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Coil
Bone Adams is a legend, the best mortician in the Spires, and a man without modification in a world where body mods define humanity. When a new killer begins leaving bodies stripped of mods but twisted and bent into grotesque pieces of art, City Officer Stark tasks Bone to unravel the clues, few though they may be.
As more victims are discovered, Bone and Stark get drawn deeper into a world where pain and personal statement blend and blur, and finally end up hunting for a semi-mythical, man-machine named Burneo deep within the labyrinth of the sewers.
But things aren’t what they seem, and while searching for Burneo, Bone and Stark discover a hidden lab full of evidence of horrific abuses of science and experimentation. Meanwhile, the killer is still on the loose, and, as Stark becomes more and more obsessed with the case, Bone is forced to a shattering realization. Everything is connected, the killings, the gang activity, the labs, and his own past, and unless he can figure out how, he’s not going to survive.
Ren Warom weaves a tale laced with gang crime, underground body mod shops, Transmog labs, and shocking murders, and ties it all together with a protagonist desperate to shed his father’s reputation and become his own man. But at what cost?
As more victims are discovered, Bone and Stark get drawn deeper into a world where pain and personal statement blend and blur, and finally end up hunting for a semi-mythical, man-machine named Burneo deep within the labyrinth of the sewers.
But things aren’t what they seem, and while searching for Burneo, Bone and Stark discover a hidden lab full of evidence of horrific abuses of science and experimentation. Meanwhile, the killer is still on the loose, and, as Stark becomes more and more obsessed with the case, Bone is forced to a shattering realization. Everything is connected, the killings, the gang activity, the labs, and his own past, and unless he can figure out how, he’s not going to survive.
Ren Warom weaves a tale laced with gang crime, underground body mod shops, Transmog labs, and shocking murders, and ties it all together with a protagonist desperate to shed his father’s reputation and become his own man. But at what cost?
330 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2019
3 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 2, 2019
Line your stomach before delving into the depths of this book; its vivid imagery and gore-infused sequences of delicious madness are not for the squeamish.
Coil's plot is wound tight by a dangerously deranged and morally deprived killer lucking deep in the bowels of a densely populated futuristic post apocalyptic cityscape, plucking victims and pulling stings of gang leaders and peace keepers alike.
It's an imagined future most ferocious where body modification, transmutation, and a mashing of the ideals behind inanimate object and living organisms rein supreme.
Add in some poetic prose and deftly crafted depictions of inner city slum life and this makes for a great read.
The combination of noir, horror, and sci-fi broaden Coil's appeal but it's the protagonist and antagonist which make this something special; two sides of the same grime and blood crusted coin. Key characters in Stark, Burneo, Nia, and co. all add a little something to the Bone/Rope equation which contributes to the meaty feel of the book.
My rating: 5/5 stars.
Side note - check out that 80's retro horror cover art! I reckon I'll go buy the physical book too.
Coil's plot is wound tight by a dangerously deranged and morally deprived killer lucking deep in the bowels of a densely populated futuristic post apocalyptic cityscape, plucking victims and pulling stings of gang leaders and peace keepers alike.
It's an imagined future most ferocious where body modification, transmutation, and a mashing of the ideals behind inanimate object and living organisms rein supreme.
Add in some poetic prose and deftly crafted depictions of inner city slum life and this makes for a great read.
The combination of noir, horror, and sci-fi broaden Coil's appeal but it's the protagonist and antagonist which make this something special; two sides of the same grime and blood crusted coin. Key characters in Stark, Burneo, Nia, and co. all add a little something to the Bone/Rope equation which contributes to the meaty feel of the book.
My rating: 5/5 stars.
Side note - check out that 80's retro horror cover art! I reckon I'll go buy the physical book too.
June 18, 2019
Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.
There’s a twisted serial killer on the loose in the Spires. City Officer Stark needs the best mortician he can get and that’s Bone Adams. Except Bone is not part of his jurisdiction, so Stark has to find a way to get Bone in on the case before more bodies pile up. Once he accomplishes that, they are off and running, but it seems like the serial killer they’ve named Rope, is always steps ahead of them. In the course of trying to find Rope, Stark finds out more than he could possible believe, about his city, his old friend Burneo, and about Bone. What is seen and known, cannot be unseen or unknown.
