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Knuckle Supper: Ultimate Gutter Fix Edition
When heroin-addicted vampire and gang leader, RJ, reluctantly takes in a twelve-year-old prostitute called Bait, humanity is introduced to his otherwise lifeless existence. An unforgiving, vicious and realistic horror story, Knuckle Supper explores chemical dependency, inner-city brutality, religion, molestation, abortion and the very nature of evil itself.
In 2010, Knuckle Supper was called “The Anti-Twilight.” Now, re-edited and re-mixed as The new “Ultimate Gutter Fix Edition,” 2011's gold medal, IPPY award-winning “Best Horror novel” paves the way to the much anticipated, sequel, Knuckle Balled. Unlike anything you've ever read, Knuckle Supper is a bone-smashing vampire story... built for the 21st century.
"Combining the slick Hollywood decadence of a Bret Easton Ellis novel and the drug-addled realism of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, author Drew Stepek gleefully takes the piss out of the staid troupes of the genre by injecting LA's seedy underbelly with heroin-addicted vampires.”
-Rue Morgue
"Even though there are various types of exploitation involved in the lives/backgrounds of almost all the players in this blood fest, Stepek is masterful in enabling the reader to actually feel sorrow and empathy for a few of the characters (not only RJ and Bait) and to see the human in the monsters and the monster in the humans.”
-Fangoria Magazine
"The novel covers religious fanaticism, abortion, child prostitution, gang violence, drug addiction, and then wraps it in a loving layer of chocolate by letting vampires take responsibility for these things. And when you've finished the book, you'll end up feeling guilty, because the pen is a pistol, and it sure as hell wasn't aimed at vampires."
-Vampires.com
"The book's breakneck pace, gruesome violence, and punk noir prose should endear it to genre fans, but it's RJ and Bait's desperate lunge toward salvation that make Knuckle Supper such a memorable experience."
-Famous Monsters Underground
“It’s a drug-fueled, modern-day vampire saga that reads like a bloodsucking sequel to 1979‘s The Warriors written by James Ellroy. And fans of hardcore horror fiction take blissful note: Stepek’s wicked prose can cut awfully deep." -Bloody Disgusting
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2017
26 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 28, 2024
The beginning of this book had me very intrigued. Drugged out vampires who inject their victims with heroin and then pull the fingers off and drink the bodies like a slushy?!?! Like what?! However, the book quickly became hard to stay with. It is extremely dialogue-heavy, which does not work in its best interest. You follow many strung out addicts that are vulgar, jumbled, and fairly uninteresting in their interactions. The dialogue is totally appropriate for the assigned characters, but it had nothing to break any of it up. And this goes on for the length of the book, which makes it very tiresome to continue on with for 250 pages. The plot also came across like it was more concerned with blitzing the reader with a huge amount of characters, i.e. subordinates, leaders, gangs, etc and overloading the basic premise. I felt like the primary story needed much more depth, with less twists and people involved. And those remaining characters could then have the right amount of room to breathe and make the reader become invested in them. I realize that I am very hard on certain horror subgenres, like vampires, because it’s been drilled into the ground so many times over and over again. And I was genuinely excited to see a story like this that took so many chances at reinventing these creatures and trying something unique. But I just didn’t feel like the risks taken paid off here.
April 13, 2021
Story 5/5
Narrative 5/5 Excellent 👏🏾
Brilliant !!!
Exquisite !!!
I Love it !!!
This book ( I listened to the audiobook) isn’t your typical vampire story , it’s much , much more !
I highly recommend it to extreme horror fan , who likes a great , gore , extremely violent and heartbreaking , vampire story.
Narrative 5/5 Excellent 👏🏾
Brilliant !!!
Exquisite !!!
I Love it !!!
This book ( I listened to the audiobook) isn’t your typical vampire story , it’s much , much more !
I highly recommend it to extreme horror fan , who likes a great , gore , extremely violent and heartbreaking , vampire story.
soft-dnf
October 16, 2025I hate this book.
August 30, 2024
Things get gritty!
This is a unique vampire story. The vampires are section off in gangs. The gangs work together for the most part, as long as they don’t interrupt with the other gains operations or sell on their turf.
As well as sell drugs, they also use it when they consume blood giving them an extreme high. Thing become complicated when they come across a pimp with a young girl. The pimp doesn’t last long and the leader try’s his best to protect the young girl.
This distances him from his gang and his life is turned around. Along the way to do the right thing, his discovers what there capable of and where they really came from.
The lore in this story was very interesting and unlike any vampire story I’ve seen before. There were so many twist and extreme moments making this one wild ride.
This is a unique vampire story. The vampires are section off in gangs. The gangs work together for the most part, as long as they don’t interrupt with the other gains operations or sell on their turf.
As well as sell drugs, they also use it when they consume blood giving them an extreme high. Thing become complicated when they come across a pimp with a young girl. The pimp doesn’t last long and the leader try’s his best to protect the young girl.
This distances him from his gang and his life is turned around. Along the way to do the right thing, his discovers what there capable of and where they really came from.
The lore in this story was very interesting and unlike any vampire story I’ve seen before. There were so many twist and extreme moments making this one wild ride.
April 5, 2021
Well That Was Bloody Brilliant! Not Your Typical Vampire Book At All....So, So Much Better!! I Loved It! Brutal And Gnarly, And Heart Wrenching At Times Too!! My First By Drew Stepek, I Will Definitely Be Reading More By Him, Starting With The Sequel To This...KNUCKLE BALLED!! 👊
April 1, 2021
Now these aren't your sparkly pretty boy twilight kind of vampires, these are rip your limbs off and drink from the stump kind. There's no delicate neck nibbles and sipping its a full on gore and blood bath..
