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Bad Parts
HELLRAISER meets 'SALEM'S LOT in this wildly original novel of small-town suspense.
A TOWN DIVIDED. A DEMON MADE WHOLE.
When rock guitarist Ash Hudson suffers a career-ending hand injury, she seeks out the only thing that can heal it--her hometown's darkest secret.
For decades the residents of Hollow Hills, Pennsylvania, have offered their diseased and injured body parts to a creek demon named Snare. In return, Snare rewards its Traders with healthy replacement parts. There's only one catch: if Traders leave town, their new parts vanish forever.
Ash wants a new hand, but living in Hollow Hills isn't an option. Not when her band is one gig away from hitting the big time. Desperate, she bargains with Snare, promising to help the demon complete its organ collection in exchange for both a new hand and the freedom for everyone to leave town.
As her band's show rapidly approaches, Ash teams up with her estranged father in a last-ditch effort to recruit new Traders. But not everyone trusts Snare's offer, and Ash soon learns how far her neighbors will go to protect their precious parts.
With her family in danger and her band waiting, Ash must find a way to help Snare. But even if she succeeds, there's no telling what Snare plans to do with everyone's bad parts.
A TOWN DIVIDED. A DEMON MADE WHOLE.
When rock guitarist Ash Hudson suffers a career-ending hand injury, she seeks out the only thing that can heal it--her hometown's darkest secret.
For decades the residents of Hollow Hills, Pennsylvania, have offered their diseased and injured body parts to a creek demon named Snare. In return, Snare rewards its Traders with healthy replacement parts. There's only one catch: if Traders leave town, their new parts vanish forever.
Ash wants a new hand, but living in Hollow Hills isn't an option. Not when her band is one gig away from hitting the big time. Desperate, she bargains with Snare, promising to help the demon complete its organ collection in exchange for both a new hand and the freedom for everyone to leave town.
As her band's show rapidly approaches, Ash teams up with her estranged father in a last-ditch effort to recruit new Traders. But not everyone trusts Snare's offer, and Ash soon learns how far her neighbors will go to protect their precious parts.
With her family in danger and her band waiting, Ash must find a way to help Snare. But even if she succeeds, there's no telling what Snare plans to do with everyone's bad parts.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2020
84 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
Brandon McNulty
9Ìýbooks139ÌýfollowersBrandon McNulty grew up loving monsters, demons, and the thrill of a great scare. Now he writes supernatural thrillers, horror, and other dark fiction. He is a graduate of Taos Toolbox Writers Workshop and a winner of both Pitch Wars and RevPit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
August 12, 2020
After playing a gig with her band, thirty-year old Ash is attacked by an unknown assailant that leaves her left hand mangled. A normal person would be thankful that her life was spared, but not her, she MUST figure out a way to replace her hand in time for her band’s big make-it-or-break-it show that is only days away. It is a good thing that she lives in Hollow Hills, Pennsylvania because it is there that body parts are traded.
How does one seek out a new body part to replace one that has gone “bad?� The “Traders� go to Snare Creek and submerge most of their body ( especially the part they are trading) and request that an exchange be made. There are 66 people in the town who have made significant, life-impacting swaps successfully until now. One of these people, a man named Mack, is kidnapped and taken out of the area so that someone else can steal the new parts that he possessed. It seems that with something good, there’s always a catch.
Snare only has one of each body part to give, and if someone has already claimed it then you are out of luck. Unless, you take those parts, inside of the human, beyond the boundaries. “Traded parts only disappeared for two reasons: either the trader died or they left the 10 mile radius of local limits.� But, what body part(s) did Mack trade Snare for? The person who needed them most was likely the murderer. And then there were 65 traders.
Trade a part, then you agree to stay within those same 10 miles for the rest of your life. If not, you die and your part goes back to market. It’s that simple.
Unlucky for Ash, it just so happens that someone already swapped their left hand. But who? Ash will stop at nothing to find the traded part that she so badly needs. She desperately starts to break laws to search for the information that she needs� the files on who has what � but she’s running out of time.
But what if the devil makes her an offer that she can’t refuse� that she can produce another hand for her if she meets a series of demands by sunset.
“I want to trade.�
“So do I.�
“My people are human beings not poker chips!�
A supernatural; strange story that only started to lose me towards the end. I wanted way more of the creep factor because this story was definitely unique.
Publication date : June 23, 2020.
3 stars. For me it was the equivalent of a B-rated Horror movie. Average, but certainly not forgettable.
Thank you to Netgalley, IDPA, Midnight Point Press and Brandon McNulty for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Spoilers below!! BEWARE!!
The reasons why I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I would’ve liked to:
- There wasn’t enough information about the band or the band mates, they were just thrown in randomly when they needed people to die or to question Ash’s health. I wish the author would’ve elaborated more.
- “Tattoos keep her warm�, What does that even mean? I have 5 tattoos and I’m always freezing. HELPPPPPP!
- I wish there was WAY more of the “fog disease� that was wiping people out. That’s when things started to get fun!
- Using her dreads as a rope to save Jake that was drowning in the water is not feasible and made me laugh out loud.
- It was randomly figured out at the end that drinking the lake’s water would make people immune to Snare, again, what?
How does one seek out a new body part to replace one that has gone “bad?� The “Traders� go to Snare Creek and submerge most of their body ( especially the part they are trading) and request that an exchange be made. There are 66 people in the town who have made significant, life-impacting swaps successfully until now. One of these people, a man named Mack, is kidnapped and taken out of the area so that someone else can steal the new parts that he possessed. It seems that with something good, there’s always a catch.
Snare only has one of each body part to give, and if someone has already claimed it then you are out of luck. Unless, you take those parts, inside of the human, beyond the boundaries. “Traded parts only disappeared for two reasons: either the trader died or they left the 10 mile radius of local limits.� But, what body part(s) did Mack trade Snare for? The person who needed them most was likely the murderer. And then there were 65 traders.
Trade a part, then you agree to stay within those same 10 miles for the rest of your life. If not, you die and your part goes back to market. It’s that simple.
Unlucky for Ash, it just so happens that someone already swapped their left hand. But who? Ash will stop at nothing to find the traded part that she so badly needs. She desperately starts to break laws to search for the information that she needs� the files on who has what � but she’s running out of time.
But what if the devil makes her an offer that she can’t refuse� that she can produce another hand for her if she meets a series of demands by sunset.
“I want to trade.�
“So do I.�
“My people are human beings not poker chips!�
A supernatural; strange story that only started to lose me towards the end. I wanted way more of the creep factor because this story was definitely unique.
Publication date : June 23, 2020.
3 stars. For me it was the equivalent of a B-rated Horror movie. Average, but certainly not forgettable.
