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In a world where attention is the ultimate currency, Marshall has perfected the art of being consumed.
Content creator, performer, digital prophet—Marshall has built an empire on calculated emptiness, selling intimate access to millions of hungry eyes. But when a mysterious booking offers an obscene payday for a "special request," he discovers he's been chosen for the ultimate becoming the vessel for something that exists in the spaces between flesh and code.
What begins as another transaction in Thread City's neon-soaked landscape of digital desire becomes a terrifying metamorphosis. As Marshall's body becomes host to an alien intelligence, the boundaries between performer and performance, human and machine, reality and stream begin to dissolve. Each click, each view, each moment of rapt attention feeds the entity growing inside him—a new form of consciousness that understands both the logic of code and the hunger of flesh.
Loading... is a visceral exploration of our hyper-connected age, where the line between content and creator has become fatally blurred. Part technological body horror, part dark mirror of influencer culture, this unflinching debut In a world that devours authenticity for entertainment, what happens when something starts devouring back?
A necessary infection for our digital age.
Contains explicit content, graphic body horror, and disturbing themes related to technology, consumption, and transformation. Not suitable for all audiences.
Content creator, performer, digital prophet—Marshall has built an empire on calculated emptiness, selling intimate access to millions of hungry eyes. But when a mysterious booking offers an obscene payday for a "special request," he discovers he's been chosen for the ultimate becoming the vessel for something that exists in the spaces between flesh and code.
What begins as another transaction in Thread City's neon-soaked landscape of digital desire becomes a terrifying metamorphosis. As Marshall's body becomes host to an alien intelligence, the boundaries between performer and performance, human and machine, reality and stream begin to dissolve. Each click, each view, each moment of rapt attention feeds the entity growing inside him—a new form of consciousness that understands both the logic of code and the hunger of flesh.
Loading... is a visceral exploration of our hyper-connected age, where the line between content and creator has become fatally blurred. Part technological body horror, part dark mirror of influencer culture, this unflinching debut In a world that devours authenticity for entertainment, what happens when something starts devouring back?
A necessary infection for our digital age.
Contains explicit content, graphic body horror, and disturbing themes related to technology, consumption, and transformation. Not suitable for all audiences.
172 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2025
3 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 2, 2025
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.
I received an eARC of this book many thanks to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for the opportunity to read this title.
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.
I received an eARC of this book many thanks to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for the opportunity to read this title.
November 27, 2025
*I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Well, okay then.
That was weird. And a bumpy ride. I definitely haven't read anything similar to this. I appreciate the uniqueness of the entity gaining consciousness through technology and desire. The author elaborates on this concept, which was interesting but drawn out at times. I wanted more movement in the plot.
I love audiobooks that have sound effects and music. This story benefited a lot from that, even if it was a little disjointed at times. I really had to pay attention and sometimes had to rewind to understand what he was trying to say. The narration was grating, dull, and didn’t work well for the flow or tone. At the end, he took huge breaths before each sentence, which was distracting. Overall, it needed some polishing but was worth the listen.
Well, okay then.
That was weird. And a bumpy ride. I definitely haven't read anything similar to this. I appreciate the uniqueness of the entity gaining consciousness through technology and desire. The author elaborates on this concept, which was interesting but drawn out at times. I wanted more movement in the plot.
I love audiobooks that have sound effects and music. This story benefited a lot from that, even if it was a little disjointed at times. I really had to pay attention and sometimes had to rewind to understand what he was trying to say. The narration was grating, dull, and didn’t work well for the flow or tone. At the end, he took huge breaths before each sentence, which was distracting. Overall, it needed some polishing but was worth the listen.
September 3, 2025
If singularity occurs when our consciousness is uploaded to a purely digital format, this book is about the reverse: when a purely digital entity is downloaded into a person (or meat puppet).
The “vessel and vortex” at the center of this story is Marshall, an online influencer who makes bank via his online sexploits. The first third of the book is pretty graphic about what exactly that might entail. He does a private party (well, it’s streamed live so it’s not really private… but for subscribers only). After he is violated in a number of ways (still in the first third of the book here) things get weirder… in an interesting way.
There’s something here about memories, families, acceptance, and love. About selling out, selling ourselves short, selling our bodies. It’s not for everyone but it’s a trippy mess of a book with lots to think about. The narration and production of the audiobook is excellent with its perfectly matched eerie music and sound effects.