Set in the distant future, this is one twisted and dark Sci-Fi story. I wish I could say that I came away from it with that deep euphoria one gets after finishing a really good book, but I can’t. I was confused for most of it and the writing just isn’t my style. It seems like everything is a simile or metaphor. I have nothing against these things when used judiciously, but when I can’t read more than a page or two before the entire thing becomes entire passages of symbolism…well, it just gets tiresome. For me anyway. And that ending? Totally didn’t get it and I feel like I missed something huge. There is a lot that I did like: the descriptions of the city and the people are fascinating. Stark and several other characters are pretty good, but I couldn't get a handle on Bone. I thought I'd love him, but I didn't. Rope is terrifying. What I brought away from this is the future is pretty damn bleak. I hope we can avoid that particular path.
There’s a twisted serial killer on the loose in the Spires. City Officer Stark needs the best mortician he can get and that’s Bone Adams. Except Bone is not part of his jurisdiction, so Stark has to find a way to get Bone in on the case before more bodies pile up. Once he accomplishes that, they are off and running, but it seems like the serial killer they’ve named Rope, is always steps ahead of them. In the course of trying to find Rope, Stark finds out more than he could possible believe, about his city, his old friend Burneo, and about Bone. What is seen and known, cannot be unseen or unknown.
Set in the distant future, this is one twisted and dark Sci-Fi story. I wish I could say that I came away from it with that deep euphoria one gets after finishing a really good book, but I can’t. I was confused for most of it and the writing just isn’t my style. It seems like everything is a simile or metaphor. I have nothing against these things when used judiciously, but when I can’t read more than a page or two before the entire thing becomes entire passages of symbolism…well, it just gets tiresome. For me anyway. And that ending? Totally didn’t get it and I feel like I missed something huge. There is a lot that I did like: the descriptions of the city and the people are fascinating. Stark and several other characters are pretty good, but I couldn't get a handle on Bone. I thought I'd love him, but I didn't. Rope is terrifying. What I brought away from this is the future is pretty damn bleak. I hope we can avoid that particular path.
July 8, 2019
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
I do my best to stay on top of most of the small press places putting out exciting books, but unfortunately, somehow Apex Book Company was unknown to me until I read the synopsis of Coil by Ren Warom.
The synopsis was intriguing and I gladly snagged this to review.
The story follows Bone Adams, a legendary mortician/coroner who has done what most in this new world can’t. He’s successfully remained neutral in a world now ruled by warring gangs. His reputation precedes him and when law enforcement needs his help, he’s there for them, but will also aid the gangs as needed.
I went into this book a bit more blind than I’d thought because it has way more science fiction featured in it than I was suspecting. This isn’t a bad thing but it really added a completely different layer to the story as it unravels.
This is a world where the majority of people have had some sort of body-modifications done to them – adding metal, hydraulics etc. that have artificially ‘improved’ them.
This is a story that I am finding very hard to review without revealing major stories because it all works together and eventually as the pieces fall into place everything clicks and you will find yourself shocked at how efficient of a story Warom put together.
What I can say – the story takes a turn after a few ‘different’ bodies are found. This leads Bone and Officer Stark below ground, searching for the person they believe is responsible for the grotesque displays.
From here Warom gives us some outstanding imagery, fantastic settings and just horror after horror.
This was such an intriguing read and I’m certainly glad I took the plunge.
Overall this story hums along. The start had a slight hiccup as Warom introduced a few characters and it took me a bit to get them all sorted and remembered, but it was a mild distraction and one that I moved passed quickly.
This book should be added to your TBR if you haven’t checked it out already!
Really interesting premise and one that hasn’t been done to death already!
I do my best to stay on top of most of the small press places putting out exciting books, but unfortunately, somehow Apex Book Company was unknown to me until I read the synopsis of Coil by Ren Warom.
The synopsis was intriguing and I gladly snagged this to review.
The story follows Bone Adams, a legendary mortician/coroner who has done what most in this new world can’t. He’s successfully remained neutral in a world now ruled by warring gangs. His reputation precedes him and when law enforcement needs his help, he’s there for them, but will also aid the gangs as needed.
I went into this book a bit more blind than I’d thought because it has way more science fiction featured in it than I was suspecting. This isn’t a bad thing but it really added a completely different layer to the story as it unravels.
This is a world where the majority of people have had some sort of body-modifications done to them – adding metal, hydraulics etc. that have artificially ‘improved’ them.