Thank you to Netgalley, IDPA, Midnight Point Press and Brandon McNulty for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Spoilers below!! BEWARE!!
The reasons why I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I would’ve liked to:
- There wasn’t enough information about the band or the band mates, they were just thrown in randomly when they needed people to die or to question Ash’s health. I wish the author would’ve elaborated more.
- “Tattoos keep her warm�, What does that even mean? I have 5 tattoos and I’m always freezing. HELPPPPPP!
- I wish there was WAY more of the “fog disease� that was wiping people out. That’s when things started to get fun!
- Using her dreads as a rope to save Jake that was drowning in the water is not feasible and made me laugh out loud.
- It was randomly figured out at the end that drinking the lake’s water would make people immune to Snare, again, what?
June 7, 2020
#NetGalley #BrandonMcNulty
This debut novel by this Brandon McNulty it's every bit as good as it sounds.
The lead female character, Ash is an interesting gal. She plays guitar for a heavy metal band approximately named Bad Parts. But the main reason for the title has a more sinister meaning, already described in the book synopses. I enjoyed getting to know her as she reunited with family and recruited people to trade their body parts to Snare, the river demon in exchange for working parts in a deal made with the demon to restore her hand that had been crushed by an unknown assailant. The family dynamics were strained, to say the least. Her fellow bandmate, named Cheeto, was a very likeable character who I enjoyed. I liked the lil bit of romance that blossomed between the two.
There is another female character named Candace who I ended up not liking at all. She was not what she seemed! The character development was done very well and i really enjoyed this paranormal/supernatural story, the first of a new series called "Dark Parts".
(I didn't get very detailed in my review because in my opinion the book's description gave away too much already.). I look forward to reading more about Ash.
This debut novel by this Brandon McNulty it's every bit as good as it sounds.
The lead female character, Ash is an interesting gal. She plays guitar for a heavy metal band approximately named Bad Parts. But the main reason for the title has a more sinister meaning, already described in the book synopses. I enjoyed getting to know her as she reunited with family and recruited people to trade their body parts to Snare, the river demon in exchange for working parts in a deal made with the demon to restore her hand that had been crushed by an unknown assailant. The family dynamics were strained, to say the least. Her fellow bandmate, named Cheeto, was a very likeable character who I enjoyed. I liked the lil bit of romance that blossomed between the two.
There is another female character named Candace who I ended up not liking at all. She was not what she seemed! The character development was done very well and i really enjoyed this paranormal/supernatural story, the first of a new series called "Dark Parts".
(I didn't get very detailed in my review because in my opinion the book's description gave away too much already.). I look forward to reading more about Ash.
June 27, 2020
I love a good home town horror story. You know the kind, small towns with dark secrets that are only as as safe as the weakest link. Outsiders are not welcome and are steered away or killed. What differs here from that usual formula, is that an insider becomes an outsider, and her return is the threat. Ash knows what goes on at the creek in Hollow Hills, or at least some of it. She doesn't know the full scope of the creek demon's hold over the town. She cut ties with her father years ago and never looked back. Nothing could make her return to her childhood home, until a savage attack leaves her hand injured beyond repair. I was fascinated with the whole family dynamic. The love and resentment felt very realistic, as we learn what had transpired between Ash and her brother Trent, which is mirrored in the strained relationship between Trent and his son. While at it's heart this is a horror story of a demonic spirit seeking revenge, it is the selfishness of some characters juxtaposed with the selfless acts of others that most impressed me, along with enough gruesome acts and blood curdling scenes to keep this horror fan turning the pages.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
July 2, 2020
Bad Parts although marketed as a supernatural thriller was SO much more than I antipcated. In my opinion it is very much a fast-paced supernatural horror thriller. This book was packed with so many key elements of both thriller and horror that I would be pressed to try and limit it to one.
The overall plot is fantastic and fairly unique although the trading of damaged body parts was reminiscent of the horror goth musical " Repo the genetic Opera". Which I must admit was not a bad thing for me at all! The concept of the creek "demon" and the traders had sort of satanic/ cultish/ black market feel to it and I was 1000% there for it. Overall this was just a thrilling read that kept me on my toes. There was enough mystery, fear, gore and action to keep me interested and turning the page. Also I absolutely love a good book that focuses around a bad ass heroine and Ash's character really delivered that.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The overall plot is fantastic and fairly unique although the trading of damaged body parts was reminiscent of the horror goth musical " Repo the genetic Opera". Which I must admit was not a bad thing for me at all! The concept of the creek "demon" and the traders had sort of satanic/ cultish/ black market feel to it and I was 1000% there for it. Overall this was just a thrilling read that kept me on my toes. There was enough mystery, fear, gore and action to keep me interested and turning the page. Also I absolutely love a good book that focuses around a bad ass heroine and Ash's character really delivered that.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2020
I was so excited for this book. I loved the premise, a demon in a stream that would replace damaged body parts. A young guitarist in a metal band needs to replace a damaged part. The book even starts at a battle of the bands show with crowd surfing, moshing in the pit and Getting crushed against the stage. Perfection.
Sometimes a book is written in a way that you absolutely lose yourself in the story. Your world disappears and you seem to be following the characters like you are a spirit floating over their shoulder. You care for and even love those characters.
Bad Parts is the complete opposite of those books. Every word seemed forced or chosen to try to make maximum impact like this was a freshman creative writing class. I strongly disliked every single character in this book. They all made stupid choices that did not make any sense or seemed to go against the personality they previously displayed.
Sometimes a book is written in a way that you absolutely lose yourself in the story. Your world disappears and you seem to be following the characters like you are a spirit floating over their shoulder. You care for and even love those characters.
Bad Parts is the complete opposite of those books. Every word seemed forced or chosen to try to make maximum impact like this was a freshman creative writing class. I strongly disliked every single character in this book. They all made stupid choices that did not make any sense or seemed to go against the personality they previously displayed.
August 1, 2020
This was a supernatural fast-paced thriller, entertaining and engaging. It is very easy and fast to read. The first in a series with an original plot. Ash, the main character, plays guitar for a heavy metal band when she is attacked and gets her hand crushed. She then reunites with her family and recruites people to trade their body parts to Snare, the demon that lives in the creek of her hometown. In exchange of working parts, she will have her hand restored. Then, nothing goes as expected and she and the others get involved in an engaging story with an unexpected end.
August 25, 2020
The premise of this book is incredibly interesting. It's a little bit horror, a little bit thriller, a little bit supernatural. And it held my attention from beginning to end. But that ending!! I listened to this on audio and I was just sitting there with my mouth hanging open. It ends on such a cliffhanger! Now this is just book 1, so there will be a second book at some point. Hopefully all the questions I was left with will be answered in that book.