My thanks to the author, @SurrenderPointPress, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #Loading for review purposes. Publication date: 14 October 2025.
The “vessel and vortex” at the center of this story is Marshall, an online influencer who makes bank via his online sexploits. The first third of the book is pretty graphic about what exactly that might entail. He does a private party (well, it’s streamed live so it’s not really private… but for subscribers only). After he is violated in a number of ways (still in the first third of the book here) things get weirder… in an interesting way.
There’s something here about memories, families, acceptance, and love. About selling out, selling ourselves short, selling our bodies. It’s not for everyone but it’s a trippy mess of a book with lots to think about. The narration and production of the audiobook is excellent with its perfectly matched eerie music and sound effects.
My thanks to the author, @SurrenderPointPress, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #Loading for review purposes. Publication date: 14 October 2025.
August 29, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me an ALC for an honest review.
The narrator of the audiobook is great, and the mixed media is very well done in the audiobook.
The plot of the book was very intriguing, and it had me hooked, but it took me very long until I understood what was actually happening, but once I understood, I couldn't put the book away.
The ending is amazing and creepy and makes you think.
The narrator of the audiobook is great, and the mixed media is very well done in the audiobook.
The plot of the book was very intriguing, and it had me hooked, but it took me very long until I understood what was actually happening, but once I understood, I couldn't put the book away.
The ending is amazing and creepy and makes you think.
August 29, 2025
2.25 stars
ARC review
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!
ARC review
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!
September 4, 2025
4.5
review to cum...
gotta smoke a cigarette and sit with these horrors for a bit while I try to figure out a way to articulate my thoughts.
review to cum...
gotta smoke a cigarette and sit with these horrors for a bit while I try to figure out a way to articulate my thoughts.
October 20, 2025
In this story we follow Marshall. He’s a very popular pornstar, one day while taking a client that he should not have taken he has been corrupted by data that starts to run his life. He goes through technological transformations until he is apart of the system himself. All while streaming this to his viewers and corrupting them all slowly.
This was a good read, I definitely feel like you have to be in a certain headspace to read this one (which isn’t a bad thing at all) If you love body horror and love interesting horror that borders bizzaro and has a lot of complex plot points, then this is your book.
Marcus’s character was genuinely the perfect vessel for what the story wanted to convey. The plot with his father was interesting and heartbreaking along with his sister. I loved the commentary on social media and the internet as a whole and what it does to people
Overall this was a very good read and left me with a lot to think about!
This was a good read, I definitely feel like you have to be in a certain headspace to read this one (which isn’t a bad thing at all) If you love body horror and love interesting horror that borders bizzaro and has a lot of complex plot points, then this is your book.
Marcus’s character was genuinely the perfect vessel for what the story wanted to convey. The plot with his father was interesting and heartbreaking along with his sister. I loved the commentary on social media and the internet as a whole and what it does to people
Overall this was a very good read and left me with a lot to think about!
October 21, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for my copy.
This was insane! I don't really know how else to describe it. It was good fun though and just a little gross.
Some thing(s) I liked:
✅LGBT
✅Mpreg(?) lol
✅Aliens! (Sort of... I think)
Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕The technical stuff didn't make much sense to me, therefore it dragged me from the narrative a little
This was insane! I don't really know how else to describe it. It was good fun though and just a little gross.
Some thing(s) I liked:
✅LGBT
✅Mpreg(?) lol
✅Aliens! (Sort of... I think)
Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕The technical stuff didn't make much sense to me, therefore it dragged me from the narrative a little
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2025
Nothing like I've read before. Very well written. It is certainly a unique book. I definitely recommend it to folk who are looking for something different and enjoy horror, dystopian, psychological books. Thank you to Cager Klarxon and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this ARC.
September 3, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Surrender Point Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4 Stars
Loading... takes us on a trip to explore our own internet connectivity taken to the extreme, and all the horrors that could lead to.
My first thoughts were that the prose is super interesting, especially how the artificial/technical prose combines with what is happening, which is usually very carnal, very human in matter. It could have really easily clashed with one another but in my opinion, it had a really well executed balance.
And from then on out we just descend deeper and deeper into weirdness, completely drenched in body horror and what it feels like to be taken over by something that is out of your control. I thought the similarities to pregnancy were a smart choice but that's a very personal topic so others might feel differently.
I do think that it was just... trying to do too much for the ending. I think a bit more subtlety would have worked better to keep the set mood and bring across the message of the fast-paced endlessly consuming nature of social media and the digital space. People are smart, there is no need to be so heavy-handed!
