From the Bookshelf of Splatterpunk…

Them

Mique Watson

Start date: November 1, 2024

Finish date: November 30, 2024

Discussion: Group Reads 2

Why we're reading this: This is the November 2024 Group Read 2.
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Group Reads 2

* September 2025: Playground: Child of Divorce by Aaron Beauregard
By Gillian · 12 posts · 25 views

last updated Sep 21, 2025 07:12AM

August 2025 (tie): The Venue by T.J. Payne
By Gillian · 8 posts · 21 views

last updated Sep 10, 2025 02:47AM

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What Members Thought

May 17, 2023 Lenna rated it it was amazing

“Perhaps, no matter how civilized or educated we are–in the end, we are all just wolves disguised as men. Perhaps they are just the most honest version of us. Perhaps the biggest mistake was, indeed, mercy. In a world such as this–one that sees not in shades of grey, but red–mercy is nothing more than stupidity. In the end, no one is truly innocent.”

Now, this is everything an extreme horror book should be!👏👏

We start off with following Jeanette who had been looking forward to a cozy night in wit “Perhaps, no matter how civilized or educated we are–in the end, we are all just wolves disguised as men. Perhaps they are just the most honest version of us. Perhaps the biggest mistake was, indeed, mercy. In a world such as this–one that sees not in shades of grey, but red–mercy is nothing more than stupidity. In the end, no one is truly innocent.”

Now, this is everything an extreme horror book should be!👏👏

We start off with following Jeanette who had been looking forward to a cozy night in with her dog Nico after a tough week at work, but everything changes when an emergency broadcast interrupts the TV program. The message was garbled, but Jeanette could make out the words "They look like people." Suddenly, the power went out and she heard the knock on the door. Very soon, the real horror kicks in and author does not hold back once it does.

Let me emphasize this, as someone who read a fair amount of extreme horror, rarely do I feel the urge to physically stop myself from reading, but with this, certain scenes caused me to me pull back and gather myself, and I mean that as an absolute compliment to authors capability to gross me out, as that is exactly what I'm looking to feel when I pick up an extreme horror.

I've been watching Mique and reading his recommendations for a while now, so as soon as I heard he had a book out, I knew for a fact that I would love the way he handles extreme topics, and I'm glad to repot that I was right.

'Them' is a captivating read that delves into the darkest corners of human nature. The author does an excellent job of building suspense and creating a sense of unease throughout the story, as well as bringing the complexity of characters to life, which in turn, I found myself being emotionally invested in their fates, with all their flaws and strengths on full display.

Mique's writing style is vivid and graphic, making the horror and violance all the more intense and story easier to get lost in.
He also does an amazing job with the setting of the story, with it serving as a menacing backdrop to the events that unfold as well as ratcheting up the horror as the book progresses.

My only complaint is that I wish it was longer, which is not a complaint at all, as I'm not sure I would be able to handle it either way hah.
Overall, I would easily recommend this to the fans of the genre, as it is sure to satisfy you and take you on a terrifying ride.

Lastly, I would like to thank Mique for sending me an advanced copy and say that bonus story at the end was such a nice touch! ...more

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May 26, 2023 Betsy rated it it was amazing

Kindle

Edited: I was so busy explaining the book I forgot to talk about the writing. Mique has a way with words, especially disturbing ones. His writing is crisp, clean & lovely to read. This horror book will make you feel smarter without ever talking down to you.

Holy shit, I was scared!! Do you know how long it’s been since I found a book scary? I read this at night, in the dark & thought I’d never get to sleep. Mique, I love you!

What happens when people all over the city are getting horribly ...more

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Dec 31, 2024 Stefanie Duncan rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 24, 2023 Ashley rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, stressful-reads

They look like people.

In the very best, most complimentary way I can muster, this was a wholly unpleasant reading experience. "Them" is one of the single most disturbing, depraved, offensive and gory pieces of nightmare fuel that has ever desecrated the screen of my Kindle. Never has a book so strongly made me wish that I didn't have eyes. I loved every grotesque second of it.

Before picking this novel up, I was very much aware of Mique's tastes in fiction. As a fan of his content, I knew just wh They look like people.

In the very best, most complimentary way I can muster, this was a wholly unpleasant reading experience. "Them" is one of the single most disturbing, depraved, offensive and gory pieces of nightmare fuel that has ever desecrated the screen of my Kindle. Never has a book so strongly made me wish that I didn't have eyes. I loved every grotesque second of it.

Before picking this novel up, I was very much aware of Mique's tastes in fiction. As a fan of his content, I knew just what I was getting myself into, yet, holy hell, nothing had quite prepared me for this. This is absolutely not the novel for anyone that has a weak stomach, this book will absolutely take you to places you never thought possible. I've read my fair share of extreme horror, and it's exceedingly rare for a book to make me take a step back to collect myself. Not only did "Them" force me to put down my Kindle, and go make myself a comforting cup of tea, but it grew tendrils that latched onto my brain, forcing its way into my dreams.

"The invasive image of death kept flooding back in the more she tried to snuff it. She saw it standing right above them, raising its large, gnarled claw. She felt it moments away from spouting a feral howl right before it buried its talon into her throat."

It's been a very long while since a novel has affected me to this degree. Some of the more brutal scenes were genuinely so difficult to sit through, I wanted to crunch my kindle under my car tires. Actually fuck this book. Fuck how wonderful and brilliant and affecting it is. Fuck how gorgeously it was written while also containing some of the most depraved content known to mankind. There's an overabundance of humanities most vile, atrocious acts being committed on almost every page, it's mentally taxing, yet it somehow seems balanced so well. There's beauty in the words here, heart-breaking, soul-shattering scenes break up the unending, unbridled violence. This is the work of someone with genuine love for their craft. This is the work of a twisted, brilliant mind.

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Perhaps, no matter how civilized or educated we are in the end, we are all just wolves disguised as men. ...more

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Jul 24, 2023 The Yeti Reads and Reviews rated it it was amazing

Jeanette was settling in after a long stressful work week, when the quiet is disturbed by a warning from the emergency broadcast system. Jeanettes quiet weekend goes to hell in a hand basket. This debut novella is violent gorefest of unrelenting horror. Once it starts it does not quit. It’s like Invasion of the Body Snatchers on a meth binge. A hell of a debut. Look forward to more. Check it out!

5 severed fingers out of 5

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