First time reading anything by Drew and I really enjoyed the ride.
First time reading anything by Drew and I really enjoyed the ride.
April 14, 2021
Vampires Unlike Any Others!
Drew Stepek has created one heck of a novel with Knuckle Supper! He fuses an intriguing story of vampires with the social crisis’ plaguing the country with ease. To say he is eloquent with his words in writing is the best I can describe. He creates characters that are relatable, disgusting, pitiful, heinous, and you feel their emotions. I was completely connected with this book, and the characters felt so real it was quite shocking. At times I had to pause because I felt so much empathy for these fictionalized characters. Yes, it is that good!
Knuckle Supper is not at all what you might expect from a vampire novel, and it is fresh and new. Following the leader of the Kucklers, RJ, we dive into a world filled with drug addicted vampires with a seemingly larger thirst for narcotics than even for the life force their bodies require to survive. When a young girl named Bailia drops into The Knuckler’s lives not everyone is happy. RJ becomes torn, bonds with the girl, and proceeds to call her Bait.
As Drew propels you through the L.A. vampire gang factions he sets up a hierarchy of each. Most are at each other’s throats, but tend to work together out of necessity. However, Bait may be RJ and The Knucklers undoing. RJ must convince the leader of the Battlesnakes to allow him to keep Bait, and have her bring back victims. This is no easy task since they aren’t on very good terms, and everything must be ran by King Cobra since they dominate the L.A. scene.
Cobra agrees to let RJ keep Bait, but he swears any more mishaps will end horribly. Following there are tears, dissension, and betrayal in the gangs. Someone, or something, is out for the vampires heads and the clock is ticking against them. Will they be able to set aside their issues to fight a bigger evil? Will RJ keep his word? Or will the house of cards come crashing down?
As I stated Stepek really weaves in a lot of issues that plague society today. Addiction, child prostitution and trafficking, gang violence, rape, the corruption of the church, and abortion. On top of many other aspects. However, Drew handles these topics with grace, and weaves them into the narrative to where they are relevant. This is definitely a thought provoking Splatterpunk novel to say the least!
I have to give Knuckle Supper: The Ultimate Gutter Fix Edition five bloody arm bongs out of five filthy Knucklers! The story is absolutely fantastic, original, and smart. I really had to digest this novel before writing a review. It is truly a piece of fiction I will not soon forget.
You can find Knuckle Supper: The Ultimate Gutter Fix Edition by Drew Stepek on Godless.con, or for a psychical copy on Amazon. Drew is the creator of Godless.com, and is a truly amazing advocate to put an end to child prostitution and trafficking. Portions of Godless proceeds go toward a non profit bear and dear to his heart called Children of the Night. This non profit group works to end child prostitution and trafficking, and get those unfortunate children the help they need to get back on their feet mentally, physically, emotionally, and day to day living. If you would like to know more or to donate please visit http://www.childrenofthenight.org/donate.
Also, check out Godless.com! It is an amazing place for Indie Horror Authors to publish their works uncensored! That’s right! If it is too much for Amazon it will likely be a Godless exclusive. Not to mention they have some really awesome gear to offer such as t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and beanies of which some proceeds go to Children of the Night. It is a win win! Get a cool piece of gear, and help a very good cause. Until next time, my friends.
Drew Stepek has created one heck of a novel with Knuckle Supper! He fuses an intriguing story of vampires with the social crisis’ plaguing the country with ease. To say he is eloquent with his words in writing is the best I can describe. He creates characters that are relatable, disgusting, pitiful, heinous, and you feel their emotions. I was completely connected with this book, and the characters felt so real it was quite shocking. At times I had to pause because I felt so much empathy for these fictionalized characters. Yes, it is that good!
Knuckle Supper is not at all what you might expect from a vampire novel, and it is fresh and new. Following the leader of the Kucklers, RJ, we dive into a world filled with drug addicted vampires with a seemingly larger thirst for narcotics than even for the life force their bodies require to survive. When a young girl named Bailia drops into The Knuckler’s lives not everyone is happy. RJ becomes torn, bonds with the girl, and proceeds to call her Bait.
As Drew propels you through the L.A. vampire gang factions he sets up a hierarchy of each. Most are at each other’s throats, but tend to work together out of necessity. However, Bait may be RJ and The Knucklers undoing. RJ must convince the leader of the Battlesnakes to allow him to keep Bait, and have her bring back victims. This is no easy task since they aren’t on very good terms, and everything must be ran by King Cobra since they dominate the L.A. scene.
Cobra agrees to let RJ keep Bait, but he swears any more mishaps will end horribly. Following there are tears, dissension, and betrayal in the gangs. Someone, or something, is out for the vampires heads and the clock is ticking against them. Will they be able to set aside their issues to fight a bigger evil? Will RJ keep his word? Or will the house of cards come crashing down?
As I stated Stepek really weaves in a lot of issues that plague society today. Addiction, child prostitution and trafficking, gang violence, rape, the corruption of the church, and abortion. On top of many other aspects. However, Drew handles these topics with grace, and weaves them into the narrative to where they are relevant. This is definitely a thought provoking Splatterpunk novel to say the least!
I have to give Knuckle Supper: The Ultimate Gutter Fix Edition five bloody arm bongs out of five filthy Knucklers! The story is absolutely fantastic, original, and smart. I really had to digest this novel before writing a review. It is truly a piece of fiction I will not soon forget.