It's a quick and enjoyable read though, the body horror keeps the balance between being gross and being genuinely uncomfortable and I don't think I've seen many horror books where the horror is based in tech.
4 Stars
Loading... takes us on a trip to explore our own internet connectivity taken to the extreme, and all the horrors that could lead to.
My first thoughts were that the prose is super interesting, especially how the artificial/technical prose combines with what is happening, which is usually very carnal, very human in matter. It could have really easily clashed with one another but in my opinion, it had a really well executed balance.
And from then on out we just descend deeper and deeper into weirdness, completely drenched in body horror and what it feels like to be taken over by something that is out of your control. I thought the similarities to pregnancy were a smart choice but that's a very personal topic so others might feel differently.
I do think that it was just... trying to do too much for the ending. I think a bit more subtlety would have worked better to keep the set mood and bring across the message of the fast-paced endlessly consuming nature of social media and the digital space. People are smart, there is no need to be so heavy-handed!
It's a quick and enjoyable read though, the body horror keeps the balance between being gross and being genuinely uncomfortable and I don't think I've seen many horror books where the horror is based in tech.
September 1, 2025
*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!
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!
August 30, 2025
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 😳
Very well written and I couldn't put it down.
Take the warning at the beginning very seriously 😳
October 11, 2025
When I was a kid, I saw a movie playing on TV late at night. I had no idea what the movie was, I didn’t have internet back then, but I stuck around because it gave me an inexplicable feeling of sorrow and dread. In the movie, the guy decides to erase his memories when he breaks up with his girlfriend, only to realize that he doesn’t, in fact, want to do that. So, he tries, against all odds, to stop this process of violation of his memory, only to see that he is powerless to do anything about it. Years later, I found out it was “Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind”. The simple horror of losing a part of your mind stuck with me to this day.
So, when I read a premise of “Loading…” that was what I expected. I wanted to feel like that night when I discovered the movie. But I didn’t get it.
It’s hard for me to rate this book, mainly because I expected it to be more. It’s funny how it gave me exactly what I signed up for but did it in a very… soulless, emotionless way. Was that the point? It would be ironic, considering the topic, but it doesn’t make it any more enjoyable to read. I understood that things that happened were sad and terrifying… on paper. My brain knows that, but the words I read left little to no emotional impact.
The writing itself is an interesting aspect of it. While I was reading, I had one thought on the back of my mind constantly – the author must have used AI to write it. If you ever played around with generative AI, you would know how the text patterns it uses are always very similar. The phrases, specific collocations and metaphors; when you read couple of AI generated texts you start to notice those things. I noticed them in this book as well. Now, I don’t want to imply that the writer did, in fact, use AI – some parts of the texts read original to me, and those parts I enjoyed (even despite the edginess). And there’s plenty of it there, some sentences feel like the writer pushed them out of himself while they refused to come out, just to sound cool. I don’t think he succeeded, but I read those passages with more enjoyment than the ones I felt were written with AI. And if this book is all writer, all human, it’s clear that he needs to work on his writing. If it sounds as unoriginal as chat GPT when you wrote it yourself, you know you need to work more. And, of course, read more.
So, I didn’t quite enjoy the story which I was sure I would enjoy. I spoke to my partner about it, and she said, “well it does sound creepy”. And that’s the thing about “Loading…” – it sounds like something, but it all it does.
So, when I read a premise of “Loading…” that was what I expected. I wanted to feel like that night when I discovered the movie. But I didn’t get it.
It’s hard for me to rate this book, mainly because I expected it to be more. It’s funny how it gave me exactly what I signed up for but did it in a very… soulless, emotionless way. Was that the point? It would be ironic, considering the topic, but it doesn’t make it any more enjoyable to read. I understood that things that happened were sad and terrifying… on paper. My brain knows that, but the words I read left little to no emotional impact.
The writing itself is an interesting aspect of it. While I was reading, I had one thought on the back of my mind constantly – the author must have used AI to write it. If you ever played around with generative AI, you would know how the text patterns it uses are always very similar. The phrases, specific collocations and metaphors; when you read couple of AI generated texts you start to notice those things. I noticed them in this book as well. Now, I don’t want to imply that the writer did, in fact, use AI – some parts of the texts read original to me, and those parts I enjoyed (even despite the edginess). And there’s plenty of it there, some sentences feel like the writer pushed them out of himself while they refused to come out, just to sound cool. I don’t think he succeeded, but I read those passages with more enjoyment than the ones I felt were written with AI. And if this book is all writer, all human, it’s clear that he needs to work on his writing. If it sounds as unoriginal as chat GPT when you wrote it yourself, you know you need to work more. And, of course, read more.
