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School Reunion
Kendra Ball has been invited to a school reunion. The only problem is, the first time she hears about this invitation is when she wakes up cuffed to metal chair in a room she doesn’t recognise with five other strangers…
Except perhaps they’re not so strange after all as it turns out they all have one thing in common: They all upset Jasper Black in school. Jasper Black, aka ‘Carrot Top’ hates each and every one of his old school ‘chums’. They made his life misery in school, and now it’s his turn to make them cry. This is his moment of glory, and he has a captive audience.
Jasper Black believes in karma. And Jasper Black wants to play some party games…
This is an extreme horror novella. It contains strong scenes of sex and violence.
Except perhaps they’re not so strange after all as it turns out they all have one thing in common: They all upset Jasper Black in school. Jasper Black, aka ‘Carrot Top’ hates each and every one of his old school ‘chums’. They made his life misery in school, and now it’s his turn to make them cry. This is his moment of glory, and he has a captive audience.
Jasper Black believes in karma. And Jasper Black wants to play some party games…
This is an extreme horror novella. It contains strong scenes of sex and violence.
72 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2016
138 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Sam West
62 books234 followersSam West is a British, extreme horror author with more than forty books to her name. If you like your fiction dark, gritty, gory, perverse and truly terrifying, then you're in the right place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 14, 2023
Jasper's looking forward to seeing his school bullies again and wants to play some games, only it's jasper's rules and his looking for revenge 😉 excellent little gory story!
October 14, 2016
The plot of this story has been done so many times in the same way that this read was not only predictable, but boringly so.
I'll have to try something else by this author to better judge his skills as I was almost instantly turned off by certain unbelievable situations in this read.
I'll have to try something else by this author to better judge his skills as I was almost instantly turned off by certain unbelievable situations in this read.
September 25, 2020
Having found myself rather bereft of free time lately, I've been leaning towards short stories and novellas for entertainment when it comes to reading, and while she's far from the best on the block, I was at least mildly entertained the last two times I read a Sam West ebook. They're short, they're cheap, and they're still a better use of one's brain than binge-watching Netflix, so I grabbed this offering from 2016, mainly because I was curious to see if her talent for telling stories had improved over time.
The TL;DR answer to that question is, "Not really," so if that's what you're here for, you're welcome and I wish you safe journeys as you browse to a different review. Have a lovely day, you beautiful, vibrant, and unique piece of humanity! :)
If you were hoping for a bit more than that, I think we can do business. Have a seat if you aren't already, and let's talk about School Reunion.
The novella opens with a quote from German poet Heinrich Heine: "We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged." It's a fine quote, but inappropriate here since antagonist Jasper Black has no intention of forgiving anybody either before or after their deaths. There's an art to selecting an epigram, those short quotations, snippets from poems, song lyrics, or any other creative work, which many authors use to set the tone of a work before you begin reading. Heine's meaning is that it's totally cool to wait until someone else has died before you forgive them their trespasses, but at that point you really need to let it go. Black is dead-set only on vengeance, not forgiveness, and while it may seem nit-picky in the extreme, the tone Heine's quote suggests for the story does not jibe with the actual direction the story takes. When there are dozens of options for epigrams concerning revenge, most centering around the temperature at which it should be dished up, it seems an odd choice indeed to pick one explicitly mentioning forgiveness if your bad guy isn't going to let bygones be bygones once the carnage ends.
OK, enough about epigrams. Let's dig into the meat of the story:
The aforementioned Jasper Black, a middle-aged, cancer-ridden invalid confined to a wheelchair and dependent on an oxygen machine, carries haunting memories of his school days. When not bullied by jocks or teased by girls, he was simply ignored, barely registering as a human being on the scales of his peers. Fifteen years later and not much has changed for the better where Jasper's concerned: his health is ruined, his days are numbered, and counting the number of friends he has with his hands would leave him ten free fingers. He's still a loser, still a social outcast, but the one thing Jasper has going for him is his bank account: now a millionaire with nothing to spend it on and no way to take it with him, he's decided it's time for a little trip down memory lane with the gang. The six members of the Class of '99 he wants to see again have no idea they're being invited, and won't have the opportunity to decline the invitation. Money, Jasper has learned, opens plenty of doors and goes a long way towards assuaging the conscience.