This is a story that I am finding very hard to review without revealing major stories because it all works together and eventually as the pieces fall into place everything clicks and you will find yourself shocked at how efficient of a story Warom put together.
What I can say – the story takes a turn after a few ‘different’ bodies are found. This leads Bone and Officer Stark below ground, searching for the person they believe is responsible for the grotesque displays.
From here Warom gives us some outstanding imagery, fantastic settings and just horror after horror.
This was such an intriguing read and I’m certainly glad I took the plunge.
Overall this story hums along. The start had a slight hiccup as Warom introduced a few characters and it took me a bit to get them all sorted and remembered, but it was a mild distraction and one that I moved passed quickly.
This book should be added to your TBR if you haven’t checked it out already!
Really interesting premise and one that hasn’t been done to death already!
June 25, 2019
To my mind, the best detectives are the ones that are flawed. Their only redeeming quality is their masterful ability to do their job. Bone Adams falls squarely into this category. There are moments that feel like Bone is teetering on the very edge of insanity. Next to no sleep and too much booze is undoubtedly taking their toll, but there is more to it than that. The further Bone digs into the murders the more events spiral out of control, and at times his life feels like a crazed fever dream. There are an increasing number of gaps in his memory, and Bone knows he has to confront the serial killer or he’ll end up dead himself. On top of all the mental trauma, Bone also has the singular honour of being the only person in the city without any form of adaptation. This casts him in the role of outsider, viewed by many as an object of curiosity.
The other person investigating the murders is an officer called Stark. Where Bone is compelled to understand the nature of the crimes, Stark is steadfastly focussed on getting the killer off the city streets. Once again, the author’s attention to strong characterisation pays dividends. Stark struck me as the kind of investigator who doesn’t mess around. He has likely thrown his badge across a table in disgust at his boss on more than one occasion. You know the type, bound (and damned) by a sense of personal responsibility to see a case through to the bitter end. Sure, there will be consequences due to his actions, but justice needs to be done. He’ll deal with the fallout later.
Between the two of them, Bone and Stark make quite the pair. Their respective strengths and weaknesses complement one another. There might even be a bit of grudging respect in there too.
There is visual flair to Coil that I really enjoyed, it feels almost cinematic. The city is as much a character in this story as everyone else. It got me thinking about how a writer uses locations to expand add depth to a story. When you watch something like Blade Runner, for example, you can see where Ridley Scott scatters brief glimpses of his dark dystopia hidden under a shiny neon wrapper. Future Los Angeles appears like a bustling metropolis when you first see it but as the narrative unfolds you start to see signs of the rot hidden in plain sight. The weather is always terrible and most of the action takes place at night or in dimly lit, shadowy rooms. Ren Warom achieves the same thing here with her writing. At first glance everything about the Spires appears to be about frenetic hedonistic excess but there is something much darker bubbling just under the surface. There is the expected gang violence and crime is rife, but a far more insidious conspiracy is unfurling. Society in the Spires is collapsing in on itself by degrees. Only Bone and Stark have a chance of stopping it.
I would offer a word of warning at this point. Coil is not for the faint of heart. The author delights in some genuinely visceral body horror. In a city where modifications of the flesh are the norm it takes a certain kind of crazy to really push the boundaries. There are moments that reminded me of Clive Barker’s early work, you know hooks, body-parts and whatnot. Personally, I thought it was great. Exploring the limits of transhumanism has the potential to make us far better than we are now but it could also make us far, far worse.
Coil by Ren Warom blends together multiple genres effortlessly to create something unique. This novel is a glorious melting pot of science fiction, techno-punk, gangland crime and detective noir. Add in a liberal dash of horror and you are on to a winner. If you are looking for no holds barred dark and gritty science fiction, then look no further. Gripping and more than a little addictive I loved it right to the depths of my dark heart.
The other person investigating the murders is an officer called Stark. Where Bone is compelled to understand the nature of the crimes, Stark is steadfastly focussed on getting the killer off the city streets. Once again, the author’s attention to strong characterisation pays dividends. Stark struck me as the kind of investigator who doesn’t mess around. He has likely thrown his badge across a table in disgust at his boss on more than one occasion. You know the type, bound (and damned) by a sense of personal responsibility to see a case through to the bitter end. Sure, there will be consequences due to his actions, but justice needs to be done. He’ll deal with the fallout later.