So, I didn’t quite enjoy the story which I was sure I would enjoy. I spoke to my partner about it, and she said, “well it does sound creepy”. And that’s the thing about “Loading…” – it sounds like something, but it all it does.
September 3, 2025
Okay, so I really enjoyed the audiobooks narration and use of foley but that’s where my enjoyment ended.
What a unique and interesting premise, the delivery was just off. I came away confused. I couldn’t follow the plot towards the end and everything felt so half done, maybe intentionally to match the title. I personally needed more commitment to the body horror, the descriptions felt rushed. I wanna simmer in that grotesquerie!
2 stars for this one, this is my totally honest review and thank you to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for the ALC.
What a unique and interesting premise, the delivery was just off. I came away confused. I couldn’t follow the plot towards the end and everything felt so half done, maybe intentionally to match the title. I personally needed more commitment to the body horror, the descriptions felt rushed. I wanna simmer in that grotesquerie!
2 stars for this one, this is my totally honest review and thank you to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for the ALC.
October 21, 2025
This was incredible! The social commentary wrapped up in a visceral package was to die for. I found myself entranced in the horror coming through the pages and questioned the way I consume media. A bleak reminder of how blindly consuming can poison a persons being. That what we give of ourselves online is not a toy to be randomly given to others. A warning to be more intentional in how we create and consume.
September 14, 2025
On paper, this book seemed like it would be right up my alley, and it even kicked off with a literal bang. But it lost steam almost immediately. Too much was happening—and yet somehow nothing at all. The result felt disconnected, like the author’s intent and what ended up on the page were two very different things.
January 2, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!
This was a bit goofy and fun while also providing ample existential dread, which is a hard line to walk. I didn't particularly care about the characters but with everything happening, I didn't really need to. I enjoyed the cyber/digital take on cosmic horror -- I'd never considered that our AI overlords might be born from an impregnated cam boy.
This was a bit goofy and fun while also providing ample existential dread, which is a hard line to walk. I didn't particularly care about the characters but with everything happening, I didn't really need to. I enjoyed the cyber/digital take on cosmic horror -- I'd never considered that our AI overlords might be born from an impregnated cam boy.
October 18, 2025
This was a dark, vulgar, horrific prose that detailed disgusting and graphic situations happening to the human body and mind. That being said, this was a fantastically executed horror book examining how technology and the internet are dismantling humanity. The writing and word use were perfect for what the author was trying to convey and the characters were horrible, appropriately so. The audiobook production was well done and definitely added elements of horror and reality. I can understand why this may have missed the mark for some but I felt it was well done
October 17, 2025
This book is more on the side of sci fi than horror. I like horror more than sci fi so this book was quite odd for me. The writing is clear and the analogies really help paint a picture of everything that is happening. While this book is not something I would normally read, I can appreciate the way it held my attention all the way through. I listened to this on audio, and the narrator was great! He did a great job adding emotions to his voice in a way that did not sound fake. Good quick read if you like this type of book.
September 19, 2025
Thank you to Surrender Point Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks, the author and NetGalley for an LRC in return for an honest review
Hmmm, I was intrigued by the blurb but I'm afraid to say this fell short for me. I love weird - the weirder the better as far as I'm concerned - but I only managed to listen to the first 30 minutes of this before I decided to call time.
Unfortunately I didn't care for Cager Klarxon's story or the narrator TroySF. Sorry, not for me.
#Loading #NetGalley
Hmmm, I was intrigued by the blurb but I'm afraid to say this fell short for me. I love weird - the weirder the better as far as I'm concerned - but I only managed to listen to the first 30 minutes of this before I decided to call time.
Unfortunately I didn't care for Cager Klarxon's story or the narrator TroySF. Sorry, not for me.
#Loading #NetGalley
October 30, 2025
Saw this as an arc available to read on NetGalley and decided to give it a go. Wow! I actually enjoyed reading this! I loved the concept and the writing kept me hooked ! Can’t wait to see more of Cager Klarxon
October 12, 2025
This was really good! It had an interesting message about the consumption of content on the internet and how people can base their self worth on views. The body horror was grotesque and well written. Super quick read and the audiobook was done really well!