You can find Knuckle Supper: The Ultimate Gutter Fix Edition by Drew Stepek on Godless.con, or for a psychical copy on Amazon. Drew is the creator of Godless.com, and is a truly amazing advocate to put an end to child prostitution and trafficking. Portions of Godless proceeds go toward a non profit bear and dear to his heart called Children of the Night. This non profit group works to end child prostitution and trafficking, and get those unfortunate children the help they need to get back on their feet mentally, physically, emotionally, and day to day living. If you would like to know more or to donate please visit http://www.childrenofthenight.org/donate.
Also, check out Godless.com! It is an amazing place for Indie Horror Authors to publish their works uncensored! That’s right! If it is too much for Amazon it will likely be a Godless exclusive. Not to mention they have some really awesome gear to offer such as t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and beanies of which some proceeds go to Children of the Night. It is a win win! Get a cool piece of gear, and help a very good cause. Until next time, my friends.
August 26, 2021
Gritty and well written, a fresh and interesting take on vampires that was fun and painful in turns.
May 12, 2021
I came to this book a bit reluctantly because vampires are not really my thing. In fact, they suck (overused vampire pun number one, check.) Except for those ones in 30 DAYS OF NIGHT. Oh, and those ones in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN. I guess I mean I don't like fucking bloodsuckers who could be described as "brooding" or "moody" or "thinly disguised masturbatory aids". Not that there's anything wrong with that last thing, far be it from me to dictate what gets your knuckles shuffling... knuckle shuffling... oh right KNUCKLE SUPPER, that's what I'm supposed to be reviewing.
Ahem! Well, I'm happy to report that the vampires of Drew Stepek's novel are of that rarer breed of carotid-crunchers I like, the kind who end up plastered in more blood than they manage to guzzle.... though I'd be doing the book a disservice to simply highlight the body count, as there is a heart to this story as well that manages to touch on a number of important social issues by re-jigging the standard tropes (the eroticism of vampires, for example, being neatly inverted by the presence of the real life horror of child prostitution.)
Overall, a book one can get one's teeth into... and that would be tired over-used vampire pun number two.
Ahem! Well, I'm happy to report that the vampires of Drew Stepek's novel are of that rarer breed of carotid-crunchers I like, the kind who end up plastered in more blood than they manage to guzzle.... though I'd be doing the book a disservice to simply highlight the body count, as there is a heart to this story as well that manages to touch on a number of important social issues by re-jigging the standard tropes (the eroticism of vampires, for example, being neatly inverted by the presence of the real life horror of child prostitution.)
Overall, a book one can get one's teeth into... and that would be tired over-used vampire pun number two.
January 25, 2018
In Knuckle Supper, we’re introduced to underground gang life in Los Angeles. However, these are not the gangs you might expect. These are vampire gangs, but not the neck biting kind of vampire. It’s more the rip-off-an-appendage-and-drink-from-it kind. Unlike most vampires, it’s not blood they crave the most; it’s drugs.
RJ is the leader of the Knucklers and it’s his story we are following. He’s not your typical image of a suave vampire. He looks and smells like a junkie – wiry and unhealthy. The Knucklers drug of choice is heroin. The gang feed on the street lowlifes who won’t be missed. While relieving a pimp of his head, RJ encounters a twelve year old prostitute, Bait. He takes her in, going against the popular opinion of the rest of the gang.
So what we have is a strange buddy story between RJ and Bait. Despite the bizarre circumstances that surround them, it’s quite heartwarming. Bait is deeply sarcastic, worldly, and innocent at the same time. This is despite the trauma that drove her to her current situation and the bloodshed that surrounds her. Unfortunately to RJ, she is not through her own fault, a heap of trouble.
The author brings us an extremely colorful underground world with multiple gangs. The distinct look of each gang reminded me of The Warriors. The personalities of many of the individual gang members are just as unique and colorful. There is a good deal of dark humor too. There are also changes to the traditional vampire lore. They are more grounded. They can’t turn people into vampires, and sunlight is a mild allergy. RJ’s decision to take in Bait costs him some friendships, and along with some less than wise business decisions, unbalances the delicate gangland status quo. From then on, it’s about how can RJ get out of the situation he created in one piece.
Despite the undead nature of most of the characters, this is a story that has some heart to go along with the gore and violence. There is still plenty of that – don’t worry. As the story progresses, things get very messy in unexpected ways and there are plenty of twists and turns. It’s a chaotic theme park ride and a lot of fun.
RJ is the leader of the Knucklers and it’s his story we are following. He’s not your typical image of a suave vampire. He looks and smells like a junkie – wiry and unhealthy. The Knucklers drug of choice is heroin. The gang feed on the street lowlifes who won’t be missed. While relieving a pimp of his head, RJ encounters a twelve year old prostitute, Bait. He takes her in, going against the popular opinion of the rest of the gang.
So what we have is a strange buddy story between RJ and Bait. Despite the bizarre circumstances that surround them, it’s quite heartwarming. Bait is deeply sarcastic, worldly, and innocent at the same time. This is despite the trauma that drove her to her current situation and the bloodshed that surrounds her. Unfortunately to RJ, she is not through her own fault, a heap of trouble.