July 30, 2020
Holy cow, the intensity on this is through the roof!
I thought the idea that you could trade your bad body parts for new ones intriguing, and I had a feeling Ash wouldn’t like the restrictions that come with the trade. The thing I loved about this one is that there were quite a few characters that had a stake in what was going on. They all had traded something or needed something from Snare.
Once things started going downhill for Ash, it only got worse. It's all incredibly tense. You lose hope, then gain it multiple times. The storyline is super fun, and Ash is a great main character. I love her strength, and that she won’t take no for an answer. And to think this is book 1 in a series! I can’t even imagine where book 2 will lead us, but I can’t wait to find out. Nicely done.
I thought the idea that you could trade your bad body parts for new ones intriguing, and I had a feeling Ash wouldn’t like the restrictions that come with the trade. The thing I loved about this one is that there were quite a few characters that had a stake in what was going on. They all had traded something or needed something from Snare.
Once things started going downhill for Ash, it only got worse. It's all incredibly tense. You lose hope, then gain it multiple times. The storyline is super fun, and Ash is a great main character. I love her strength, and that she won’t take no for an answer. And to think this is book 1 in a series! I can’t even imagine where book 2 will lead us, but I can’t wait to find out. Nicely done.
August 23, 2020
Ash is the guitarist in a rock band that is looking forward to a big upcoming show. And then she is attacked by an unknown assailant and is her left hand is mangled beyond repair. She is told she will probably never play guitar again. Ash can't accept this since her main aspiration in life is to be a rock star. So, she returns to her small hometown of Hollow Hills, PA. Hollow Hills has a mysterious, supernatural secret. For years, the towns folk have been making trades with a demon named Snare that lives in a local creek. They trade in their bad or damaged body parts for a new one. The only catch, they have to stay within a certain radius of the creek. If they try to leave town, their traded parts, disappear. Ash wants to trade for a new hand BUT she doesn't want to have to stay in Hollow Hills, so she makes a deal with Snare.
This book lies somewhere between supernatural thriller and horror for me. The story was an interesting concept but fell slightly flat for me. I liked the aspect of Ash being an aspiring rock star and how she found her way back to her estranged family. The concept of Snare was interesting and I haven't read anything like that before. I would've loved more development of the Snare "character" but perhaps that will happen in a follow-up book. This book was definitely an entertaining wild ride.
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
This book lies somewhere between supernatural thriller and horror for me. The story was an interesting concept but fell slightly flat for me. I liked the aspect of Ash being an aspiring rock star and how she found her way back to her estranged family. The concept of Snare was interesting and I haven't read anything like that before. I would've loved more development of the Snare "character" but perhaps that will happen in a follow-up book. This book was definitely an entertaining wild ride.
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
June 9, 2020
Bad Parts by Brandon McNulty is a fast-paced supernatural horror thriller that I read in almost one sitting. The book revolves around Ash Hudson, a guitarist for a maybe up and coming heavy metal band named Bad Parts. She loves thrashing on her guitar and her entire life revolves around her band. One night after playing, Ash is brutally attacked by a man in a ski mask who claims he hates her music, but he will let her live if she promises to never play again. To insure that Ash follows through on this promise. he savagely slams her left hand again and again until it is permanently injured. Ash feels that she has no identity without her music, so she is determined to fix her hand and play again. Ash knows how to fix her dilemma, but she'll need to revisit her past in her hometown of Hollow Hills to do it. Ash knows about a "demon" who lives in Snare Creek who can trade bad body parts for perfectly good body parts. There are a few catches to this trade (as one would expect when dealing with a creek demon). There is only one of each body part than can be lent out at a time and if you leave town, that person will lose the borrowed body part. Ash is willing to do whatever it takes to be able to play guitar again. Now if you're worried I'm somehow spoiling the book here -- trust me I am not because this all happens at the beginning of the book. What follows is a crazy adventure ride that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I really liked this book. On its surface, it is a supernatural horror; however, it is so much more than just trying to cut deals with a creek demon. This is a story of redemption and of finding oneself by discovering what is truly important. It is a story about sacrifice, love, and hope. I was not expecting to find these elements and it was a pleasant surprise. I also liked the character development that took place in this book. I liked seeing how the characters changed throughout the story. I will not spoil anything, but I will say that I enjoyed the back story of our supernatural being and would have loved to know more about it. Since this is Book 1 in a series, hopefully we can get more information about the supernatural elements in the future. I really look forward to reading more in this series and I will be putting Brandon McNulty on my watch list.
I really liked this book. On its surface, it is a supernatural horror; however, it is so much more than just trying to cut deals with a creek demon. This is a story of redemption and of finding oneself by discovering what is truly important. It is a story about sacrifice, love, and hope. I was not expecting to find these elements and it was a pleasant surprise. I also liked the character development that took place in this book. I liked seeing how the characters changed throughout the story. I will not spoil anything, but I will say that I enjoyed the back story of our supernatural being and would have loved to know more about it. Since this is Book 1 in a series, hopefully we can get more information about the supernatural elements in the future. I really look forward to reading more in this series and I will be putting Brandon McNulty on my watch list.
July 13, 2020
4.5/5.0 Stars
BAD PARTS � A fast-paced supernatural page-turner I didn’t want to put down. Highly Recommend!
’When rock guitarist Ash Hudson suffers a career-ending hand injury, she seeks out the only thing that can heal it--her hometown's darkest secret.�
Reminiscent of NEEDFUL THINGS, one of my favorite books, the commonality amongst many of the characters in BAD PARTS is that of a want or need to replace a diseased or injured body part for a healthy one; however, there's always a catch...
Thank you, NetGalley and Midnight Point Press, for loaning me an eBook of BAD PARTS in exchange for an honest review.
BAD PARTS � A fast-paced supernatural page-turner I didn’t want to put down. Highly Recommend!
’When rock guitarist Ash Hudson suffers a career-ending hand injury, she seeks out the only thing that can heal it--her hometown's darkest secret.�
Reminiscent of NEEDFUL THINGS, one of my favorite books, the commonality amongst many of the characters in BAD PARTS is that of a want or need to replace a diseased or injured body part for a healthy one; however, there's always a catch...
Thank you, NetGalley and Midnight Point Press, for loaning me an eBook of BAD PARTS in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2020
An engaging start that lost my interest in a mire of nonsensical action towards the end. I loved the concept with the main character desperate to reclaim the use of her damaged hand making a deal with her hometown's mystical body part recovering creek.
The set up of trading bad parts was interesting but it's no shock when it all has a price and then it just descends into a non too engaging action sequence in which I cared about few people and many actions didn't make sense to me.
