James Crow (4)

I just finished this book and I believe that if I had truly known what I was in for, I wouldn't have started it at 11:00 at night. Seriously? I read and enjoyed "Six" and am going to be reading "Six Toy" next, so I thought it was going to be more of the same. Mr. Crow does smut and bdsm in a way that is not pretty. I guess that's why he and Jade West must get on, seeing as how their tastes run similar. However, with Dare, all bets were off.

As I was trying to look up the genre of the book to show more fill it in Calibre, I read that it as "dark, erotica, and horror". I suppose I was expecting a bit of a dark read with erotic horror. I should have realized that when the book says "horror" that's what it means. I don't mind, I actually liked it, seeing as how I have been reading Tim Miller books and others in the Splatterporn genre.

So what did I think? I think a lot of readers missed the point of the plot devices used. The story has two or three levels. You have base reality, which has Dani and Drew hooking up, and jumping into a soulmate level of sick and twisted sex and sociopathic behavior. Think Mickey and Mallory of Natural Born Killers.

All along Dani is frequently reminded of various events that happened over her life with a few individuals who helped round out her innate deviancy. These memories are told in the form on flashbacks that bleed in from one sentence of the story to the next. On top of all that, Dani and Drew are tripping balls on shrooms, getting drunk on beer and rum, and getting high on cocaine.

So the reader is thrown from what is happening now to what happened in the past and back again to drug induced hallucinations. This can be compared to Requiem for a Dream. It isn't an easy read because what Dani is going through and what she has going on in her mind isn't pretty. There isn't a coherent narrative because she isn't coherent. The blending of flashbacks, hallucinations, and reality are the best part of the book. It forces the reader into the perspective of Dani, and Dani, isn't all there.

So, if you want to give the book a try, it's a Kindle Unlimited, and only took a few hours to read.

One particular warning --- Do NOT let your kids near it. Seriously, it would be better for them to read one of the mommy porn books than this. It will scar them. On the other hand, it may put them off of sex and drugs so, its a toss up.

Also, if you find that you can't handle what you are reading then know this, it will only get worse as the book progresses. I am pretty seasoned to the genre but there were a few scenes that caught me off guard and had me pulling back. This is one sick and twisted, bleach your brain out book that pulls no punches and gives zero fucks. I feel as if the story originated from the nighttime dreams following an evening of drunken "would you rather" between friends who are already pretty twisted.

I loved it, I probably wont read it again, but it was enough for me to read it once.

The title is apropos in that it takes a dare to read it.

Thank you Mr. James Crow for putting it out there and delivering a book that forces readers into uncomfortable situations that many authors are not able to do, don't have the vision or balls to do it. I think its safe to say that this kind of unattractive sex should be left to those who are obviously professionals. Thank you to Jade West for getting Mr. Crow into the writing game. I look forward to more. show less

Seriously?! This is a MUST READ! If you want a complete mind-blowing experience, mixed with sex and more dirt and grime than you can comprehend, this is a read you won’t be able to let go of. I went in expecting a great, gritty read, and got so much more.

From start to finish, this book keeps you guessing and gasping at the the surprises Crow has in store. I was on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out Dani, trying to understand the life she was living. Each dare took me closer to the show more edge, wondering if she was going to find who she was and what she was looking for. Then…BAM. Crow hit me with a twist, a turn and then a complete mindgasm. I couldn’t believe where he went, and what happened. Such a brilliant finish to a purely epic read.

The characters are fantastic. Each is completely different, all connected by their need and want to enjoy life, in their own, and sometimes completely messed up, way. Dani is or main focus and Crow gave you depth, detail and a complete personality, making it easy to connect with her, and try to get inside her mind and her wants. It was very easy to connect with the secondary characters as well. Easy enough that some I had a pure hate for and others I had compassion or lust for. It was lovely to be able to feel as though I was there.

The pace was perfection. It flowed seamlessly and really kept me moving, guessing and jumping in. I liked that it was a fast-paced and rough ride story. I loved that it was truly one of those reads that, once you take that first step, you are in it for the whole journey.

Overall, I loved this book. Crow has created a story that will wow minds, keep you guessing and maybe even question your sanity. Truly the best book I’ve read this year, by far!

**I received and Arc and chose to provide my honest review. show less

If John Waters wrote his take on Tales from the Crypt this would be the book.

The best I cam come up with.

I can understand why Jade West brought James Crow into the writing business. He does for ugly sex what she did for taboo fetishes. Presented it in a way that on the surface is all about shocking the reader, but a deeper look shows actual characters that are more than one-dimensional and in the end are good people who want to do their thing without judgement. Family and familial love is a show more common theme. Husbands and wives may not be pretty, but they love each other. Didn't think about this while I was reading this book, but it is coming to mind as I write this review.

Still, it's an anthology like "Tales from the Crypt" only with a sexual bent. All the stories are "twists at the end". Short couple of pages each.

Fun, sick and twisted, uncomfortable, but in the end a good read. show less

4.8 stars

Well I didn't see this ending that this author wrote. Totally hit me from left field. This book was dark, twisty, kinky as hell, filled with fetishes galore, and a dash of mystery/suspense.

I bow down to this author and his ability to write a book on hat both turns me on but pushes my limits and makes me increase my therapy sessions.