The author brings us an extremely colorful underground world with multiple gangs. The distinct look of each gang reminded me of The Warriors. The personalities of many of the individual gang members are just as unique and colorful. There is a good deal of dark humor too. There are also changes to the traditional vampire lore. They are more grounded. They can’t turn people into vampires, and sunlight is a mild allergy. RJ’s decision to take in Bait costs him some friendships, and along with some less than wise business decisions, unbalances the delicate gangland status quo. From then on, it’s about how can RJ get out of the situation he created in one piece.
Despite the undead nature of most of the characters, this is a story that has some heart to go along with the gore and violence. There is still plenty of that – don’t worry. As the story progresses, things get very messy in unexpected ways and there are plenty of twists and turns. It’s a chaotic theme park ride and a lot of fun.
October 17, 2017
Leave your timidity at the door, and maybe your shock, your sense of appropriateness, but be sure to bring your sense of humor because Drew Stepek is about to upend everything you ever thought you knew about vampires, or sort of vampires. While he’s at it, he is going to school readers in the evils of drug dependency, child abuse, prostitution and gang-related turf wars. When he’s finished, you will find yourself caring about the villains, no matter how twisted they may seem.
Meet R.J. Reynolds, vampire, heroin addict and gang leader, whose cold, dead heart is probably bigger than his cold, dead, drug-fried brain as he steals drugs from a rival gang, and takes in a pre-teen prostitute who would give anything to become a vampire.
Oh, make no mistake, R.J. is no saint, and not just a misunderstood vampire looking for redemption. He is one of many brutal and disgusting creatures who live for that next fix, laced with human blood, fresh, of course, like maybe form the stump of an arm or any other appendage.
One thing we will learn, thanks to R.J. is how these vampires truly came to be and trust me, it is a stomach turner and quite clear that he and those like him are the victims of human depravity. Bait, the twelve-year-old prostitute has an equally horrendous story to tell and bless her, she spares nothing in the details.
KNUCKLE SUPPER is one of those reads that you will love or hate, and probably will never make the Great Classics list next to Huckleberry Finn, but it is daring and it does present a pretty raw picture of life on the very dark side of the street. If you have no issues with over-the-top gore, twisted, off-color humor and language that could make a truck driver blush, you will most definitely be entertained from start to finish and you will probably take away a whole new appreciation for how much it sucks to be a misunderstood vampire in a world where no one can be trusted and your lot in life seems to be floating around in a toilet bowl.
If you want some eye-opening reading, don’t mind some major discomfort and aren’t afraid to admit that there were times your stomach felt like rebelling, I say, give it a try!
I voluntarily reviewed and ARc edition of Knuckle Supper: Ultimate Gutter Fix Edition.
Publication Date: November 23, 2017
Publisher: Drew Stepek
Genre: Horror
Print Length: 460 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Meet R.J. Reynolds, vampire, heroin addict and gang leader, whose cold, dead heart is probably bigger than his cold, dead, drug-fried brain as he steals drugs from a rival gang, and takes in a pre-teen prostitute who would give anything to become a vampire.
Oh, make no mistake, R.J. is no saint, and not just a misunderstood vampire looking for redemption. He is one of many brutal and disgusting creatures who live for that next fix, laced with human blood, fresh, of course, like maybe form the stump of an arm or any other appendage.
One thing we will learn, thanks to R.J. is how these vampires truly came to be and trust me, it is a stomach turner and quite clear that he and those like him are the victims of human depravity. Bait, the twelve-year-old prostitute has an equally horrendous story to tell and bless her, she spares nothing in the details.
KNUCKLE SUPPER is one of those reads that you will love or hate, and probably will never make the Great Classics list next to Huckleberry Finn, but it is daring and it does present a pretty raw picture of life on the very dark side of the street. If you have no issues with over-the-top gore, twisted, off-color humor and language that could make a truck driver blush, you will most definitely be entertained from start to finish and you will probably take away a whole new appreciation for how much it sucks to be a misunderstood vampire in a world where no one can be trusted and your lot in life seems to be floating around in a toilet bowl.
If you want some eye-opening reading, don’t mind some major discomfort and aren’t afraid to admit that there were times your stomach felt like rebelling, I say, give it a try!
I voluntarily reviewed and ARc edition of Knuckle Supper: Ultimate Gutter Fix Edition.
Publication Date: November 23, 2017
Publisher: Drew Stepek
Genre: Horror
Print Length: 460 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 30, 2017
Addicting
This book will rock your world. Best visuals ever. Drug addicted vampires into gang banging drugs and raping prostitutes, what could go wrong?
This book will rock your world. Best visuals ever. Drug addicted vampires into gang banging drugs and raping prostitutes, what could go wrong?
September 8, 2021
If like me, of the two major vampire films released in 1987, you prefer the Kathryn Bigelow directed Near Dark over Joel Schumacher's The Lost Boys, Knuckle Supper is the vampire novel for you. The Lost Boys may have had the audience and the soundtrack, but Near Dark had the brutality, originality, and grittiness that befitted the monsters at the heart of the story. Knuckle Supper carries that tradition into 21st-century horror literature.
Stepek writes vampires the way one might expect from someone who wants to take the monsters back from the L. J. Smiths and Stephenie Meyers of the world, restoring them to the darkness and underground where they belong. It's difficult for me to describe what he's put together in these pages that race past the reader at a rapid-fire pace. Knuckle Supper is, in effect, Anne Rice meets Irvine Welsh, Near Dark meets Requiem for a Dream, and a little bit The Warriors meets 30 Days of Night. If that doesn't intrigue you, I honestly don't know how else I can try to describe it without just reading the book to you, and we know I'm not going to do that.