The writing style wasn't for me with a lot of the descriptions been over the top and jarring to the flow. The narrator of the audiobook, Ellie Gossagewas was OK.
Overall come for the great set up but leave before the end....
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the copy
The set up of trading bad parts was interesting but it's no shock when it all has a price and then it just descends into a non too engaging action sequence in which I cared about few people and many actions didn't make sense to me.
The writing style wasn't for me with a lot of the descriptions been over the top and jarring to the flow. The narrator of the audiobook, Ellie Gossagewas was OK.
Overall come for the great set up but leave before the end....
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the copy
September 16, 2020
Oh, this was a blast of a read. It’s graphic, violent, and so exciting!
The concept was really unique and I was all in on our characters. Expect your heart to break more than once and expect to loudly root for a couple of wonderful characters.
Dark, unique, and a rollercoaster of a horror ride.
Loved this!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
The concept was really unique and I was all in on our characters. Expect your heart to break more than once and expect to loudly root for a couple of wonderful characters.
Dark, unique, and a rollercoaster of a horror ride.
Loved this!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
June 30, 2020
This is book one of the Dark Parts series and follows the main character, rock guitarist Ash Hudson, after they suffer a career ending injury to their hand. Her band were playing a Battle of the Bands competition, but one of their band members was badly beaten before they went on stage. They have to play without him, only for the crowd to push up against the safety barriers too much, leaving those at the front getting squashed. Ash calls out for people to back off, but everyone is too carried away with the music. She does the unthinkable, in an effort to stop the crowd, and walks off stage, leaving them out of the running for a guaranteed win and some long needed funds! After the gig, Ash is chased by someone in a balaclava, who turns out to be a music fan who hates their music and wants her to stop playing, forever! He strikes her repeatedly on her hand, breaking every bone!
The start of the story shows an old man being driven out of the Hollow Hills, Ash’s old hometown, and begging the driver to turn back. He has received kidneys, which if he leaves the town boundaries, he knows will kill him. The sheriff is called to his dead body, left in the back of a car. Only it turns out the body isn’t quite dead yet! Candace, the woman who called him out for a bear attack, tells the officer to sort it out before she does. They have a secret to keep in town and sending mac to a hospital without any kidneys and no sign of any incisions, is going to raise a lot of questions. There are over sixty other Traders, as they call those people who have made trades for body parts, who have made a deal with the devil, or demon in this case. Only problem is, there is only one of each body part available and it can only be made available again, if the recipient leaves town or dies!
Knowing all of this, Ash’s first thoughts after being given the bad news after her surgery, is that she needs to go back home! Her band have a big gig coming up on Friday and she needs to be able to play her guitar. She heads off to a certain creek called Snare Creek, hoping to follow the tale her own father told her when he made a trade. What she does, will affect everybody in town, not just the Traders themselves. When you make a deal with the devil, you should expect some surprises and not those of the good kind! The Snare Creek demon is getting antsy and wants out of the creek, using Ash to finalise the parts it requires, for completion. Lots of twisting, dark shocks and surprises to come in this book, as the demon and the head organiser of the Traders, Candace, have their own plots in the offing. Definitely not what you might expect at the end of the tale! A good read for all who like a bit of a dark tale, mixed with the supernatural. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
The start of the story shows an old man being driven out of the Hollow Hills, Ash’s old hometown, and begging the driver to turn back. He has received kidneys, which if he leaves the town boundaries, he knows will kill him. The sheriff is called to his dead body, left in the back of a car. Only it turns out the body isn’t quite dead yet! Candace, the woman who called him out for a bear attack, tells the officer to sort it out before she does. They have a secret to keep in town and sending mac to a hospital without any kidneys and no sign of any incisions, is going to raise a lot of questions. There are over sixty other Traders, as they call those people who have made trades for body parts, who have made a deal with the devil, or demon in this case. Only problem is, there is only one of each body part available and it can only be made available again, if the recipient leaves town or dies!
Knowing all of this, Ash’s first thoughts after being given the bad news after her surgery, is that she needs to go back home! Her band have a big gig coming up on Friday and she needs to be able to play her guitar. She heads off to a certain creek called Snare Creek, hoping to follow the tale her own father told her when he made a trade. What she does, will affect everybody in town, not just the Traders themselves. When you make a deal with the devil, you should expect some surprises and not those of the good kind! The Snare Creek demon is getting antsy and wants out of the creek, using Ash to finalise the parts it requires, for completion. Lots of twisting, dark shocks and surprises to come in this book, as the demon and the head organiser of the Traders, Candace, have their own plots in the offing. Definitely not what you might expect at the end of the tale! A good read for all who like a bit of a dark tale, mixed with the supernatural. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
May 31, 2020
I truly wasn't expecting to like this supernatural horror novel as much as I did.
In a poor attempt to summarize after a night of little sleep: Ash is a musician who has her hand destroyed by a mysterious attacker after a show one night. A big gig is coming up, and she's desperate to fix it. Healing on it's own would take too long. In her home town, there happens to be a creek where an entity - I'm unsure if it's referred to as a demon in my tired state - can trade people body parts for their bad ones. There are some catches. Only one body part of any type is available. This goes for sets as well. One of the major points in the book revolves around a set of eyes. The only way to get a new pair once claimed is to either kill the current owner of them or drive them beyond the town's border where they will lose them. Everyone who trades with the entity are forced to stay within a certain radius. In order to get her hand, Ash is forced to gather people to trade specific parts. Meanwhile, the Traders are led by a lady named Candace who opposes Ashley and all her attempts.
For whatever reason, despite the description in the book, I kept picturing Sue Atkins as Candace. Yikes?
Once I started, I was really driven to finish this book. It gets wilder and wilder. I couldn't believe at the halfway point with everything going on in the book that there was still another half to go. It was all worth it. It doesn't necessarily end on too happy a note. There were characters I liked a lot that didn't make it which is acceptable for the type of book it is. I was shocked at how some of them went down. I also realized towards the end that nobody really has any set of morals. Even the good people are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want (body parts, ect.)
The first chapter should have been listed as the prologue. The second chapter was the weakest for me. The music aspect of the book was a turn off but that's a personal thing.
The author also hints in the notes afterwards about more to come so hopefully there'll be a followup.
In a poor attempt to summarize after a night of little sleep: Ash is a musician who has her hand destroyed by a mysterious attacker after a show one night. A big gig is coming up, and she's desperate to fix it. Healing on it's own would take too long. In her home town, there happens to be a creek where an entity - I'm unsure if it's referred to as a demon in my tired state - can trade people body parts for their bad ones. There are some catches. Only one body part of any type is available. This goes for sets as well. One of the major points in the book revolves around a set of eyes. The only way to get a new pair once claimed is to either kill the current owner of them or drive them beyond the town's border where they will lose them. Everyone who trades with the entity are forced to stay within a certain radius. In order to get her hand, Ash is forced to gather people to trade specific parts. Meanwhile, the Traders are led by a lady named Candace who opposes Ashley and all her attempts.