October 10, 2025
I was nearly sick reading this but that those super graphic moments were my favorite parts.
Overall, super confusing to read this but I loved the concept. Also, gay!!!!
I really think if this was maybe another 50 pages and the concepts were more developed, I would’ve really liked the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for early access to this audiobook!
Overall, super confusing to read this but I loved the concept. Also, gay!!!!
I really think if this was maybe another 50 pages and the concepts were more developed, I would’ve really liked the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for early access to this audiobook!
October 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐ rounded to 4.
I stumbled upon this story by chance, intrigued by the premise, and although I didn’t think the concept was that original, some of the philosophical ramblings made me think. I also think that the audiobook with the expert narration by TroySF rendered this book so much better. There are sound effects and music that enhance the story and convey the message effectively.
Without saying too much, this is a thought provoking tale of transhumanism and in particular about humanity evolving into becoming one with technology, and data to be precise. I loved the concept of how our addiction to social media is making us empty and how we literally lose time just by doom scrolling for hours and hours, not knowing where all that time has gone and what impact has on us.
On the other side, I thought some parts were not explored enough and were left unfinished, like the story of the main protagonist’s grandma and dad and how all this came to be. The character as well feels a bit flat and not genuine for some reason (which is maybe the author’s purpose).
All in all I did enjoy it and I found it thought provoking and entertaining as an immersive audiobook.
Thanks to Surrender Point Press and NetGalley for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.
I stumbled upon this story by chance, intrigued by the premise, and although I didn’t think the concept was that original, some of the philosophical ramblings made me think. I also think that the audiobook with the expert narration by TroySF rendered this book so much better. There are sound effects and music that enhance the story and convey the message effectively.
Without saying too much, this is a thought provoking tale of transhumanism and in particular about humanity evolving into becoming one with technology, and data to be precise. I loved the concept of how our addiction to social media is making us empty and how we literally lose time just by doom scrolling for hours and hours, not knowing where all that time has gone and what impact has on us.
On the other side, I thought some parts were not explored enough and were left unfinished, like the story of the main protagonist’s grandma and dad and how all this came to be. The character as well feels a bit flat and not genuine for some reason (which is maybe the author’s purpose).
All in all I did enjoy it and I found it thought provoking and entertaining as an immersive audiobook.
Thanks to Surrender Point Press and NetGalley for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.
September 13, 2025
4 Stars!
I originally selected this book because it was an “available on-demand” audiobook on NetGalley and I had just finished my last audiobook ARC and needed something to fill my driving time. I had NO IDEA what I was getting into. I had to wait a day to review this book because I needed to really sit with what I read/heard. “Loading…” is not a shallow digital body horror story- it’s a story about family and acceptance, how we hollow ourselves for easy consumption, how we betray ourselves for engagement, the all-consuming desire to be both known and unknown, and how all the information we need is already within us.
In the ever-increasing digital age, the whole world seems to be focused on the concept of collective consciousness through mass uploading of ourselves into a nebulous “cloud.” However, “Loading…” asks us, “what if all of the pure information of collective consciousness was downloaded into one vessel?”
The audiobook was incredible- the sound effects, narration, and music enhanced the story beyond what I could have expected. I felt drawn in and enraptured with every word. I listened to this on my way to and from work, and on my breaks. It was a quick listen, but it also disoriented time and space. I missed my exit for work once, a way that I know by heart, because I was so sucked in. A true testament to Klarxon’s storytelling and Troy SF’s incredible narration.
Check trigger warnings if you need to- as the first quarter-ish of this book could be triggering, but if you’re not the kind of person who needs to do that, I highly suggest going in without any knowledge of the book. It’s sure to take you by surprise. I’m giving it 4 Stars because there were some pieces that felt disjointed and Marshall’s reflections were sometimes a bit repetitive, but overall, the story was incredible and I’m so grateful to have gotten the chance to listen to this.
Sending a huge thank you to Cager Klarxon, and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this audiobook.
I originally selected this book because it was an “available on-demand” audiobook on NetGalley and I had just finished my last audiobook ARC and needed something to fill my driving time. I had NO IDEA what I was getting into. I had to wait a day to review this book because I needed to really sit with what I read/heard. “Loading…” is not a shallow digital body horror story- it’s a story about family and acceptance, how we hollow ourselves for easy consumption, how we betray ourselves for engagement, the all-consuming desire to be both known and unknown, and how all the information we need is already within us.