We meet RJ and Dez as they're preparing to murder a pimp in the home they're squatting in, a steadily depreciating house once belonging to a former child star turned heroin addict.
RJ, Dez, and the rest of the Knucklers aren't your typical Hollywood vampires, even though they live in Los Angeles. Blood isn't their only addiction. They need heroin to survive. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as spiking a needle into their veins to get their fix. They need blood to carry the high into their starving, desiccated internal organs. Enter the pimp they're about to have for supper.
The (almost) 13-year-old prostitute carelessly tossed into the bathroom is all but forgotten as RJ and Dez make a mess of the place in their desperate chase for a fix. Against his better judgment, and displaying more humanity than his peers, RJ decides not to kill the young girl. This act of uncharacteristic decency is how Bait becomes part of his family. It's also how everything begins to spiral out of control, ultimately bringing RJ face-to-face with The Cloth, an organization he'd dismissed as nothing but a vampire's boogeyman, and the painful truth at the core of what RJ actually is.
Drew Stepek introduces readers to a Los Angeles populated by a different sort of gang, consisting of a wholly different kind of gangster from what we've become familiar with from popular culture. The city is divided up between tenuously allied gangs of vampires, each feeding and dealing on their own turf. Brutal, far from immortal, and impulsive, Stepek's vampires are prone to massive errors in judgment, and it's only a matter of time before the flimsy alliances fracture and violence ensues.
There's more to this story than drug addiction and graphic violence, though there's plenty of both. There's also a depth and character to this story that underscores the superficial, splattery elements of the narrative.
Stepek writes vampires the way one might expect from someone who wants to take the monsters back from the L. J. Smiths and Stephenie Meyers of the world, restoring them to the darkness and underground where they belong. It's difficult for me to describe what he's put together in these pages that race past the reader at a rapid-fire pace. Knuckle Supper is, in effect, Anne Rice meets Irvine Welsh, Near Dark meets Requiem for a Dream, and a little bit The Warriors meets 30 Days of Night. If that doesn't intrigue you, I honestly don't know how else I can try to describe it without just reading the book to you, and we know I'm not going to do that.
We meet RJ and Dez as they're preparing to murder a pimp in the home they're squatting in, a steadily depreciating house once belonging to a former child star turned heroin addict.
RJ, Dez, and the rest of the Knucklers aren't your typical Hollywood vampires, even though they live in Los Angeles. Blood isn't their only addiction. They need heroin to survive. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as spiking a needle into their veins to get their fix. They need blood to carry the high into their starving, desiccated internal organs. Enter the pimp they're about to have for supper.
The (almost) 13-year-old prostitute carelessly tossed into the bathroom is all but forgotten as RJ and Dez make a mess of the place in their desperate chase for a fix. Against his better judgment, and displaying more humanity than his peers, RJ decides not to kill the young girl. This act of uncharacteristic decency is how Bait becomes part of his family. It's also how everything begins to spiral out of control, ultimately bringing RJ face-to-face with The Cloth, an organization he'd dismissed as nothing but a vampire's boogeyman, and the painful truth at the core of what RJ actually is.
Drew Stepek introduces readers to a Los Angeles populated by a different sort of gang, consisting of a wholly different kind of gangster from what we've become familiar with from popular culture. The city is divided up between tenuously allied gangs of vampires, each feeding and dealing on their own turf. Brutal, far from immortal, and impulsive, Stepek's vampires are prone to massive errors in judgment, and it's only a matter of time before the flimsy alliances fracture and violence ensues.
There's more to this story than drug addiction and graphic violence, though there's plenty of both. There's also a depth and character to this story that underscores the superficial, splattery elements of the narrative.
August 23, 2021
Not your typical vampire story, it’s so much better.
October 14, 2021
Really enjoyed this one. A brand new take on the vampire scene which is rare. Felt it dragged a little in certain parts but overall it was a great story with some great characters. Looking forward to picking up book 2.
July 26, 2020
Loved it
A truly great ride. I was half expecting a cliche' vampire story but this is far from it. Full of twists and blood and on top of that amazing characters. There's were quite a few I thought were great and you felt like you could picture each and every one of them. Well written, gripping solid storyline that had me hooked. Thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
A truly great ride. I was half expecting a cliche' vampire story but this is far from it. Full of twists and blood and on top of that amazing characters. There's were quite a few I thought were great and you felt like you could picture each and every one of them. Well written, gripping solid storyline that had me hooked. Thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
April 4, 2025
I absolutely loved this, not like any vampire story I've ever heard before, it's got everything, the descriptions are vibrant and gorey, it's sad and heartbreaking, and it's darkly funny in places!
July 8, 2024
Knuckle Supper is a gritty glimpse into a drug infested world, where the real monsters are much more human than you would think.
As a horror fanatic my entire life I have seen many a vampire; the “sparkly guy”, the “bald silent type”, the “face hinges in the middle horror from the depths of hell”. Knuckle Supper was able to take this creature and twist it on its head- a fresh take on Vamps? Hell ya!
We follow R.J., a drugged up gang member who can’t get his shit together to save his life. Living in filth and owing the man, R.J. makes a split second decision that sends him and all of his gang buddies into a toilet spiral. Mixed up in his business is Bait, a 12 year old street girl who pulls on whatever heart strings R.J. has leftover, and a foster father he becomes… sounds like a fairytale ya?
This book is not for the twilight horror readers. It is horrifyingly brutal, transgressive and shocking. It’s feral vampire mayhem with a sprinkle of humanity- which will win out in the end?