For whatever reason, despite the description in the book, I kept picturing Sue Atkins as Candace. Yikes?
Once I started, I was really driven to finish this book. It gets wilder and wilder. I couldn't believe at the halfway point with everything going on in the book that there was still another half to go. It was all worth it. It doesn't necessarily end on too happy a note. There were characters I liked a lot that didn't make it which is acceptable for the type of book it is. I was shocked at how some of them went down. I also realized towards the end that nobody really has any set of morals. Even the good people are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want (body parts, ect.)
The first chapter should have been listed as the prologue. The second chapter was the weakest for me. The music aspect of the book was a turn off but that's a personal thing.
The author also hints in the notes afterwards about more to come so hopefully there'll be a followup.
May 31, 2020
4 STARS
When rock guitarist Ash Hudson suffers a career-ending hand injury, she seeks out the only thing that can heal it--her hometown's darkest secret. . . .
.
.
.
Although BAD PARTS is marketed as a "Supernatural Thriller", it definitely toes the line between thriller and horror. With thrills, twists and a good smattering of gore, this book is sure to please fans of both genres!
The story follows Ash (aka Ashlee) the bad-ass lead guitarist and manager for the rock band "Bad Parts." After a chance encounter with a back alley thug, she is forced to return home after a decade to seek out the help of Snare, the town's local creek demon, in hopes of "trading" her broken hand for a brand new one. The catch? Snare has her own agenda that will threaten to tear the small town apart.
I know I say this quite frequently, but I swear I could NOT put this one down! It completely sucked me in and wouldn't let me go (pun completely intended if you've read it.) I couldn't for the life of me figure out where this book was going and all of the twists completely took me by surprise! My only issue (and why it's not a 5 star read for me) is because I felt the build up to the finale took a little bit longer than I would have liked. However, I have to say that I fully enjoyed the ride and can't wait to find out where the author takes these characters in the follow up novel!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC. BAD PARTS is out June 23!
When rock guitarist Ash Hudson suffers a career-ending hand injury, she seeks out the only thing that can heal it--her hometown's darkest secret. . . .
.
.
.
Although BAD PARTS is marketed as a "Supernatural Thriller", it definitely toes the line between thriller and horror. With thrills, twists and a good smattering of gore, this book is sure to please fans of both genres!
The story follows Ash (aka Ashlee) the bad-ass lead guitarist and manager for the rock band "Bad Parts." After a chance encounter with a back alley thug, she is forced to return home after a decade to seek out the help of Snare, the town's local creek demon, in hopes of "trading" her broken hand for a brand new one. The catch? Snare has her own agenda that will threaten to tear the small town apart.
I know I say this quite frequently, but I swear I could NOT put this one down! It completely sucked me in and wouldn't let me go (pun completely intended if you've read it.) I couldn't for the life of me figure out where this book was going and all of the twists completely took me by surprise! My only issue (and why it's not a 5 star read for me) is because I felt the build up to the finale took a little bit longer than I would have liked. However, I have to say that I fully enjoyed the ride and can't wait to find out where the author takes these characters in the follow up novel!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC. BAD PARTS is out June 23!
December 2, 2024
This was probably one of the most original stories I've read this year.
When rock guitarist Ashley (Ash) Hudson, damages her hand irreparably before a big show, she immediately seeks out the help of her hometown's creek demon, Snare. Snare has been known to trade people's "bad parts" for new ones - need a new body part? No problem! Snare will take your busted limb and replace it with a brand new one! There is (of course) a catch - 1) only one body part is available at a time; and 2) you can't leave town with Snare's parts or they'll disappear.
As a rock star who is constantly on tour, this deal just won't cut it for Ash. How can she perform at her upcoming show if she can't leave town? So Ash strikes a new deal with the demon and promises to do whatever it wants in exchange for a permanent hand and the freedom to leave town.
I thought this book was a lot of fun to read. It's a wild and thrilling ride, with a few gory details thrown in (it is, after all, a book about trading body parts).
I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more character development in the next book so I'm definitely looking forward to reading the second book when it comes out.
ARC provided by BooksGoSocial via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
*** #21 of my 2020 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - Read a book with a main character or protagonist with a disability (fiction or non) ***
When rock guitarist Ashley (Ash) Hudson, damages her hand irreparably before a big show, she immediately seeks out the help of her hometown's creek demon, Snare. Snare has been known to trade people's "bad parts" for new ones - need a new body part? No problem! Snare will take your busted limb and replace it with a brand new one! There is (of course) a catch - 1) only one body part is available at a time; and 2) you can't leave town with Snare's parts or they'll disappear.
As a rock star who is constantly on tour, this deal just won't cut it for Ash. How can she perform at her upcoming show if she can't leave town? So Ash strikes a new deal with the demon and promises to do whatever it wants in exchange for a permanent hand and the freedom to leave town.
I thought this book was a lot of fun to read. It's a wild and thrilling ride, with a few gory details thrown in (it is, after all, a book about trading body parts).
I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more character development in the next book so I'm definitely looking forward to reading the second book when it comes out.
ARC provided by BooksGoSocial via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
*** #21 of my 2020 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - Read a book with a main character or protagonist with a disability (fiction or non) ***
June 4, 2020
Wow what a ride!!
I love anything supernatural/horror and have read a lot of books in this genre, the story is so unique and refreshing, it’s something I have definitely not come across before!
The book revolves around Ash a guitarist in a band looking to make it big! Unfortunately her hand is destroyed and she desperately needs a new one to continue her career, so she returns home to trade with a demon called Snare.
Now that sounds quite weird I know, but I’m so glad I gave this book a chance because it was brilliant! The attention to detail on the characters brought them to life. I really started to care for the characters and gained a great understanding of what they were doing and why.
This book starts off quite strange and not scary at all, quite interesting actually, but don’t let that fool you as it takes a dark turn which will have you on the edge of your seat!
As you can probably tell I absolutely loved this book, it introduced me to something completely new and fresh and it hooked me! My only hope is that there may be scope for a sequel!!
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I love anything supernatural/horror and have read a lot of books in this genre, the story is so unique and refreshing, it’s something I have definitely not come across before!
The book revolves around Ash a guitarist in a band looking to make it big! Unfortunately her hand is destroyed and she desperately needs a new one to continue her career, so she returns home to trade with a demon called Snare.