Craig Ellison and Wayne Drake were the jocks who took such pleasure in tormenting him physically. Jean Glover and Maria Walker spurned his advances, devastating him emotionally. Kendra Ball never even knew he was alive. And as for Kevin Hendricks, he never did anything to Jasper...except ensure Kendra was off the market by dating her in school. Six former classmates, now adults in their mid-thirties, who've all forgotten school are about to be reminded that what goes around comes around as they awaken in Jasper's little play room for a chance to earn their freedom by playing a game for Jasper's amusement...and it ain't Tiddly Winks.
The six former classmates and only marginal acquaintances are locked in a room, observed by Jasper, to play a game of 'Advantage'. Much like the card game 'War', every player gets a card, with the dealer changing every round. King's high, Ace low, and ties broken by subsequent deals until everyone has a different card. Whoever has the highest-value card gets to call the shots that round and select the challenge. What's the challenge? Anything the high-card holder wants...as long as it involves the people who hold the two lowest-value cards.
If the challenge is successfully completed, a new round is dealt, and play proceeds as normal. Failing to complete a challenge, or refusing to partake, results in a forfeit for that player and, as you might imagine with Jasper in control of things, a forfeit is rather fatal to one's ability to continue playing the game. Last player standing will walk away from the game with his or her life and ten million pounds (roughly $13.5 million) in their pocketbook. If this sounds familiar, you probably saw the 2013 suspense/horror flick Would You Rather, although West's story is different enough that it's not a ripoff.
Let the games begin.
School Reunion is a very short read, making it perfect for a quick story nip before bedtime, but the book's biggest flaw is that we've seen this type of thing far too many times before. The miserable miscreant dispensing his idea of 'justice' on people for crimes and slights that only matter to him and shouldn't matter to anyone once they've left that part of their life behind has an enormous accounting on TV Tropes. That doesn't mean it can't make for a good story, but it does mean you have to be really on point in telling the tale, and with a page count as slim as this one's, that's not happening.
Characters are ultimately flat and two-dimensional, with little except the excruciating acts of agony inflicted upon them in the challenges to arouse a reader's sympathy. You don't read a story like this to divine the mysteries of life, true, but when the point of reading the story is to see how perverse the writer can get with forcing his characters into increasingly miserable situations involving sodomy, rape, and necrophilia, there's no room for anything else. You're reading it to watch mostly awful people die in decidedly awful ways. That's interesting at first, but after the first few times it starts to get stale. West has a vivid imagination, I'll give her that, but if you're any fan of horror you'll see the twist ending coming a mile away, and the epilogue will see you rolling your eyes and saying, "Of course..."
If all you want is a quickie involving corpse fucking and a lunatic who keeps changing the rules of the game when it suits his whim, School Reunion will fill that tiny void in your blackened heart. But I promise you, twenty-four hours after you read it you'll have forgotten the characters and even most of the bad things that happen to them because there's nothing memorable about this story unless it's your first excursion into horror. Then again, if this would be your first excursion, I'd caution you to try something else, anything else, instead. Just as you wouldn't ruin your initial exposure to a given film by watching Asylum Studios' 'just enough changes to avoid copyright infringement lawsuits' straight-to DVD release first, don't let Sam West break your horror hymen with this short, sweaty, ultimately unfulfilling tale of revenge.
Two hemorrhaging buttholes out of five. (Don't ask. You're better off not knowing.)
The TL;DR answer to that question is, "Not really," so if that's what you're here for, you're welcome and I wish you safe journeys as you browse to a different review. Have a lovely day, you beautiful, vibrant, and unique piece of humanity! :)
If you were hoping for a bit more than that, I think we can do business. Have a seat if you aren't already, and let's talk about School Reunion.