Thank you to NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for the review opportunity! I received a digital copy of this book for free and my review is voluntary.
As a horror fanatic my entire life I have seen many a vampire; the “sparkly guy”, the “bald silent type”, the “face hinges in the middle horror from the depths of hell”. Knuckle Supper was able to take this creature and twist it on its head- a fresh take on Vamps? Hell ya!
We follow R.J., a drugged up gang member who can’t get his shit together to save his life. Living in filth and owing the man, R.J. makes a split second decision that sends him and all of his gang buddies into a toilet spiral. Mixed up in his business is Bait, a 12 year old street girl who pulls on whatever heart strings R.J. has leftover, and a foster father he becomes… sounds like a fairytale ya?
This book is not for the twilight horror readers. It is horrifyingly brutal, transgressive and shocking. It’s feral vampire mayhem with a sprinkle of humanity- which will win out in the end?
Thank you to NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for the review opportunity! I received a digital copy of this book for free and my review is voluntary.
February 28, 2019
I almost FAINTED listening to the bathtub scene
(audiobook) THATS how gritty & deep Stepek's writing is. I loved every raw moment of it. Truly, one of the best vampire books I've read in a while, was diggin the origin of how these "vampires" came to be. I'm addicted to horror & the like, so I was blown away by Stepek's ability to fully remove me from the room I sat in only to place me right there in that dirty house with RJ. I devoured every detail & I'm looking forward to reading the rest of his work. I dont recommend this book if you have a weak stomach.
(audiobook) THATS how gritty & deep Stepek's writing is. I loved every raw moment of it. Truly, one of the best vampire books I've read in a while, was diggin the origin of how these "vampires" came to be. I'm addicted to horror & the like, so I was blown away by Stepek's ability to fully remove me from the room I sat in only to place me right there in that dirty house with RJ. I devoured every detail & I'm looking forward to reading the rest of his work. I dont recommend this book if you have a weak stomach.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2019
Gory ... like gory that’s not even necessary gory. Some run on sentences of gore were almost elementary in how they were written. And gore mixed with an overtly sexual tone is not my thing so.... only 2 stars from me.
November 7, 2018
For me this book was hard to get into. But about mid way it really caught my attention. I ended up really enjoying it.
August 31, 2021
I have a new top 5 vampire book and it’s this one. Drew is a fantastic writer, I loved every page of the book. Bait is a new favourite character. I loved this book.
February 19, 2023
So first off let's approach the fact that Drew is such an amazing human being. He is a massive supporter of the community and the profits from this book go to the charity Children of the Night. Which helps get kids off the streets and out of prostitution, which I think is an amazing cause and just shows the kind and caring person Drew is.
Noooow let's move into the subject of Drew Stepek the writer. For most of you who know me, I am a hardcore Buffy the Vampire Slayer nerd, so I am always looking for books with a different take on vampire lore. I was always a fan of Spike, that being said I know the type of Vampire I like. So I tend to sway more toward the idea of vampires being more lethal predators that are void of human emotion or just general psychopaths due to their long stint of existence. But this story is a very fresh take on vampires that still have human weaknesses. I mean, Dez kinda fits that template of vicious killer as when he almost loses it beating on a pimp, whereas Rj seems to be the more calculating side of the partnership. But his comparison for the girl held by the pimp, shows he does not just see humans as a means to an end.
So what is more deadly than an average vampire? Try a vampire in a gang addicted to Heroin. Yep, you heard me correctly.
So you want something creative, edgy, and blood-soaked. This is your book. Long gone are the Lost Boy days as this story is gritty, messed up, and provokes real questions about what it is like to live on the mean streets. So we meet the Knucklers, then we have the other vampire gangs, one being the Blue Blooded Perrys who are obnoxious asshats in my opinion. Showing the very different divide and how Dez and RJ seem to be looked down on by the others. Like the Battlesnakes who always seem to use Dez and Rj when they don't want to get their hands dirty. I enjoyed the banter between these two, but the nods to a certain shiny franchise had me in stitches.
Laced with dark humour and some comedic scenes mixed with horror. There are some brilliant elements rolled into this story, the gore and grossness is classic Drew at his finest.
I enjoyed the character development and the bond between Bait and RJ. The story itself was a refreshing new take on the vampire story that steers clear of some of the cliches. In fact, in some instances it takes the piss out of them. I'm sorry but books, films and whatever vampire-based stories are just so romanticised. I enjoyed the way the relationship between the two, the friction in the gang between Dez and RJ seems to increase as RJ gets closer to Bait. Resulting in the bridge between the two brothers only getting wider as Dez shows his reckless nature. Then to hear about Bait's back story, about the abuse she endured. It just pushes on the heartbreaking truth that this is a reality for children who end up on the streets. I guess the closer they get the more like a big brother to her RJ becomes.
Drew pulls hard at the heartstrings to really make you consider real life issues. It also makes you realise why the money from this book goes to the Children of the Night. The way that Drew brings attention to the subject of drug abuse, gang life and child abuse shows the deep care and research, this guy did for the story.
I love the way the story progresses and the gang war between the vampires over drugs and territory really had me sucked in. Pardon the pun, but he is amazing at setting the scene and creating relatable characters. The violence, the tension only building up more as the story goes on. The character Eldritch is an obvious spoof on Dracula, which I am so living for in this story. As shit hits the fan the bond between RJ and Bait becomes unbreakable and everything goes to hell from there. The ending made me a sobbing mess and honestly, hit so many nerves with me. The best way to describe this book would be Leon meets a gangster version of the Lost Boys. This book has everything I could wish for, this is the modern-day vampire story I have been waiting for.