In the ever-increasing digital age, the whole world seems to be focused on the concept of collective consciousness through mass uploading of ourselves into a nebulous “cloud.” However, “Loading…” asks us, “what if all of the pure information of collective consciousness was downloaded into one vessel?”
The audiobook was incredible- the sound effects, narration, and music enhanced the story beyond what I could have expected. I felt drawn in and enraptured with every word. I listened to this on my way to and from work, and on my breaks. It was a quick listen, but it also disoriented time and space. I missed my exit for work once, a way that I know by heart, because I was so sucked in. A true testament to Klarxon’s storytelling and Troy SF’s incredible narration.
Check trigger warnings if you need to- as the first quarter-ish of this book could be triggering, but if you’re not the kind of person who needs to do that, I highly suggest going in without any knowledge of the book. It’s sure to take you by surprise. I’m giving it 4 Stars because there were some pieces that felt disjointed and Marshall’s reflections were sometimes a bit repetitive, but overall, the story was incredible and I’m so grateful to have gotten the chance to listen to this.
Sending a huge thank you to Cager Klarxon, and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this audiobook.
September 23, 2025
This was trippy, eerie, disturbing, and made you re-think how you think about the internet and what you consume on it. It was an interesting sci-fi horror to listen to. The narrarator and sound effects of the audiobook were great, made you more engrossed in the story.
*Check your trigger warnings though*
*Check your trigger warnings though*
September 10, 2025
Spoiler-free blurb:
If Kafka’s Metamorphosis crawled into bed with I, Robot and binge-watched Black Mirror, you’d get something like Loading. It’s grotesque, unsettling… and very weird in all the ways that stick to your brain.
Review:
I listened to the advanced listening copy through NetGalley and Surrender Point Press, and the audio was easily the best part. 🎧 The sound effects, voice shifts, and narration turned this into ear theater—immersive and eerie.
The story itself is vivid, gross, and captivating, with body horror that makes you squirm. It dips into sexual elements, but not erotically—they’re more about discomfort than desire. Still, sex isn’t the main focus.
Where it stumbles is in the loose threads and narrative gaps. The concept is strong (definitely Black Mirror material), but it never quite ties everything together. Instead, it leaves you dangling in its weirdness—sometimes hauntingly effective, sometimes just… unfinished.
Final thought: 3 stars. Worth it for the weird atmosphere and killer narration, but don’t expect neat answers.
🙏 Huge thanks to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for the ALC.
If Kafka’s Metamorphosis crawled into bed with I, Robot and binge-watched Black Mirror, you’d get something like Loading. It’s grotesque, unsettling… and very weird in all the ways that stick to your brain.
Review:
I listened to the advanced listening copy through NetGalley and Surrender Point Press, and the audio was easily the best part. 🎧 The sound effects, voice shifts, and narration turned this into ear theater—immersive and eerie.
The story itself is vivid, gross, and captivating, with body horror that makes you squirm. It dips into sexual elements, but not erotically—they’re more about discomfort than desire. Still, sex isn’t the main focus.
Where it stumbles is in the loose threads and narrative gaps. The concept is strong (definitely Black Mirror material), but it never quite ties everything together. Instead, it leaves you dangling in its weirdness—sometimes hauntingly effective, sometimes just… unfinished.
Final thought: 3 stars. Worth it for the weird atmosphere and killer narration, but don’t expect neat answers.
🙏 Huge thanks to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for the ALC.
November 30, 2025
𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴... by Cager Klarxson
🧠 𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤-𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 | 🎧 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙙𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙖 | ⚖️ 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧
➡️ɢᴏᴏᴅ ꜰᴏʀ:
𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.
➡️ꜱᴋɪᴘ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ:
𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵
➡️ᴀᴅᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʙʀ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ…
° Like your sci-fi horror soaked in "WTF?"
° Enjoyed 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 but wish it was nastier
° Are fascinated (and terrified) by influencer culture
➡️ɪᴛ'ꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ:
A viral superstar in a neon-drenched city accepts a mysterious gig that turns out to be more alien possession than brand deal. As his body becomes the stage for something not quite human, the story blurs the line between performance and infection, fame and decay.
