What in the Actual Living Heck is Happening? - Reviews featuring Drew Huff, Kyle Winkler, Katherine Dunn, Remy Oliver, & Steph Nelson
Every once in a disturbed pale moon, I am introduced to novels that break my sanity. This is my own doing, as I often seek such titles out when approaching new authors to read for reviews. Especially in the horror community. I'm also not entirely complaining because I love me a mind-bender. It's truly a unique–and often hilarious–experience, as I will discuss when mentioning my enjoyment of the novels of Jason K. Pargin.
These books are no exception. I'm seeking to discuss some compellingly complex stories and I encourage ANYONE who approaches these works afterward to search and heed all content warnings available for them.
Now, with those chestnuts out of the way, let's begin.
Free Burn by Drew Huff, Dark Matter Magazine
Ooooooh boy, Free Burn. A novel that has been compared to the work of Jason K. Pargin (see, I told ya!), Joe Hill, and Katherine Dunn (we'll get there), this may be one of Dark Matter's most audacious releases to date.
Holding absolutely nothing back, Drew Huff drops readers right into the thick of this books charming insanity, introducing beloved protagonist, Triple-Six. Believed to be some form of experiment, Triple-Six is a man who faces multiple forms of bigotry, but the main two relating to his Iranian heritage and the seeming lobster claws he has for hands.
That's right. Lobster claws.
Not only that, but these claws have the ability to paralyze those they touch, leading him to keep them covered or wrapped up at all times. While Triple-Six attempts to eek away as simple of an existence as possible, living in "government" imposed isolation with his traumatized girlfriend. Unfortunately those plans are upended when Mallory uses him to murder an abuser, thrusting them both into a nightmare that does not let up until the final pages.
Why is Mallory traumatized, you may be asking? Well, her mother Lorraine was an infamous pyromaniac serial killer who implicated Mallory in all of her sadistic murders. Her trauma often sends her into fits where she feels as though Lorraine still has power over her, which Triple-Six always attempts to reassure her isn't the case. Or is it?
What follows is a darkly humorous series of double-crosses, double-double-crosses, a uniquely disturbing vision of the "battle" between good and evil, a flawed but heartwarmingly earnest protagonist, and some of the wildest depictions of violence I have read in quite a long time.
As mentioned at the top, this is a book that must absolutely have its content warnings taken seriously. Free Burn is a taboo cornucopia including a ton of discussion of SA, disturbing violence, racism, and much more. This is not an indictment of the novel, as Huff does her best to navigate these topics in ways that retain their painful bite, but don't feel unnecessarily exploitative or excessive.
Like Jason K. Pargin, whose John & David series remains infamous for exactly these reasons, Drew Huff has exploded out of the gate with a debut novel that will stick in your mind for a long time. Whether that is a good or bad thing is entirely up to your interpretation. This novel is not for everyone, and to be honest, I wasn't sure it was for me either at first. However, if you do decide to stick with it, you will find an engagingly complex tale of overcoming trauma, interrogating identity, and the lengths we will go to to protect and save the people we cherish.
My thanks to BookSiren for providing the e-ARC, and a special shoutout to Dark Matter for choosing me in their recent giveaway of a signed copy of Free Burn. You always rule.
Grasshands by Kyle Winkler, JournalStone Publishing
On a slightly tamer note, we come to Grasshands, a novel I received generously from the author. This was my first of Winkler's works, though I had seen his praises sung amongst my peers across the BookstaTwitterverse, but I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into.
This novel plays out like a darker-tinged fairytale along the lines of Neil Gaiman, Cynthia Pelayo, Kelly Link, or even John Connolly. At the opening, we are introduced to a young Sylvia Hix, whose sojourns into the woods surrounding her house lead to her meeting what she refers to as "Grasshands," a seemingly benevolent entity that grows out of the nearby moss and foliage. After a frightening encounter with Grasshands, she vows to never return to the woods, attempting to repress and forget all memories of the likely hallucinated happening from her mind.
In the present day, Sylvia is all grown up and works at a public library, doing all she can to keep her existence as quiet as possible. When the director finds a mysterious moss beginning to appear on the books in the basement, alongside the sudden steady growth of their co-worker, Albert, this precarious peace is upended in the most unsettling ways, setting the stage for a uniquely cathartic cosmic horror of (literally) epic proportions.