Now that sounds quite weird I know, but I’m so glad I gave this book a chance because it was brilliant! The attention to detail on the characters brought them to life. I really started to care for the characters and gained a great understanding of what they were doing and why.
This book starts off quite strange and not scary at all, quite interesting actually, but don’t let that fool you as it takes a dark turn which will have you on the edge of your seat!
As you can probably tell I absolutely loved this book, it introduced me to something completely new and fresh and it hooked me! My only hope is that there may be scope for a sequel!!
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 4, 2020
Right from the beginning this captures your attention and throws you into the full fledged drama of Ash's life. She lives a rocker road show lifestyle the requires her hands to play her beloved guitar. This isn't just a hobby, this is her means. When an attack leaves her unable to recover and play, she seeks alternative healing... trading parts...yes, body parts.
The suspense and drama continues throughout the story, which at times dragged a little, but worth finishing.
A unique plot with cool characters.
I listened to this as an audio-book and the performance fit well with the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Midpoint Press, and Brandon McNulty for the complimentary copy to listen to. All opinions are my own.
The suspense and drama continues throughout the story, which at times dragged a little, but worth finishing.
A unique plot with cool characters.
I listened to this as an audio-book and the performance fit well with the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Midpoint Press, and Brandon McNulty for the complimentary copy to listen to. All opinions are my own.
June 24, 2020
Brandon McNulty's debut novel "Bad Parts" is a non-stop rollercoaster of a read. Dark, supernatural thrillers are hard to come by and McNulty simply nails the best part of the genre.
Characters are rich and vivid, complete with flaws and virtues. The setting is an odd "Midwest Gothic" if you will. Rust, desolation and things best forgotten or kept secret are the primary themes of place. The tension is carefully raised and released with precision much like the protagonist, Ash, tuning the frets of her guitar. A real page turner and tough to put down.
I felt the final 25% of the book was a helluva ride, tossing me one way, pushing me another and featuring plenty of unexpected drops and twists in between. But a great ride nonetheless.
If you enjoy supernatural horror or thriller genre works, you're going to love this one.
Characters are rich and vivid, complete with flaws and virtues. The setting is an odd "Midwest Gothic" if you will. Rust, desolation and things best forgotten or kept secret are the primary themes of place. The tension is carefully raised and released with precision much like the protagonist, Ash, tuning the frets of her guitar. A real page turner and tough to put down.
I felt the final 25% of the book was a helluva ride, tossing me one way, pushing me another and featuring plenty of unexpected drops and twists in between. But a great ride nonetheless.
If you enjoy supernatural horror or thriller genre works, you're going to love this one.
June 2, 2020
Definitely a unique horror approach. Until I read this, my Imagination could not have encompassed such a concept. I've read fiction a time or two about Organ-trading and the black market in human anatomy, but BAD PARTS is way beyond that--out of this world. Lots of gore and violence, overflowing terror; you really don't want to read this at night.
For me, though, other than this Incredible concept, the best aspect was the characters: the good, the villains, the wolves disguised as sheep, character evolution and devolution. That's what made the story for me.
For me, though, other than this Incredible concept, the best aspect was the characters: the good, the villains, the wolves disguised as sheep, character evolution and devolution. That's what made the story for me.
June 3, 2020
Well I've never read a supernatural thriller before, will I again? If Brandon McNulty has written it then definitely.
This book is a page turner. I just didnt want to put it down. The Plot was well paced. the characters were well defined and I just had such a good time reading this.
Is there anything bad I can say about this book? I stayed up later then I should to finish it, but that's about all. :)
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy
This book is a page turner. I just didnt want to put it down. The Plot was well paced. the characters were well defined and I just had such a good time reading this.
Is there anything bad I can say about this book? I stayed up later then I should to finish it, but that's about all. :)
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy
July 2, 2020
I thought this was a really great book. I found it to be a suspenseful thriller/horror. The story is well written and keeps you pulled in from start to finish. The characters are well written and developed. I found this a hard book to put down. If you love thrillers or horrors then I recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 25, 2020
This book was so not what I expected and I mean that in a good way. How far would you go to replace a broken body part with the "help" of a paranormal being? Ash and her family went all out. Well written and unique!! The narrator was perfect for a young angsty band chick with dreads. Look forward to the next part.
I received this audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2020
~About
When Ash (lead guitarist of her band) has her hand crippled in an unexpected attack outside a gig venue, she is left devastated. Told by doctors that she will never play guitar again, a desperate Ash sets out to visit her hometown in Hollow Hills, where a fabled demon may be able to offer her a new body part.
The problem?
Ash will not be allowed to leave the town, a chilling condition of the mysterious spirit which lurks in Hollow Hill’s river.
~Characters
Ash made for a strong and determined main character. Passionate about her musical career, she would stop at nothing to try and get her life back on track. At times she made terrible mistakes but this only served to make her more human and realistic as a character.
Trent (Ash’s brother) generated so much natural conflict. Bitter about his damaged leg due to a past accident caused by Ash, the two siblings are constantly at odds with each-other. Despite their initial clashes in the book, the story goes on to show different dimensions to their sibling-ship, giving a more rounded view of their history.
For the sake of brevity, I’m going to discuss one more character, head of police in the Hollow Hills area, Candace. A strict and uncompromising woman, Candace made for a good contagionist, throwing up obstacles and ultimatums all through the book. She was easy to dislike, having a power hungry nature that walked hand in hand with police-corruption.
~Likes
Bad Parts was a mysterious and enjoyable story. The author used a good mix of description, character expression, and dialogue. The dialogue felt natural and flowed well, with each character having their own distinct voice.
The third person narration moved between Ash, Trent, and Karl (their adoptive father), showing each of their views on the troubling situation that unfolds around them. This helped to steadily ramp up the tension and kept me hooked throughout.
I loved how the author conveyed Ash’s desire, pain, conflicting feelings, and general sense of self. Ash was certainly an interesting character to follow.
~Memorable Quotes
Just one particular quote stuck out to me with this story:
‘For the first time in their lives, they looked upon each-other and saw healthy, unbroken beings.�
This powerful quote hints not just at the healing of physical issues such as injured limbs, but of the emotional healing experienced between Ash and her brother later on in the story. The moment in which this quote is used is deeply moving and meaningful.
~Overview
With themes of family, loss, and betrayal, Bad Parts makes for a fascinating and gripping read.
Rated: 5 stars.
Recommended to lovers of dark, supernatural -inspired thrillers.
August 2, 2020
3.5/5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and Midnight Point Press for the free audio copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I snagged this one from the “listen now� section even though I thought it sounded a bit... weird. I looked it up on goodreads and it had phenomenal reviews so I decided to give it a shot.