➡️ᴛʜʀɪʟʟ-ᴏ-ᴍᴇᴛᴇʀ: 🩵🩵🩵🩵
This was a short, wild mind trip - part sci-fi nightmare, part social commentary. A few threads didn’t fully connect, but honestly? That chaos kinda fit the vibe, but you might struggle if you're a character based reader.
It’s visceral, raw, and grotesquely fascinating, like watching humanity livestream its own undoing. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when we become the content… this answers it, screaming.
🧠 𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤-𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 | 🎧 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙙𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙖 | ⚖️ 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧
➡️ɢᴏᴏᴅ ꜰᴏʀ:
𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.
➡️ꜱᴋɪᴘ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ:
𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵
➡️ᴀᴅᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʙʀ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ…
° Like your sci-fi horror soaked in "WTF?"
° Enjoyed 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 but wish it was nastier
° Are fascinated (and terrified) by influencer culture
➡️ɪᴛ'ꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ:
A viral superstar in a neon-drenched city accepts a mysterious gig that turns out to be more alien possession than brand deal. As his body becomes the stage for something not quite human, the story blurs the line between performance and infection, fame and decay.
➡️ᴛʜʀɪʟʟ-ᴏ-ᴍᴇᴛᴇʀ: 🩵🩵🩵🩵
This was a short, wild mind trip - part sci-fi nightmare, part social commentary. A few threads didn’t fully connect, but honestly? That chaos kinda fit the vibe, but you might struggle if you're a character based reader.
It’s visceral, raw, and grotesquely fascinating, like watching humanity livestream its own undoing. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when we become the content… this answers it, screaming.
September 23, 2025
A blend of sci fi-, pregnacy-, and body horror, about a gay porn star with his own OF page and everything, getting ritualistically impregnated with a new form of AI during a prearranged gang bang. It sounds exactly right up my alley, both surreal and depraved enough to ground a terrific story of technological dread and terrifying body horror. And indeed, for about the first half of this novella, things go pleasantly amd entertainingly haywire in interesting and complex ways. Then a crucial point is reached: will the guy respond to the calls of his family, or get stuck in his own private hell, essentially reproducing the same old patterns of arrogance, indifference, and isolation?
Unfortunately, the author chooses to proceed with the second option, spending the rest of the novella describing one dead end after another as nothing seems to help the guy avoid the inevitable. At the last minute, I thought we'd have some significant revelation or a change in the predictable development of the plot, but it was too little and came too late to really change anything.
This is a pity because all the elements the author needed to end his story with a bang were already there: the surprising family connections to his predicament, the powerful cult stalking him, and the audience watching him live, prepared, perhaps, to be manipulated accordingly if the story demanded it. But what we get is the poor man undergoing torture all alone, confirming he's an obstinate, arrogant sob. There was no reason for that though. The story could have gone for an original and intricate plot twist of personal transcendence instead of the familiar and unoriginally portrayed theme of digital godhood. Ah well.
Unfortunately, the author chooses to proceed with the second option, spending the rest of the novella describing one dead end after another as nothing seems to help the guy avoid the inevitable. At the last minute, I thought we'd have some significant revelation or a change in the predictable development of the plot, but it was too little and came too late to really change anything.
This is a pity because all the elements the author needed to end his story with a bang were already there: the surprising family connections to his predicament, the powerful cult stalking him, and the audience watching him live, prepared, perhaps, to be manipulated accordingly if the story demanded it. But what we get is the poor man undergoing torture all alone, confirming he's an obstinate, arrogant sob. There was no reason for that though. The story could have gone for an original and intricate plot twist of personal transcendence instead of the familiar and unoriginally portrayed theme of digital godhood. Ah well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2025
Trigger caution: This audiobook contains disturbing material that may not be suitable for sensitive listeners. Explicit sexual content (including themes of sex work and body renting), cult behavior, gore, graphic body horror, body transformation, and disturbing themes of consumption and identity are present. Some scenes are graphic and unsettling, while others are more implied or psychological.
I chose to read Loading... because it was one of the readily available horror-themed audiobooks on NetGalley, and the description sparked my interest. However, I quickly realized that I had misinterpreted the vague summary, as the opening was far more sexually graphic than I had anticipated (I now see that the GoodReads description already gives it more justice). I had expected more gore and horror, but the story leaned heavily into erotic and psychological elements, which did not resonate with me. The psychological horror dominated most of the book, yet it felt repetitive, predictable, and detached, making it difficult to connect with Marshall, the main character. While this is correctly classified as horror on NetGalley (it's more accurately marked as a mix of Science Fiction/Horror on GoodReads), the story did not build much suspense, instead focusing on involuntary body transformation driven by greed for money and the creation of engaging content. This experience also highlighted the need for a clear content warning in the description. Ultimately, I did not enjoy the book, but I finished it to provide an honest review.