Between the two of them, Bone and Stark make quite the pair. Their respective strengths and weaknesses complement one another. There might even be a bit of grudging respect in there too.
There is visual flair to Coil that I really enjoyed, it feels almost cinematic. The city is as much a character in this story as everyone else. It got me thinking about how a writer uses locations to expand add depth to a story. When you watch something like Blade Runner, for example, you can see where Ridley Scott scatters brief glimpses of his dark dystopia hidden under a shiny neon wrapper. Future Los Angeles appears like a bustling metropolis when you first see it but as the narrative unfolds you start to see signs of the rot hidden in plain sight. The weather is always terrible and most of the action takes place at night or in dimly lit, shadowy rooms. Ren Warom achieves the same thing here with her writing. At first glance everything about the Spires appears to be about frenetic hedonistic excess but there is something much darker bubbling just under the surface. There is the expected gang violence and crime is rife, but a far more insidious conspiracy is unfurling. Society in the Spires is collapsing in on itself by degrees. Only Bone and Stark have a chance of stopping it.
I would offer a word of warning at this point. Coil is not for the faint of heart. The author delights in some genuinely visceral body horror. In a city where modifications of the flesh are the norm it takes a certain kind of crazy to really push the boundaries. There are moments that reminded me of Clive Barker’s early work, you know hooks, body-parts and whatnot. Personally, I thought it was great. Exploring the limits of transhumanism has the potential to make us far better than we are now but it could also make us far, far worse.
Coil by Ren Warom blends together multiple genres effortlessly to create something unique. This novel is a glorious melting pot of science fiction, techno-punk, gangland crime and detective noir. Add in a liberal dash of horror and you are on to a winner. If you are looking for no holds barred dark and gritty science fiction, then look no further. Gripping and more than a little addictive I loved it right to the depths of my dark heart.
December 13, 2022
This was way bloodier than I expected it to be but I can't say that I ever read something quite like this book. Review to come, if I can wrap my ind around what happened.
July 10, 2019
Posted originally here.
Apex sent me this book in return for a review, and I was incredibly excited. Cyberpunk noir? Hell yes! And what Ren Warom gives us in Coil, is not only these but sci fi crime-noir at its best. Without even going farther into the book right now, if you like any of those genres I just listed, you will love this book.
When Officer Stark realizes that a particularly brutal crime seems to have a calling card for Bone Adams, one call puts both men on a ride for their lives. As more and more bodies turn up, stripped of their implants and other modifications, there appears to be pattern and one of which that Stark becomes more and more obsessed with. Yet, if Bone cannot figure out what is a foot, then both men are most certainly going to wind up dead, and the Spires will be left with more unrest than ever before.
There have been few and far between cyberpunk, let alone gritty future science fiction stories that have been this imaginative. This is one reason why I personally love Apex, so much, because they find and foster this incredible ingenuity in genre and imagination that few other publishers attempt in the first place. Warom jolts new life into cyberpunk and rather than relying on Blade Runner or Necromancer to provide the blue print, they strive out on their own with something brutal, gorey, and bleakly new.
While in most senses, Coil has a true crime noir premise, there are certainly portions of it that retain cyberpunk heritage, while keeping the story as fresh and new as the plot allows. The mixture of post humanism, humanity’s frailty, and outright bodily perversion makes for a compelling read all together. I believe most readers who enjoy gritty science fiction, pulpy hard-boiled noir, and dark future cyberpunk will enjoy this book quite a lot.
I can only hope that there’s more, because this setting is rich and I would want to learn more about the “Spires” that Bone and Stark inhabit. I want to know even more about why the gangs are such an established feature of this region. There is so much more that lurks under the surface that even after the first read of Coil most reader may want to dive back in. I know I do!
Apex sent me this book in return for a review, and I was incredibly excited. Cyberpunk noir? Hell yes! And what Ren Warom gives us in Coil, is not only these but sci fi crime-noir at its best. Without even going farther into the book right now, if you like any of those genres I just listed, you will love this book.
When Officer Stark realizes that a particularly brutal crime seems to have a calling card for Bone Adams, one call puts both men on a ride for their lives. As more and more bodies turn up, stripped of their implants and other modifications, there appears to be pattern and one of which that Stark becomes more and more obsessed with. Yet, if Bone cannot figure out what is a foot, then both men are most certainly going to wind up dead, and the Spires will be left with more unrest than ever before.