It’s been a long time since I’ve really read any supernatural books. I used to be pretty big on vampires (somehow never read or watched Twilight though). I grew up with Buffy and I read most of The Vampire Diaries books and loved the show. But besides reading those book years ago and the occasional overlap with the small amount of horror that I read, I haven’t read many supernatural books.
I have to admit, that the premise initially reminded me of WE SOLD OUR SOULS, which I didn’t love, so again I was skeptical. In the end, my lack of shelf control won out and I hit download.
I thought the narrator was fantastic! I don’t think I’ve listened to anything else she’s narrated yet, but she has a great voice and was really able to sound creepy when it was needed.
The storyline however, felt a bit convoluted at times. I did end up liking it more than WE SOLD OUR SOULS, but I don’t think it was quite for me. I felt like everything was rushed but also dragged out at the same time. There were some unexpected twists that I thought were well done, but then certain things that irked me. So I’ve gone back and forth about my rating and thoughts on the book countless times, and I still can’t make up my mind. If supernatural thrillers are your thing, definitely give it a shot!
Thank you Netgalley and Midnight Point Press for the free audio copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I snagged this one from the “listen now� section even though I thought it sounded a bit... weird. I looked it up on goodreads and it had phenomenal reviews so I decided to give it a shot.
It’s been a long time since I’ve really read any supernatural books. I used to be pretty big on vampires (somehow never read or watched Twilight though). I grew up with Buffy and I read most of The Vampire Diaries books and loved the show. But besides reading those book years ago and the occasional overlap with the small amount of horror that I read, I haven’t read many supernatural books.
I have to admit, that the premise initially reminded me of WE SOLD OUR SOULS, which I didn’t love, so again I was skeptical. In the end, my lack of shelf control won out and I hit download.
I thought the narrator was fantastic! I don’t think I’ve listened to anything else she’s narrated yet, but she has a great voice and was really able to sound creepy when it was needed.
The storyline however, felt a bit convoluted at times. I did end up liking it more than WE SOLD OUR SOULS, but I don’t think it was quite for me. I felt like everything was rushed but also dragged out at the same time. There were some unexpected twists that I thought were well done, but then certain things that irked me. So I’ve gone back and forth about my rating and thoughts on the book countless times, and I still can’t make up my mind. If supernatural thrillers are your thing, definitely give it a shot!
October 21, 2021
Bad Parts feels like classic small-town-with-big-secrets horror in the vein of Stephen King's Needful Things or Storm of the Century, and it's the kind of read that leaves you feeling you need to come up for air.
More importantly, Brandon McNulty knows as well as King does that the key to great horror doesn't lie merely in pulse-pounding action or in stomach churning gore or in an eerie original premise---although Bad Parts does excel on all counts---but in snaring readers' hearts with emotionally authentic characters.
This is the primary reason I intend to collect and read all of McNulty's works from here on out.
McNulty delivers plenty of emotional pay-offs with both well-crafted prose and a compelling main cast. His characters are haunted by the past and present alike (and deep down by their fears of letting each other down or not being enough).
There's Ash, the passionate and hard-headed heavy metal guitarist, hungry to make it big and unable to claim an identity or self-worth outside her music (spectacularly voiced by Ellie Gossage in the audiobook).
And Carl, Ash's estranged though loving and upright father, who is under constant pressure as a black officer with white adopted children in an insular mostly white Pennsylvania town AND as a man who owes his good knees to a Trade with the creek demon Snare AND as a lawman who must keep the other Traders' secrets and abide their merciless brand of keeping order.
[Side note, some readers may feel McNulty treads some tricky waters when Carl wrestles with his experiences with blatant racism and his lonely feelings of being an outsider and the conclusions he draws. (Especially in our current turbulent climate of righteous calls for an end to profiling and excessive force by police, to put it mildly.) But I feel he wrote Carl with genuine compassion and anger at the injustice. And I think it's so important to remember that no individual (whether real or an author's creation) speaks for what a whole population is thinking and feeling, nor should they be charged with that unreasonable burden.]
And Trent, Ash's resentful and restless twin brother whose leg she maimed in a car accident, and who hasn't managed to escape their stifling small town like she did.
And Jake, Trent's brooding recently blinded eight-year-old who dreamed of playing pro baseball and whom his father and Ash and Carl all crave a closer relationship with.
Even Snare the mysterious creek demon who trades "bad parts" for sound ones in exchange for staying within or close to Hollow Hills has intriguing ambitions and hidden ties to certain townsfolk (and narrator Ellie Gossage's narrative voice for her was also incredible).
Further, there is a laudably strong sense of place in the small town of Hollow Hills peopled with strong side characters, many with a mean streak, and the author likewise captures well the grungy urban bars and clubs where Ash's band Bad Parts plays.
And I liked the push and pull of the relationship Ash had with her lovably goofy and kind star vocalist bandmate Cheeto, who sees her as a much stronger and better person than she sees herself. At the beginning there's a glimmer that Cheeto's right about her, but Ash has to take a lot of wrong turns before she realizes, perhaps too late---this is horror, after all---what sacrifices are worthwhile and what matters most.
It's hard to say much more without giving too much away (and the blurb sums it up much better than I could). I do want to note that sticking the landing is one of the hardest parts of writing any novel and Brandon McNulty absolutely nails it in Bad Parts. Finishing this book was like walking out of a darkened movie theater into sunshine with a swelling John Williams score in the background, feeling wistful yet relieved that it's come to an end.
This didn't feel like a debut novel except in very brief moments of narration that could have more to do with personal taste, or in chapters where I thought some context might have been filled in sooner to better effect but eventually my doubts were addressed.
Final note, this book probably deserves 5 stars not 4, but my extremely personal criteria for stars (at the time of this review) is according to how much joy I felt during the reading experience and how uplifted I felt by the end of it. Whereas the horror genre definitely lends itself better to its characters, and me the reader, getting emotionally gutted. If I were objective, I might look only at how well a novel succeeds at what it set out to do and the craftsmanship of the writing.
That said, I respect the talent it takes to emotionally gut either characters or readers or both well, and for the record all the parts that choked me up in Bad Parts felt earned.
This is a fast-paced yarn with plenty of twists, chills, and a huge beating heart and I rec it highly to fans of thrillers or horror or dark fantasy or small town fiction or emotionally gut-punching fiction.
WHEN A STORY LEAVES YOU SLACK JAWED, SPEAK UP---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
More importantly, Brandon McNulty knows as well as King does that the key to great horror doesn't lie merely in pulse-pounding action or in stomach churning gore or in an eerie original premise---although Bad Parts does excel on all counts---but in snaring readers' hearts with emotionally authentic characters.