I really liked this book. It's fairytale structure and artifice makes way for some truly horrific set-pieces, tackling philosophical questions in earnest ways. Even at its most humorous and sarcastic, there is a care shown to the characters throughout this bucolic nightmare, and it's a testament to how Winkler presents their unique quirks.
All said, this book goes to some truly wild places. Nothing can prepare you for the ending or...really just about any of the second half. This is a wholly unexpecting book that will welcome you in with its unassuming introduction before strapping you in, Clockwork Orange-style, and testing the limits of your morality and sanity. It felt, in many ways, similar to Hailey Piper's two 2023 releases, A Light Most Hateful and Cruel Angels Past Sundown, in how surreal and dark this narrative dares to get.
If you're hungry for a playfully pitch-black cosmic horror that pays homage to the eccentricities of working in a public library, then Grasshands is definitely for you.
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, Random House Vintage
The amount of times I saw this book mentioned in influencer Insta Reels concerning "Most Disturbing Reads" or "5 Books That Will Creep You Out" could have likely paid my student loans by now.
Geek Love's premise sounds simple enough: An epic family drama following a troupe of circus performers, or "geeks" as they refer to themselves. We are told the tales through Olympia Binewski's eyes, as well as other documental evidence that she's held onto over the years. The history she recounts is equal parts heartbreaking and disturbing. From the beginnings of the family, with father Al prompting mother Lilian to ingest many forms of chemicals, allowing for children with varying forms of eccentricities and deformities, to their fame as a travelling show. Olympia is one of the older siblings, an albino hunchback, and acts as the all-seeing autobiographer of their familial saga.
One content warning before I continue: There is extremely outdated terminology and ideology surrounding trans people, specifically trans women, in the first several chapters of the book. Now, I can't speak on Dunn's personal politics, or her views concerning trans folks. This book was initially released in the early 80's, so these depictions of trans people were not uncommon. I do believe her addition of the trans background characters was not a means to denigrate or belittle their experiences. In fact, their inclusion is part of Dunn's commentary surrounding the exploitation of club spaces, using trans people or folks with deformities/disabilities as their own form of "freak show" outside of the tents of old.
Olympia infiltrates this space to follow her daughter Miranda, who was separated from Oly at birth due to her deformity being a tail is fairly easy to hide. However, Miranda is considering having it removed by a woman who performs various surgeries for folks seeking similar treatment–one demographic being trans folks who seek affordable surgeries. Oly, in particular, is who we hear a lot of said outdated language from. Throughout the story, we're shown Oly's particular animus toward folks who aren't geeks, or perhaps seek what she feels to be a geek-ness that is sought, rather than a matter of birth.
An important aspect of this novel is its moral complexity. None of these characters are particularly good people, with maybe the exception of sibling Fortunato, or Chick, as he's most often referred to. But even Chick is pushed to unspeakable lengths as the narrative delves deeper into the darkness of the Binewski's. Despite this darkness, there are even further moments that humanize each of these characters. Dunn structures the story in such a way that for every moment meant to explain the actions and behaviors of the characters, there are also actions that reveal their darkness.
This seems, in part, due to Dunn's history as a journalist. Oly's voice and tone, much of which is deployed in her written histories and letters she writes to Miranda, feel similar to that of a journalist. There's an additional journalist character who becomes directly tied to the family through pieces written about them.
This being a generational family drama, there is an eventual downfall to the Binewski family, predicated by the rise of brother Arturo's ego and exploitative cult that influences audience members to enter into voluntary experimentation and removal of body parts as a way to "be like" the geeks. Even the journalist following them participates, leading a web of corruption and horror toward a shocking climax.
I can't even encompass every plot point in this review because SO much happens and I'd like to avoid spoilers. Geek Love is a complex novel whose legend looms large in the world of transgressive fiction, with good reason. Despite the absolute darkness of its narrative, there is a compelling heart beating throughout. For every monstrous act, there are further scenes of humanization, plus explorations of trauma lending weight to each decision.
As I stated earlier, tread very carefully with this novel. There is a lot that's dated, but there's a deeper universality throughout, causing it's continued study and cultural engagement amongst other giants of genre. If you offer Katherine Dunn your time, you'll be surprised what you find.