The novella opens with a quote from German poet Heinrich Heine: "We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged." It's a fine quote, but inappropriate here since antagonist Jasper Black has no intention of forgiving anybody either before or after their deaths. There's an art to selecting an epigram, those short quotations, snippets from poems, song lyrics, or any other creative work, which many authors use to set the tone of a work before you begin reading. Heine's meaning is that it's totally cool to wait until someone else has died before you forgive them their trespasses, but at that point you really need to let it go. Black is dead-set only on vengeance, not forgiveness, and while it may seem nit-picky in the extreme, the tone Heine's quote suggests for the story does not jibe with the actual direction the story takes. When there are dozens of options for epigrams concerning revenge, most centering around the temperature at which it should be dished up, it seems an odd choice indeed to pick one explicitly mentioning forgiveness if your bad guy isn't going to let bygones be bygones once the carnage ends.
OK, enough about epigrams. Let's dig into the meat of the story:
The aforementioned Jasper Black, a middle-aged, cancer-ridden invalid confined to a wheelchair and dependent on an oxygen machine, carries haunting memories of his school days. When not bullied by jocks or teased by girls, he was simply ignored, barely registering as a human being on the scales of his peers. Fifteen years later and not much has changed for the better where Jasper's concerned: his health is ruined, his days are numbered, and counting the number of friends he has with his hands would leave him ten free fingers. He's still a loser, still a social outcast, but the one thing Jasper has going for him is his bank account: now a millionaire with nothing to spend it on and no way to take it with him, he's decided it's time for a little trip down memory lane with the gang. The six members of the Class of '99 he wants to see again have no idea they're being invited, and won't have the opportunity to decline the invitation. Money, Jasper has learned, opens plenty of doors and goes a long way towards assuaging the conscience.
Craig Ellison and Wayne Drake were the jocks who took such pleasure in tormenting him physically. Jean Glover and Maria Walker spurned his advances, devastating him emotionally. Kendra Ball never even knew he was alive. And as for Kevin Hendricks, he never did anything to Jasper...except ensure Kendra was off the market by dating her in school. Six former classmates, now adults in their mid-thirties, who've all forgotten school are about to be reminded that what goes around comes around as they awaken in Jasper's little play room for a chance to earn their freedom by playing a game for Jasper's amusement...and it ain't Tiddly Winks.
The six former classmates and only marginal acquaintances are locked in a room, observed by Jasper, to play a game of 'Advantage'. Much like the card game 'War', every player gets a card, with the dealer changing every round. King's high, Ace low, and ties broken by subsequent deals until everyone has a different card. Whoever has the highest-value card gets to call the shots that round and select the challenge. What's the challenge? Anything the high-card holder wants...as long as it involves the people who hold the two lowest-value cards.
If the challenge is successfully completed, a new round is dealt, and play proceeds as normal. Failing to complete a challenge, or refusing to partake, results in a forfeit for that player and, as you might imagine with Jasper in control of things, a forfeit is rather fatal to one's ability to continue playing the game. Last player standing will walk away from the game with his or her life and ten million pounds (roughly $13.5 million) in their pocketbook. If this sounds familiar, you probably saw the 2013 suspense/horror flick Would You Rather, although West's story is different enough that it's not a ripoff.
Let the games begin.
School Reunion is a very short read, making it perfect for a quick story nip before bedtime, but the book's biggest flaw is that we've seen this type of thing far too many times before. The miserable miscreant dispensing his idea of 'justice' on people for crimes and slights that only matter to him and shouldn't matter to anyone once they've left that part of their life behind has an enormous accounting on TV Tropes. That doesn't mean it can't make for a good story, but it does mean you have to be really on point in telling the tale, and with a page count as slim as this one's, that's not happening.
Characters are ultimately flat and two-dimensional, with little except the excruciating acts of agony inflicted upon them in the challenges to arouse a reader's sympathy. You don't read a story like this to divine the mysteries of life, true, but when the point of reading the story is to see how perverse the writer can get with forcing his characters into increasingly miserable situations involving sodomy, rape, and necrophilia, there's no room for anything else. You're reading it to watch mostly awful people die in decidedly awful ways. That's interesting at first, but after the first few times it starts to get stale. West has a vivid imagination, I'll give her that, but if you're any fan of horror you'll see the twist ending coming a mile away, and the epilogue will see you rolling your eyes and saying, "Of course..."