Noooow let's move into the subject of Drew Stepek the writer. For most of you who know me, I am a hardcore Buffy the Vampire Slayer nerd, so I am always looking for books with a different take on vampire lore. I was always a fan of Spike, that being said I know the type of Vampire I like. So I tend to sway more toward the idea of vampires being more lethal predators that are void of human emotion or just general psychopaths due to their long stint of existence. But this story is a very fresh take on vampires that still have human weaknesses. I mean, Dez kinda fits that template of vicious killer as when he almost loses it beating on a pimp, whereas Rj seems to be the more calculating side of the partnership. But his comparison for the girl held by the pimp, shows he does not just see humans as a means to an end.
So what is more deadly than an average vampire? Try a vampire in a gang addicted to Heroin. Yep, you heard me correctly.
So you want something creative, edgy, and blood-soaked. This is your book. Long gone are the Lost Boy days as this story is gritty, messed up, and provokes real questions about what it is like to live on the mean streets. So we meet the Knucklers, then we have the other vampire gangs, one being the Blue Blooded Perrys who are obnoxious asshats in my opinion. Showing the very different divide and how Dez and RJ seem to be looked down on by the others. Like the Battlesnakes who always seem to use Dez and Rj when they don't want to get their hands dirty. I enjoyed the banter between these two, but the nods to a certain shiny franchise had me in stitches.
Laced with dark humour and some comedic scenes mixed with horror. There are some brilliant elements rolled into this story, the gore and grossness is classic Drew at his finest.
I enjoyed the character development and the bond between Bait and RJ. The story itself was a refreshing new take on the vampire story that steers clear of some of the cliches. In fact, in some instances it takes the piss out of them. I'm sorry but books, films and whatever vampire-based stories are just so romanticised. I enjoyed the way the relationship between the two, the friction in the gang between Dez and RJ seems to increase as RJ gets closer to Bait. Resulting in the bridge between the two brothers only getting wider as Dez shows his reckless nature. Then to hear about Bait's back story, about the abuse she endured. It just pushes on the heartbreaking truth that this is a reality for children who end up on the streets. I guess the closer they get the more like a big brother to her RJ becomes.
Drew pulls hard at the heartstrings to really make you consider real life issues. It also makes you realise why the money from this book goes to the Children of the Night. The way that Drew brings attention to the subject of drug abuse, gang life and child abuse shows the deep care and research, this guy did for the story.
I love the way the story progresses and the gang war between the vampires over drugs and territory really had me sucked in. Pardon the pun, but he is amazing at setting the scene and creating relatable characters. The violence, the tension only building up more as the story goes on. The character Eldritch is an obvious spoof on Dracula, which I am so living for in this story. As shit hits the fan the bond between RJ and Bait becomes unbreakable and everything goes to hell from there. The ending made me a sobbing mess and honestly, hit so many nerves with me. The best way to describe this book would be Leon meets a gangster version of the Lost Boys. This book has everything I could wish for, this is the modern-day vampire story I have been waiting for.
June 28, 2021
Difficult book to rate. The writing and execution is spot on and catches every old school vibe of noir while being modern, shitty, and very down-to-earth-believable within its frame of "totally unbelievable", somehow.
This book is not for everyone. I honestly don't know anyone I could recommend this book to.
I was drawn in by the promise of unconventional vampires. I was not exactly disappointed.
However the violence within this book probably snorts up every trigger warning possible - just for the buzz of it.
It's ridiculously violent. The gore is way out there and gore is usually not my thing at all, but here... I don't know. It felt suiting to the pitch black content.
The plot is stupid, I think. Why can't the main character (vampire) have a pet hooker (human) as a pet? What kind of flawed vampire logic is that?
A lot of the things causing conflicts were loopy. Like I couldn't see why they were issues other than the idiots involved chose to make them issues. But, hey. They're all junkies. Logic can go kiss someone's f**k you finger, for all the author cares.
And I'm somehow fine with that. Plus, sort of interested in the sequel. Sort of. I will think about it, at least.
The audiobook was a nice little experience with a great narrator. He made me think of James Marsters and how he narrates Dresden Files. So of course I kept thinking of Spike from Buffy. Without any of the fluffy, charming aspects.
An interesting book somehow. Like a deep dive into a gritty hole of the deepest, darkest fantasies of a violence fetishist. Maybe. I don't know.
I don't even know why I ended up liking it as much as I did. The small glimpses of "humanity" and goodness felt like small shiny diamonds, found in a sewer.
Very, very dark. Very interesting. Very weird review. Oh well.
This book is not for everyone. I honestly don't know anyone I could recommend this book to.
I was drawn in by the promise of unconventional vampires. I was not exactly disappointed.
However the violence within this book probably snorts up every trigger warning possible - just for the buzz of it.
It's ridiculously violent. The gore is way out there and gore is usually not my thing at all, but here... I don't know. It felt suiting to the pitch black content.
The plot is stupid, I think. Why can't the main character (vampire) have a pet hooker (human) as a pet? What kind of flawed vampire logic is that?
A lot of the things causing conflicts were loopy. Like I couldn't see why they were issues other than the idiots involved chose to make them issues. But, hey. They're all junkies. Logic can go kiss someone's f**k you finger, for all the author cares.
And I'm somehow fine with that. Plus, sort of interested in the sequel. Sort of. I will think about it, at least.
