

*This is an episode of Black Mirror, a digital fever dream, a futuristic yet realistic horror*

It’s hard to track or retell a plot of this book but I can say it is about this contagious, digital yet sexually transmitted infection. This book is short but packs a punch. The prose is beautiful, one of the greatest writing I recently consumed, the vocabulary is so rich and descriptive and it definitely feels like the author uses their words as a weapon and knows their way around them! Even though it’s a debut!

The audiobook of ‘Loading…’ is also masterfully done, it has additional sounds and effects building this creepy atmosphere of digital viruses and being hacked, the narrator also does a wonderful job.

I wish this novel could be a bit longer so there could be a universe created and understood, and some fuller backstory since some of the main character’s past and lineage affects the plot directly. There is a potential for the story to be fleshed out more but shorter reads, of course, are easier to commit to as a reader. I am giving ‘Loading…’ a 4 star rating.

Thank you to Surrender Point Press and NetGalley for providing access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

So, a friend told me this was a “weird literary horror,” and I was immediately in. And wow, Loading... is definitely weird, in the best way. It’s dark, strange, kind of gross at times, but also totally gripping. Once I started reading, I honestly couldn’t stop.

The story follows Marshall, a man who works in the adult industry and is somewhat lost in his own life. He’s successful on the surface, but you can tell he’s completely disconnected underneath. The setting, mostly this bizarre hotel called the Stardust, feels just as off and unsettling as Marshall’s own inner world.

What really hit me was how much the book explores the way tech messes with our sense of self. Marshall becomes involved with a creepy group called the Threshold Collective, and things escalate rapidly from there. Think body horror, mind-melding experiments, and the total breakdown of identity. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s so well done.

Even with all the weirdness, there’s a real emotional core. Marshall’s longing for genuine connection, particularly through memories of his childhood and his grandmother, lends the story weight. It’s not just horror for the sake of it; there’s something meaningful going on underneath.

That said, this book is definitely not for everyone. It’s pretty graphic and leans heavily into body horror. But if you’re into dark, smart, and deeply weird stories, it’s absolutely worth picking up.

It’s a solid four stars from me. I’m really curious to see what Klarxon writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for the e-ARC! In exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t really enjoy Loading…. While the premise (mixing body horror, technology, and intimacy) was intriguing, the execution felt muddled. The body horror never hit for me, and the plot’s late turn felt more random rather than meaningful. I tandem read this with the audiobook and if you have to choose one then pick the physical copy if possible! The audiobook, with its overdone sound effects, only made the experience worse.

What a story. I had no idea where this was going and I am glad I read it.

Very well written and I couldn't put it down.

Take the warning at the beginning very seriously 😳

Loading... is a horror novella about technology, intimacy, and humanity. It follows Marshall, a porn star with copious amounts of industry experience, who unadvisedly accepts a risky (and well paying) booking from a group of men. Encouraged to take a mysterious substance, he finds himself host to a technological entity that is taking over his being. As Marshall's body is colonized and his identity erased, he is forced to broadcast his grotesque transformation live to millions of online viewers.

I read this book because I enjoy unique horror, scathing social commentary and the cover reeled me in. The main character is very well-defined immediately, and even if you don’t like him you can understand him. I would say this book paints sex with is a neutral light which examining the very real risks of selling your body and intimacy, both in-person and online. Marshall is addicted to the attention and praise he gets from his online audience, to the detriment of his own wellbeing and real-life responsibilities, which is only amplified when body horror is involved. I wish his thought processes were more clear at times, but I think he carries the story well. The alien/parasite/virus/whatever element is pretty unique but I feel like the idea started as one thing and then the author decided to change track and it all got a bit muddy. No spoilers, but the way Marshall’s affliction ended up being connected to his own personal life was such a random decision and didn’t add any substance in my opinion.

I am a fan of body horror and when I’m going into a book for that reason, I NEED to have a visceral reaction and I didn’t get that from Loading…. I really struggled to picture exactly what was happening - only how people reacted to it, if that makes sense. Overall, I think the concept overshadowed the execution but fans of the tech horror/sci fi niche might really enjoy this!