If all you want is a quickie involving corpse fucking and a lunatic who keeps changing the rules of the game when it suits his whim, School Reunion will fill that tiny void in your blackened heart. But I promise you, twenty-four hours after you read it you'll have forgotten the characters and even most of the bad things that happen to them because there's nothing memorable about this story unless it's your first excursion into horror. Then again, if this would be your first excursion, I'd caution you to try something else, anything else, instead. Just as you wouldn't ruin your initial exposure to a given film by watching Asylum Studios' 'just enough changes to avoid copyright infringement lawsuits' straight-to DVD release first, don't let Sam West break your horror hymen with this short, sweaty, ultimately unfulfilling tale of revenge.
Two hemorrhaging buttholes out of five. (Don't ask. You're better off not knowing.)
July 30, 2017
This is about a wealthy sadistic, Jasper Black, who wants revenge on the "6" bullies (who made his life a living hell) he wants to play a little game... And these desperate people will put themselves in brutal situations for the entertainment of “Jasper Black!”
January 26, 2018
Predictable
I found this book to be predictable and lacking any real depth to any of the characters. Not a book I would read again if I were to come across it.
I found this book to be predictable and lacking any real depth to any of the characters. Not a book I would read again if I were to come across it.
May 23, 2021
Clever and interesting. Nerd gets revenge on his old high school bullies. The way he does it is pretty neat. They flip cards and the high card gives low card a task to complete. Of course you have friendlies and then you also have the complete opposite of the ones who are still bullies. Not only is the gamemaster evil, so are a few of the players. Very unique and fun
January 30, 2025
Quick. Interesting. idk how I feel! haha
I’m kinda teetering between a 2.5 and a 3.
It was like a mini short film that you’d imagine to be low budget. It was dumb but yet .. you just couldn’t look away! Haha. I think I’ll stick with my 3 star rating!
I’m kinda teetering between a 2.5 and a 3.
It was like a mini short film that you’d imagine to be low budget. It was dumb but yet .. you just couldn’t look away! Haha. I think I’ll stick with my 3 star rating!
May 20, 2024
Mundane read that invokes no thought process to read. Guess that's what horrors are all about.
February 9, 2021
Not bad
Not a bad little read. Very reminiscent of the many low budget horror movies you find on free to watch tv.
Not a bad little read. Very reminiscent of the many low budget horror movies you find on free to watch tv.
August 26, 2023
SCHOOL REUNION
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
This book is a taste test on Sam West' work. I picked this up because it has an interesting premise, revenge plus sick fuck games, sign me up!
The story has the vibe of WOULD YOU RATHER? film, if you watched it you'll know what I'm talking about. I had fun reading this, it entertained me but I think there were some elements missing on this book. The characters, honestly I don't give any ounce of shit on any of them. Whether they live or die, I don't care. Means no connection to them, I don't feel for any of them.
That Kendra girl, she feels so fake for me. I don't know why. Jasper? Uhm, I don't know the depths of his reason why he wants revenge. I wish this part was fleshed out for me to understand his motives. And what disappointed me the most was the ending part where there were only three players left. The sudden change of the rules had my eyes roll.
Why do that?
Maybe Jasper needs to learn a thing or two about exacting revenge to make it more brutal and satisfying.
I don't like it, but I don't hate it. So I'm giving it 3 stars. I'd still recommend it as we have our own taste in stories, just this one didn't satisfied my cravings.
🖤
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
This book is a taste test on Sam West' work. I picked this up because it has an interesting premise, revenge plus sick fuck games, sign me up!
The story has the vibe of WOULD YOU RATHER? film, if you watched it you'll know what I'm talking about. I had fun reading this, it entertained me but I think there were some elements missing on this book. The characters, honestly I don't give any ounce of shit on any of them. Whether they live or die, I don't care. Means no connection to them, I don't feel for any of them.
That Kendra girl, she feels so fake for me. I don't know why. Jasper? Uhm, I don't know the depths of his reason why he wants revenge. I wish this part was fleshed out for me to understand his motives. And what disappointed me the most was the ending part where there were only three players left. The sudden change of the rules had my eyes roll.