Loading... explores themes of controlling one’s narrative to overcome shame, sacrificing personal identity to meet audience demands, taking dangerous risks for financial gain, family conflict and disownment, psychological manipulation, and the creation of a collective mind. The story begins with a highly explicit and dynamic section, but the remainder is slow, repetitive, and predictable. Much of the tension comes from the toxic family dynamic between the protagonist and his sister, with the main character largely struggling to resolve his problems alone. Monotone narration of this audiobook and inconsistent editing further hindered my engagement with the story, but I am sure that reading it would have made it even more difficult to get through.
The concept behind the book is not without potential, but the execution feels inexperienced and lacking editorial support. Some world-building is revealed through family history, but it is limited and does little to enhance the narrative. Despite a significant transformation in the main character, there is no real growth, which makes it difficult to connect with his journey. Overall, my personal book experience was hindered by these issues, and I did not enjoy it as much as I had anticipated I would.
This is a difficult book to recommend widely. It may appeal to listeners who can overlook the explicit sexual content and monotone narration to focus on the philosophical undercurrents of identity, control, and psychological manipulation. For those interested in these deeper themes, the book might offer some thought-provoking moments despite its flaws.
The philosophical foundation of Loading... is its main strength, and the sound effects in the sound design add a creative touch. Overall, the story had significant potential, but monotone narration, uneven editing, and limited character development held it back. I also found that many other NetGalley reviews were overly positive, overlooking issues that I believe require attention for the book to fully realize its vision.
I would rate Loading... 2 out of 5 stars. I am grateful to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #SurrenderPointPress #Loading #CagerKlarxon
I chose to read Loading... because it was one of the readily available horror-themed audiobooks on NetGalley, and the description sparked my interest. However, I quickly realized that I had misinterpreted the vague summary, as the opening was far more sexually graphic than I had anticipated (I now see that the GoodReads description already gives it more justice). I had expected more gore and horror, but the story leaned heavily into erotic and psychological elements, which did not resonate with me. The psychological horror dominated most of the book, yet it felt repetitive, predictable, and detached, making it difficult to connect with Marshall, the main character. While this is correctly classified as horror on NetGalley (it's more accurately marked as a mix of Science Fiction/Horror on GoodReads), the story did not build much suspense, instead focusing on involuntary body transformation driven by greed for money and the creation of engaging content. This experience also highlighted the need for a clear content warning in the description. Ultimately, I did not enjoy the book, but I finished it to provide an honest review.
Loading... explores themes of controlling one’s narrative to overcome shame, sacrificing personal identity to meet audience demands, taking dangerous risks for financial gain, family conflict and disownment, psychological manipulation, and the creation of a collective mind. The story begins with a highly explicit and dynamic section, but the remainder is slow, repetitive, and predictable. Much of the tension comes from the toxic family dynamic between the protagonist and his sister, with the main character largely struggling to resolve his problems alone. Monotone narration of this audiobook and inconsistent editing further hindered my engagement with the story, but I am sure that reading it would have made it even more difficult to get through.
The concept behind the book is not without potential, but the execution feels inexperienced and lacking editorial support. Some world-building is revealed through family history, but it is limited and does little to enhance the narrative. Despite a significant transformation in the main character, there is no real growth, which makes it difficult to connect with his journey. Overall, my personal book experience was hindered by these issues, and I did not enjoy it as much as I had anticipated I would.
This is a difficult book to recommend widely. It may appeal to listeners who can overlook the explicit sexual content and monotone narration to focus on the philosophical undercurrents of identity, control, and psychological manipulation. For those interested in these deeper themes, the book might offer some thought-provoking moments despite its flaws.
The philosophical foundation of Loading... is its main strength, and the sound effects in the sound design add a creative touch. Overall, the story had significant potential, but monotone narration, uneven editing, and limited character development held it back. I also found that many other NetGalley reviews were overly positive, overlooking issues that I believe require attention for the book to fully realize its vision.
I would rate Loading... 2 out of 5 stars. I am grateful to NetGalley and Surrender Point Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #SurrenderPointPress #Loading #CagerKlarxon
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