There have been few and far between cyberpunk, let alone gritty future science fiction stories that have been this imaginative. This is one reason why I personally love Apex, so much, because they find and foster this incredible ingenuity in genre and imagination that few other publishers attempt in the first place. Warom jolts new life into cyberpunk and rather than relying on Blade Runner or Necromancer to provide the blue print, they strive out on their own with something brutal, gorey, and bleakly new.
While in most senses, Coil has a true crime noir premise, there are certainly portions of it that retain cyberpunk heritage, while keeping the story as fresh and new as the plot allows. The mixture of post humanism, humanity’s frailty, and outright bodily perversion makes for a compelling read all together. I believe most readers who enjoy gritty science fiction, pulpy hard-boiled noir, and dark future cyberpunk will enjoy this book quite a lot.
I can only hope that there’s more, because this setting is rich and I would want to learn more about the “Spires” that Bone and Stark inhabit. I want to know even more about why the gangs are such an established feature of this region. There is so much more that lurks under the surface that even after the first read of Coil most reader may want to dive back in. I know I do!
January 29, 2020
One of my reading goals this year is to read more noir. Another is to read more small press releases. And COIL by Ren Warom is a science fiction detective thriller that satisfies both these needs. A gritty, futuristic murder mystery spattered with copious amounts of biopunk body horror, Coil isn’t a book for the squeamish, but if you like stories with gritty characters and settings featuring criminal gangs warring with corrupt and bureaucratic law enforcement agencies then BOY do I have a recommendation for you!
What I loved about Coil was Warom’s ability to take a simple, yet solid, foundation of noir tropes and build a rich and complex world on top of it. The whole story takes place in The Spires, a mega-city that has emerged from the ruins of Detroit following some kind of cataclysmic event in the history of the book’s world. In the Spires, numerous criminal gangs have taken control of sectors of the city and largely operate with the tacit approval of a police force which is powerless to confront them. With drastic technological change and the inevitable culture shift that accompanied it, this is a world where humans have merged with machines and body modification is ubiquitous, to the extent that to be a human without body mods is considered altogether weird – abnormal.
And in this world we meet Bone Adams. Bone is a legend, the best mortician in the Spires, and a man without modification in a world where body mods define humanity. When a new killer begins leaving bodies stripped of mods but twisted and bent into grotesque pieces of art, City Officer Stark tasks Bone to unravel the clues, few though they may be. In Warom’s world, morticians have become much more than simple undertakers. In a world littered with the bodies of gangland murders, where large sections of the population seek out illegal body modifications and technological implants from surgeons who owe allegiance to criminal gangs, often the only way to identify a corpse is through tracing the modification trail. Morticians are detectives and diplomats required to have one foot in the shady criminal underworld without falling foul of either the gangs or the police.
We get to follow Bone as he navigates the seedy underbelly of the Spires, as he and City Officer Stark attempt to unravel the clues they uncover about the mysterious killer. These are our two main viewpoint characters and Warom does a great job of taking the grizzled, alcoholic rogues of pulp noir and fleshing them out into characters you can really root for, even if they are difficult, frustrating SOB’s sometimes. And what is pulp noir without a femme fatale? Coil has such a good femme fatale. I can’t expand much without getting into spoiler territory but holy shit I need you to read this book, if not for the sole reason I need someone to talk about this with!
I’m not very practised at reading mysteries and thrillers where you can follow the clues and work out what’s going on yourself if you’re clever, so I never saw the ending coming, but in retrospect there’s some really top notch foreshadowing. Coil is one of those books where I kind of want to read it again just so I can pick up on all the hints and clues Warom drops throughout the story. I recently saw the film Knives Out, and so much of the joy of that film (and there was much joy to be had about it) was trying to pick up on the clues as the story progressed. Coil is much the same and I’m absolutely hankering for more mystery fiction right now.
All told, Coil is a great book and has me interested in reading Ren Warom’s back catalogue, which features some very interesting-sounding stories, including some good ol’ cyberpunk in ESCAPOLOGY about a data thief hired to hack into a corporate databank – absolutely my jam all over.
Go read Coil. Definite recommend from me.
Originally reviewed at Parsecs & Parchment
What I loved about Coil was Warom’s ability to take a simple, yet solid, foundation of noir tropes and build a rich and complex world on top of it. The whole story takes place in The Spires, a mega-city that has emerged from the ruins of Detroit following some kind of cataclysmic event in the history of the book’s world. In the Spires, numerous criminal gangs have taken control of sectors of the city and largely operate with the tacit approval of a police force which is powerless to confront them. With drastic technological change and the inevitable culture shift that accompanied it, this is a world where humans have merged with machines and body modification is ubiquitous, to the extent that to be a human without body mods is considered altogether weird – abnormal.
And in this world we meet Bone Adams. Bone is a legend, the best mortician in the Spires, and a man without modification in a world where body mods define humanity. When a new killer begins leaving bodies stripped of mods but twisted and bent into grotesque pieces of art, City Officer Stark tasks Bone to unravel the clues, few though they may be. In Warom’s world, morticians have become much more than simple undertakers. In a world littered with the bodies of gangland murders, where large sections of the population seek out illegal body modifications and technological implants from surgeons who owe allegiance to criminal gangs, often the only way to identify a corpse is through tracing the modification trail. Morticians are detectives and diplomats required to have one foot in the shady criminal underworld without falling foul of either the gangs or the police.
We get to follow Bone as he navigates the seedy underbelly of the Spires, as he and City Officer Stark attempt to unravel the clues they uncover about the mysterious killer. These are our two main viewpoint characters and Warom does a great job of taking the grizzled, alcoholic rogues of pulp noir and fleshing them out into characters you can really root for, even if they are difficult, frustrating SOB’s sometimes. And what is pulp noir without a femme fatale? Coil has such a good femme fatale. I can’t expand much without getting into spoiler territory but holy shit I need you to read this book, if not for the sole reason I need someone to talk about this with!
I’m not very practised at reading mysteries and thrillers where you can follow the clues and work out what’s going on yourself if you’re clever, so I never saw the ending coming, but in retrospect there’s some really top notch foreshadowing. Coil is one of those books where I kind of want to read it again just so I can pick up on all the hints and clues Warom drops throughout the story. I recently saw the film Knives Out, and so much of the joy of that film (and there was much joy to be had about it) was trying to pick up on the clues as the story progressed. Coil is much the same and I’m absolutely hankering for more mystery fiction right now.
All told, Coil is a great book and has me interested in reading Ren Warom’s back catalogue, which features some very interesting-sounding stories, including some good ol’ cyberpunk in ESCAPOLOGY about a data thief hired to hack into a corporate databank – absolutely my jam all over.
Go read Coil. Definite recommend from me.
Originally reviewed at Parsecs & Parchment
September 16, 2019
Disclosure: the novel was provided to me for review by the good folks at Apex.
This is a strong novel that combines elements of noir, cyberpunk, postapocalyptic and straight ahead sci-fi into a satisfying whole. If I had to describe it in a sentence, I'd call it a murder mystery set in the far future, several great disasters removed from our current time, where the nature of humanity and even basic geography appear to have been subtly and not-so-subtly altered. Although we are not at all clear on where this takes place in relation to our current time (the city is identified as the "Spires," built on the ancient ruins of "New Detroit"), it feels very English, in a good way. The mystery is satisfying, albeit not completely resolved (don't know whether Ms. Warom plans a sequel), but it plays very nicely alongside the larger questions of guilt, identity, bioethics and transhumanism. It made me want to read more of Ren Warom's work, and sometimes that's the highest praise you can give a book.
Incidentally, I would suggest pairing this with David Bowie's "Outside" in your headphones. It's the perfect soundtrack.
This is a strong novel that combines elements of noir, cyberpunk, postapocalyptic and straight ahead sci-fi into a satisfying whole. If I had to describe it in a sentence, I'd call it a murder mystery set in the far future, several great disasters removed from our current time, where the nature of humanity and even basic geography appear to have been subtly and not-so-subtly altered. Although we are not at all clear on where this takes place in relation to our current time (the city is identified as the "Spires," built on the ancient ruins of "New Detroit"), it feels very English, in a good way. The mystery is satisfying, albeit not completely resolved (don't know whether Ms. Warom plans a sequel), but it plays very nicely alongside the larger questions of guilt, identity, bioethics and transhumanism. It made me want to read more of Ren Warom's work, and sometimes that's the highest praise you can give a book.
Incidentally, I would suggest pairing this with David Bowie's "Outside" in your headphones. It's the perfect soundtrack.
June 23, 2021
Wow, what a fantastic world this author has painted for us. There are so many different elements going on and never once loses where it stands as a overall story.
As I was reading this I loved of how many different movies or settings I thought if. You got some blade runner, dark city, type of feels to it.
It did take a little warming up when I first started as this is by no means a “simple” science fiction/horror/thriller book. It’s interesting that I was more curious as to what was going on with everything in this world of the Spires and gangs, than the actual “killer” the two main characters were looking for and even that plot was good.
The overall reveal was fine and you kinda saw it coming, but the feel of this gritty, bleak, beautiful and dark world is rich for the plucking and I truly hope we get another book set in this world.
As I was reading this I loved of how many different movies or settings I thought if. You got some blade runner, dark city, type of feels to it.
It did take a little warming up when I first started as this is by no means a “simple” science fiction/horror/thriller book. It’s interesting that I was more curious as to what was going on with everything in this world of the Spires and gangs, than the actual “killer” the two main characters were looking for and even that plot was good.
The overall reveal was fine and you kinda saw it coming, but the feel of this gritty, bleak, beautiful and dark world is rich for the plucking and I truly hope we get another book set in this world.
June 24, 2019
Surprised myself at the rating for this. When I first started reading, it felt a bit too sci-fi for my tastes but that all vanished as I read on. The combination noir, sci-fi and post-apocalyptic feel created an extraordinary world and the characters, though hard-boiled, show their vulnerable side enough to make you care. As to what Warom has put one of its main characters, Bone Adams through, is completely absorbing. Very gruesome, amazing imagery, body horror in heaps, it puts you through the wringer as you race to the end to discover who, or what, Bone really is. But you don't get an answer, that appears to be for another book which I hope will not be long forthcoming. Absolutely loved this.
February 17, 2024
The only drawback is that it ends on a cliffhanger and there is no sequel :(
Even though the setting is quite different from Escapology and Virology, the vibes are similar, so those who liked Escapology and Virology (as I did) should read this as well!
Even though the setting is quite different from Escapology and Virology, the vibes are similar, so those who liked Escapology and Virology (as I did) should read this as well!
May 6, 2019
Bloody (no, really. Really, really bloody) good stuff. Body horror and sci-fi smash together with spectacular results.
July 12, 2019
The writing was clipped and hard to follow. Didn't finish.
March 19, 2020
Fabulous but...
Would have been 5 stars except for the unresolved ending. Leaves me hoping for a sequel. If a sequel isn't forthcoming I'll feel quite disappointed.
Would have been 5 stars except for the unresolved ending. Leaves me hoping for a sequel. If a sequel isn't forthcoming I'll feel quite disappointed.
December 14, 2022
DNF on page 29. Sordid, unpleasant torture-porn in an extreme dystopia.
June 19, 2019
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I hope they don't regret that decision.
This is a murder mystery with very vivid descriptions of violence and torture. The gore is never gratuitous; it always serves the, very brutal, story. If you don't care for or can't read such things, don't even start this one.
Am I the only one who didn't know this is a book one? I can't find reference to this being part of a series anywhere, but the book doesn't so much end, as stops with an implicit "to be continued." I HATE when that happens. I have been known to say some very, very bad words when I run into a non-ending like this. I can almost forgive Coil for its lack of proper ending, because, otherwise, I really enjoyed this book. The complex worldbuilding has social commentary so smoothly integrated you may not realize it's there. The writing style has a rich intensity I quite enjoyed.
If you can stomach the violence and accept that this doesn't have a tidy ending, the characters and plot are well worth the effort.
This is a murder mystery with very vivid descriptions of violence and torture. The gore is never gratuitous; it always serves the, very brutal, story. If you don't care for or can't read such things, don't even start this one.
Am I the only one who didn't know this is a book one? I can't find reference to this being part of a series anywhere, but the book doesn't so much end, as stops with an implicit "to be continued." I HATE when that happens. I have been known to say some very, very bad words when I run into a non-ending like this. I can almost forgive Coil for its lack of proper ending, because, otherwise, I really enjoyed this book. The complex worldbuilding has social commentary so smoothly integrated you may not realize it's there. The writing style has a rich intensity I quite enjoyed.
If you can stomach the violence and accept that this doesn't have a tidy ending, the characters and plot are well worth the effort.
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