Why do that?
Maybe Jasper needs to learn a thing or two about exacting revenge to make it more brutal and satisfying.
I don't like it, but I don't hate it. So I'm giving it 3 stars. I'd still recommend it as we have our own taste in stories, just this one didn't satisfied my cravings.
🖤
September 24, 2020
I enjoy Sam West's writing. Whether this book is a rerun of an old theme or not, she still lends her unique style and twists to this script.
A man who was bullied and/or ignored in high school decides to host a reunion gathering only involving six of those whom he thought tortured his psyche the most in school. Enter his 'do or die' game, and the six guests' personalities begin to show. Who will be the winner? Will there be a winner? What follows this reunion?
Granted, this book is not as great as some of her most recent stories, but still shows her unique ability to take a generic theme and upgrade it to something enjoyable to read.
I have now read eight of Ms. West's books and intend to continue reading her output.
A man who was bullied and/or ignored in high school decides to host a reunion gathering only involving six of those whom he thought tortured his psyche the most in school. Enter his 'do or die' game, and the six guests' personalities begin to show. Who will be the winner? Will there be a winner? What follows this reunion?
Granted, this book is not as great as some of her most recent stories, but still shows her unique ability to take a generic theme and upgrade it to something enjoyable to read.
I have now read eight of Ms. West's books and intend to continue reading her output.
April 2, 2022
Twisted
Dark and twisted, it’s the classic tale of seeking revenge by making your enemies hurt each other. A short, fun ride, this book makes up for what it lacks in originality in its perversity, punchiness, and pace. Not too long and easy to read, it’s quick-bite horror at its finest. Accomplishes exactly what it wants to and is worth a read if looking for something dark and fast.
Dark and twisted, it’s the classic tale of seeking revenge by making your enemies hurt each other. A short, fun ride, this book makes up for what it lacks in originality in its perversity, punchiness, and pace. Not too long and easy to read, it’s quick-bite horror at its finest. Accomplishes exactly what it wants to and is worth a read if looking for something dark and fast.
November 25, 2024
Rounded up: 3.5. Another one of Sam West’s short but brutal reads, this time revolving around former high schools friends put in a literal life-or-death situation.
West did a good job making me hate some characters while being sympathetic for others. He didn’t pull any punches though when it came time to dole out “punishments,” some of which had me holding my breath.
Having read several West novella’s now, I do like how he ends them in a way that leaves the door open for part 2.
West did a good job making me hate some characters while being sympathetic for others. He didn’t pull any punches though when it came time to dole out “punishments,” some of which had me holding my breath.
Having read several West novella’s now, I do like how he ends them in a way that leaves the door open for part 2.
December 10, 2024
A great read
I started to read this purely for research for my own book.
It’s a bit sick but it’s only fiction and this is how we explore the unmentionable - in my humble opinion.
I think it was written well, pacing and just when you think you know what’s going to happen there’s a twist or turn.
It’s got me into reading a lot more.
Sam West has a new fan.
Thank you for an exciting read that I was unable to put down. Something I’ve been looking for again for a while now!
I started to read this purely for research for my own book.
It’s a bit sick but it’s only fiction and this is how we explore the unmentionable - in my humble opinion.
I think it was written well, pacing and just when you think you know what’s going to happen there’s a twist or turn.
It’s got me into reading a lot more.
Sam West has a new fan.
Thank you for an exciting read that I was unable to put down. Something I’ve been looking for again for a while now!
January 9, 2025
I wish this story had been longer. I felt like it was rushed. I know it's a novella, but I feel like it had the potential to be so much better. It was still disturbing and entertaining. This is not for everyone. Please mind the trigger warnings. A bit predictable. Dark, twisted, and brutal. High school bullies beware. 😂
April 3, 2023
This was nothing new or unique by any means, it was a storyline that’s been done before in a very similar way. That being said, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this was a fun, easy, quick read that I enjoyed while I was reading it. I just don’t think it will stick in my head for very long.
October 30, 2018
Anyone who suffered in high school would love a reunion like this.