Panic Playhouse by Remy Oliver, Self Published
So, I realized about halfway through this piece that I never wrote an official review for this terrifically twisted little novella by one of the sweetest guys in indie horror, and now I feel like a goober.
Remy Oliver sent me an advanced copy of Panic Playhouse, and I'll tell you now, I had absolutely no clue what I was in for. This was my first engagement with Remy's work, which follows the kidnapping and brutal torture of several characters across class divisions, including two young men seeking adventure, a mother caught in the crossfire of her greedy husband, and a young woman attempting a quiet night at home.
What initially appears as senseless incidents coalesces into something much more sinister as each stranger is targeted by an underground ultraviolence group that will kidnap and brutalize anyone in the world, plus those you may have vendettas against. We see a bit into this world through an incel tech businessman reminiscent of some infamous celebrities.
What follows is a bleak is gruesome tale of survival against violence as these characters endure unspeakable acts for immeasurable profits. The only respite being a fantastic scene of fighting back that honestly makes up for the absolute horror that bookends it. Seriously, it's so worth it. Though Panic Playhouse is every bit an extreme horror that should be approached with the sort of care you would extend to any of these titles, there is truly something special in this taut, surrealistic nightmare.
I found myself loving and rooting for the characters who find themselves wrapped up in this ring of senseless violence and greed. I mention its bleak tone, but there is a bizarre line of hope and humanity that Remy skirts with breathtaking ease. This doesn't mean moments are any less shocking or heartbreaking, rather the voice that speaks above everything is one of condemnation of the structures that enforce, exhibit, and enact such craven violence.
It may be a lot to stomach, but for seasoned extreme horror hounds, there is a lot to love in Panic Playhouse. I am eternally grateful to Remy for allowing me into his dark little world.
The Final Scene by Steph Nelson, Ticking Clock Press
And now, to end on a...semi-normal note? What I mean is that of the books mentioned here, Steph Nelson's The Final Scene is a fairly straightforward thriller. As straightforward as a woman kidnapping and imprisoning strangers as some form of cathartic reminiscence, all while keeping explosive collars around their necks, is straightforward.
As a pretty big Steph Nelson fan, following her incredible 2023 output, I had a hell of a lot of fun with this story. Told from the perspective of a few characters, but predominantly Brooke, who has spent an entire decade in captivity, only keeping herself alive by following her kidnapper's every sadistic rule and direction. But there are some new "cast members" brought into the fold, and there is far more connected than meets the eye.
Nelson keeps her audience ensnared from page one, providing rapid chapters that set up the pace perfectly. It's truly a page-turner in its most literal sense. Keeping the biggest mysteries quiet until its rapturous third act, readers find themselves ensnared in the fevered nightmare these characters are experiencing, feeling akin to Caitlin Marceau's This Is Where We Talk Things Out. Once again bringing her penchant for character development to the forefront, we quickly feel for and root for the characters, desperately searching for a way out alongside them.
Proving to be resistant to genre shoehorning, Steph Nelson is developing a repertoire that rivals many seasoned authors within the horror and thriller genres. The Final Scene is a bold, though completely laudable step in a new direction for an author who could write a children's book and I would read it. For all of you thriller fans out there, this is a title that you may not have heard about upon its release, but certainly gives the mainstream lot a run for their money.
There you have it. A peculiar buffet of the tantalizing and transgressive.
Certainly not my first–or last–dive into this particular genre pool, my hope is you find a daring new read to be added to your TBR. Though make sure said daring read is within your comfort level. I may be able to disassociate myself from narratives semi-often, but I don't encourage everyone to do this.
If you do find yourself tackling and ultimately loving one of these books, be sure to let the authors know! Unfortunately Katherine Dunn did pass in 2016, but these other authors are very much alive and would greatly appreciate any kind works you may have. They don't bite. Much.
Drew Huff can be found on Instagram @druhuf and be sure to follow Dark Matter @dark_matter_magazine for groundbreaking new horror. Free Burn is available now!
Kyle Winkler can be found on Instagram @bleakhousing. Grasshands is available now!
Geek Love is available where all books are sold through Random House Vintage.
Remy Oliver can be found on Instagram @remyoliverhorror. Panic Playhouse is available now!
Steph Nelson can be found on Instagram @stephnelsonauthor. The Final Scene is available now!