The audiobook was a nice little experience with a great narrator. He made me think of James Marsters and how he narrates Dresden Files. So of course I kept thinking of Spike from Buffy. Without any of the fluffy, charming aspects.
An interesting book somehow. Like a deep dive into a gritty hole of the deepest, darkest fantasies of a violence fetishist. Maybe. I don't know.
I don't even know why I ended up liking it as much as I did. The small glimpses of "humanity" and goodness felt like small shiny diamonds, found in a sewer.
Very, very dark. Very interesting. Very weird review. Oh well.
April 3, 2023
Listened to this on Jason Hill's Podcast Horror Hill (highly recommend the podcast). I love horror! This book hit in a couple of ways that I do not like. There is no woman in the book that has any type of humanity given to them. Bait, Habit, and Pinball are the main identifiers of the main women characters and anyone else who is not a main woman character is just called whore. The podcast is very big on ending each reading of the novel with an advertisement for Children of the Night for underage children being trafficked. Which brings me to another part, two of the characters are extremely underage girls. Whether the ad was part of the physical book is not something I am aware of.
The violence is a little gratuitous with the idea that "we are vampires and not the Hollywood type so we just cause violence because we can." It was less horror and more slasher film type descriptions.
The way the vampires were "made" in the story also another effort for shock. I am adding that as a spoiler comment because it has some high trigger warnings that are needed.
All in all? The book was really just one long diatribe of someone trying to get readers out of shock value.
The violence is a little gratuitous with the idea that "we are vampires and not the Hollywood type so we just cause violence because we can." It was less horror and more slasher film type descriptions.
The way the vampires were "made" in the story also another effort for shock. I am adding that as a spoiler comment because it has some high trigger warnings that are needed.
All in all? The book was really just one long diatribe of someone trying to get readers out of shock value.
July 18, 2024
What can I say about "Knuckle Supper: The Ultimate Gutter Fix Edition"?
Knuckle Supper is an innocent and sweet coming of age tale about R.J. (the heroin addicted leader of the "Knucklers") and Bait (the 12 year old "lady of the night"). Through various challenges they begin to see each other and life through the eyes of one another....
Bwahahaha! No! This is a sleaze and blood fest of beautiful proportions! There's humor, decapitation, snorting coke-laced blood.
There are no sparkling vampires. There's punk rock, dirty cops, T-girls, gang fights and doggies! Many taboos are broken and smashed. It is certainly not for everyone but not nearly as vile as many stories I've read.
Drew Stepek writes an amazing story with characters who, as much as they might be scum of the earth, you care about. You feel their pain and connections... which is pretty big for this type of book. If you need a great read that makes your stomach turn, at points, Knuckle up!
Knuckle Supper is an innocent and sweet coming of age tale about R.J. (the heroin addicted leader of the "Knucklers") and Bait (the 12 year old "lady of the night"). Through various challenges they begin to see each other and life through the eyes of one another....
Bwahahaha! No! This is a sleaze and blood fest of beautiful proportions! There's humor, decapitation, snorting coke-laced blood.
There are no sparkling vampires. There's punk rock, dirty cops, T-girls, gang fights and doggies! Many taboos are broken and smashed. It is certainly not for everyone but not nearly as vile as many stories I've read.
Drew Stepek writes an amazing story with characters who, as much as they might be scum of the earth, you care about. You feel their pain and connections... which is pretty big for this type of book. If you need a great read that makes your stomach turn, at points, Knuckle up!
January 15, 2024
Omg. Was not expecting this book to make me cry like it did. The gore, the plot, the intensity, the emotional turmoil holyyyyy shit. I adored the banter between RJ and Bait. The realization of who his true friends are, the way the author made you care about drug addicts in gangs is quite impressive, and cobras character growth was really well done. Overall super enjoyable (despite the dogs🥲) and would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys visceral horror, disgusting images and squishy deaths, with a little bit of emotional turmoil thrown into the mix. Prepare to gag, cringe and cry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2024
This book is disgusting in the best way. If you like splatterpunk, this is for you. If you like vampires, but not the romantic kind, this is for you. I loved the way the vampires were portrayed and the gore is absolutely phenomenal. If you don’t vibe with it at first, just keep going. You won’t regret it. The way this is written and the synopsis of the book is so much more than I thought it would be. I highly recommend especially to you horror fans.
Thank you NetGalley for the read! This is also posted on NetGalley.
Thank you NetGalley for the read! This is also posted on NetGalley.
April 19, 2021
This book means a lot to me. I grew up always trying to find weird and interesting novels to read, but I had no clue that extreme horror existed. It satisfies my lust for gore and violence, while appealing to my sexually perverse nature. It's so well-written and even has several twists and reveals which can tear your heart out. All of the characters are fleshed out and very real, even though it's somewhat supernatural. This book got me into indie horror novels and I'm so glad I found it.
January 9, 2025
This was back-to-back action and the audiobook is filled with plenty nasty soundeffects to make it all the more gorey.
It took quite a while for me to finish this, so I grew quite attached to RJ and Bait, which made some of the shit feel like a punch to the gut ON TOP of being nasty.
It wasn't really for me, but honestly I have nothing bad to say about it. As I'm writing this review I have even upped the rating because this book was just so well-done.
It took quite a while for me to finish this, so I grew quite attached to RJ and Bait, which made some of the shit feel like a punch to the gut ON TOP of being nasty.
It wasn't really for me, but honestly I have nothing bad to say about it. As I'm writing this review I have even upped the rating because this book was just so well-done.
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