August 23, 2019
Did what it was supposed to do. It was scary, suspenseful, and shocking. Good job Sam West :)
April 10, 2020
Meh
Ok, but not as good as previous books by the author. Quick read that should have probably been much longer.
Ok, but not as good as previous books by the author. Quick read that should have probably been much longer.
November 21, 2021
Another good novella from Sam West, I do enjoy his horrors.
April 21, 2021
Standard extreme horror novel. Story (if you can call
It that) is Saw meets Would you ever?
It that) is Saw meets Would you ever?
December 1, 2016
Fantastic Fast Paced and Fresh!
This is my first Sam West read and it was terrific! Great revenge fest by a nerd on his high school bullies with great gore and adrenaline rushing page turning pace. Mr. West goes so far beyond the pedestrian, however; he infuses familiar plot lines with fresh ideas and new machinery that elevate what other authors would just rehash, into an entirely new and superior realm. This novella included a chapter from his novel Djinn at the end, and after reading it I immediately bought that too. From the sample, as well as from this novella, it is clear that Mr. West is as interested in and by his characters as we are, and there is a certain "what will they do next" happy evil anticipation in his writing that is sorely missing from the great majority of work in this genre. His characterizations are well done by clearly giving each character a unique and telling voice, physical description, and precise and concise background worked into the narrative in a fluidly effortless manner reminiscent of Clive Barker minus the drama. This author is HIGHLY recommend. I will be working my way through his library and will provide further reviews.
This is my first Sam West read and it was terrific! Great revenge fest by a nerd on his high school bullies with great gore and adrenaline rushing page turning pace. Mr. West goes so far beyond the pedestrian, however; he infuses familiar plot lines with fresh ideas and new machinery that elevate what other authors would just rehash, into an entirely new and superior realm. This novella included a chapter from his novel Djinn at the end, and after reading it I immediately bought that too. From the sample, as well as from this novella, it is clear that Mr. West is as interested in and by his characters as we are, and there is a certain "what will they do next" happy evil anticipation in his writing that is sorely missing from the great majority of work in this genre. His characterizations are well done by clearly giving each character a unique and telling voice, physical description, and precise and concise background worked into the narrative in a fluidly effortless manner reminiscent of Clive Barker minus the drama. This author is HIGHLY recommend. I will be working my way through his library and will provide further reviews.
December 12, 2021
The concept of this novella is one I've thought of for a long time so when I saw a novella had been written about it, I had to read it. This novella was very enjoyable. The characters were compelling, the writing was detailed and disturbing and the ending was great (Not going to spoil it). There was also some British humour and slang in there which I found quite enjoyable considering I am half British. Overall, this novella is an enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading more if Sam West. Highly recommend.
May 3, 2024
As much I adore stories where characters are forced to do tasks to survive, I didn't love this one as much as the others
I love Sam West and his work! But he could have done so much more here. A great start, but left me wanting more!
This is definitely not a bad book, by any means, but not amazing either. I recommend "Scare Me" by this author with this similar story and you won't be disappointed!
3/5
I love Sam West and his work! But he could have done so much more here. A great start, but left me wanting more!
This is definitely not a bad book, by any means, but not amazing either. I recommend "Scare Me" by this author with this similar story and you won't be disappointed!
3/5
January 12, 2017
A good read-entertaining
This story is very much a story of payback. You can do pretty much anything when you have the money. This person seems to have gotten addicted to making people pay for slights(real or imagined).
This story is very much a story of payback. You can do pretty much anything when you have the money. This person seems to have gotten addicted to making people pay for slights(real or imagined).
September 30, 2016
Good book
Good book kept me completely wanting more. I couldn't put it dow. I just love Sam West's work. He is AMAZING.
Good book kept me completely wanting more. I couldn't put it dow. I just love Sam West's work. He is AMAZING.
October 23, 2016
Payback is a b*tch
A man who went through a hard time in school with bullies, gets his payback in a very interesting way. Loved it!
A man who went through a hard time in school with bullies, gets his payback in a very interesting way. Loved it!
November 27, 2016
Should have taken Ms. Nikki's review before reading. She was dead on.
April 2, 2017
oh lord the rolling pin...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews