Book Review: Bowery by Matthew Vaughn
Title: Bowery
Author: Matthew Vaughn
Release date: February 14, 2023
If you’ve followed my reviews, you’ll have seen me use this phrase to describe my reading style – “extreme-lite.” I love when things go insane and we get gore and carnage and horribleness, but I need more to it than just that. I need a solid story arc, a beginning, middle and ending and I need to have a character I can root for.
In the Extreme Horror world/Splatterpunk world, one such author that I love to read is my pal, Matthew Vaughn. Vaughn does all of the above in spades and always keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Just how will our character get out of whatever horrible situation they’ve found themselves in?
Over the weekend, Matthew emailed me a digital copy and said – Hey, here’s my new book, if you’re able, read it when you can! DEAL! DEAL, GOOD SIR! Now, normally I would’ve just read all of this in a single sitting and had a review up and good to go for release date, but alas my lingering head cold and migraine issues prevented that from happening. But I did devour this in two quick sittings and here’s my thoughts! Apologies, Vaughn on this being a day after release!
Just a note – this one has a TON of Trigger Warnings so be aware going in that it might not be your cup of tea.
What I liked: This one wastes no time getting right into the extreme and repulsive. We find Sandra, eight-months pregnant, captured and trussed up naked on a milking table, while some redneck farmers have their way with her. She’s trapped and as they insist she is now a cow to be bred and keep the milk flowing for the Mother Cow, you know you’re in for an insane ride.
If you read that paragraph and were intrigued, I suggest you head over to Godless and pay the $1 because this one is filled to the brim with just utterly extreme moments. Sandra wants to fight for her survival and the survival of her unborn, but she’s continually battered and broken, abused to the utmost that a human can stand.
The ending comes along like a sledge hammer. We get a brief moment of hope that things have taken a solid turn, before Vaughn slams the door shut and we let out an agonized groan of despair.
What I didn’t like: As I mentioned at the start, I like my stories to have a solid and complete story line and I found this one lacked that. We didn’t get any ‘why,’ any reasoning behind why this bowery exists, why they worship the Mother Cow and why it needs to happen and for who. Because of that we’re left with a lot of unanswered questions that were really frustrating.
Why you should buy this: If you frequent Godless and love the extreme of the extreme this is a no brainer for you. Same goes if you love reading Matthew Vaughn’s distinct brand of horror. If you’re neither of the above and want to dive into something this ruthless for the first time, just know you’re in steady hands with one of Extreme Horror’s masters. A veteran storyteller that does it like so very few others do.
3.5/5