This is the primary reason I intend to collect and read all of McNulty's works from here on out.
McNulty delivers plenty of emotional pay-offs with both well-crafted prose and a compelling main cast. His characters are haunted by the past and present alike (and deep down by their fears of letting each other down or not being enough).
There's Ash, the passionate and hard-headed heavy metal guitarist, hungry to make it big and unable to claim an identity or self-worth outside her music (spectacularly voiced by Ellie Gossage in the audiobook).
And Carl, Ash's estranged though loving and upright father, who is under constant pressure as a black officer with white adopted children in an insular mostly white Pennsylvania town AND as a man who owes his good knees to a Trade with the creek demon Snare AND as a lawman who must keep the other Traders' secrets and abide their merciless brand of keeping order.
[Side note, some readers may feel McNulty treads some tricky waters when Carl wrestles with his experiences with blatant racism and his lonely feelings of being an outsider and the conclusions he draws. (Especially in our current turbulent climate of righteous calls for an end to profiling and excessive force by police, to put it mildly.) But I feel he wrote Carl with genuine compassion and anger at the injustice. And I think it's so important to remember that no individual (whether real or an author's creation) speaks for what a whole population is thinking and feeling, nor should they be charged with that unreasonable burden.]
And Trent, Ash's resentful and restless twin brother whose leg she maimed in a car accident, and who hasn't managed to escape their stifling small town like she did.
And Jake, Trent's brooding recently blinded eight-year-old who dreamed of playing pro baseball and whom his father and Ash and Carl all crave a closer relationship with.
Even Snare the mysterious creek demon who trades "bad parts" for sound ones in exchange for staying within or close to Hollow Hills has intriguing ambitions and hidden ties to certain townsfolk (and narrator Ellie Gossage's narrative voice for her was also incredible).
Further, there is a laudably strong sense of place in the small town of Hollow Hills peopled with strong side characters, many with a mean streak, and the author likewise captures well the grungy urban bars and clubs where Ash's band Bad Parts plays.
And I liked the push and pull of the relationship Ash had with her lovably goofy and kind star vocalist bandmate Cheeto, who sees her as a much stronger and better person than she sees herself. At the beginning there's a glimmer that Cheeto's right about her, but Ash has to take a lot of wrong turns before she realizes, perhaps too late---this is horror, after all---what sacrifices are worthwhile and what matters most.
It's hard to say much more without giving too much away (and the blurb sums it up much better than I could). I do want to note that sticking the landing is one of the hardest parts of writing any novel and Brandon McNulty absolutely nails it in Bad Parts. Finishing this book was like walking out of a darkened movie theater into sunshine with a swelling John Williams score in the background, feeling wistful yet relieved that it's come to an end.
This didn't feel like a debut novel except in very brief moments of narration that could have more to do with personal taste, or in chapters where I thought some context might have been filled in sooner to better effect but eventually my doubts were addressed.
Final note, this book probably deserves 5 stars not 4, but my extremely personal criteria for stars (at the time of this review) is according to how much joy I felt during the reading experience and how uplifted I felt by the end of it. Whereas the horror genre definitely lends itself better to its characters, and me the reader, getting emotionally gutted. If I were objective, I might look only at how well a novel succeeds at what it set out to do and the craftsmanship of the writing.
That said, I respect the talent it takes to emotionally gut either characters or readers or both well, and for the record all the parts that choked me up in Bad Parts felt earned.
This is a fast-paced yarn with plenty of twists, chills, and a huge beating heart and I rec it highly to fans of thrillers or horror or dark fantasy or small town fiction or emotionally gut-punching fiction.
WHEN A STORY LEAVES YOU SLACK JAWED, SPEAK UP---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
December 18, 2020
I'm not really sure what this was, but I liked it. I liked it enough to stay up listening until 12:30 AM and then pick it up first thing in the morning to finish it.
I received an audio copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, and I feel pretty fortunate, because it was a very good listen.
So, first, the narrator. I listened to the book at 2.5 speed. At the normal rate of speed, it was painfully slow, and the narrator's voice wasn't exactly for me, but sped it up it was perfect. She also was very good at doing different voices, which I appreciated.
The writing was tight. This was a first novel, but you would never think. The characters had depth, and the protagonist experienced a satisfying redemption arc. The setting was well-drawn. The supernatural aspect was written in such a way that it was not difficult to suspend your disbelief. Characters acted in uncomfortably believable ways.
I'm not sure if this was a horror, a thriller, a paranormal mystery or a straight-up tragedy. It was a thoughtful (but also sort of gruesome and thoroughly entertaining) reflection on human weakness, selfishness, greed and, ultimately, self-sacrifice. So yeah, it was pretty grim. It was even more of a downer because of how realistic it was. Not the river demon part, but how people think and behave, and how harmful self-serving behavior can be.
I want more. It ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, and there were questions left unanswered that I really want answers to!
I received an audio copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, and I feel pretty fortunate, because it was a very good listen.
So, first, the narrator. I listened to the book at 2.5 speed. At the normal rate of speed, it was painfully slow, and the narrator's voice wasn't exactly for me, but sped it up it was perfect. She also was very good at doing different voices, which I appreciated.
The writing was tight. This was a first novel, but you would never think. The characters had depth, and the protagonist experienced a satisfying redemption arc. The setting was well-drawn. The supernatural aspect was written in such a way that it was not difficult to suspend your disbelief. Characters acted in uncomfortably believable ways.
I'm not sure if this was a horror, a thriller, a paranormal mystery or a straight-up tragedy. It was a thoughtful (but also sort of gruesome and thoroughly entertaining) reflection on human weakness, selfishness, greed and, ultimately, self-sacrifice. So yeah, it was pretty grim. It was even more of a downer because of how realistic it was. Not the river demon part, but how people think and behave, and how harmful self-serving behavior can be.
I want more. It ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, and there were questions left unanswered that I really want answers to!
July 28, 2020
3.5/5 stars.
Bad Parts has an interesting premise. What if you could trade a "bad" part of your body for a good one? Make a deal with a creek demon, exchange a faulty leg, heart, etc, and then you're bound to one town. Of course, making a deal with anything described as a demon will inevitably go wrong.
The story is good, eventually. The first fourth dragged too much, though. The very first few chapters made me think I was getting into a generic, run of the mill, low-end horror thriller. But it evolved into a fresh, interesting, and developed plot. What I didn't like about the first few chapters is that Ash sounded like a teenager in a bad YA novel, immature and flat. Around the thirty percent mark, though, the action picked up, the story deepened, and I kept listening until the book was over.
That brings me to characters. The characters in Bad Parts are there to serve the story, and they do this well. They don't have a lot of development or facets to their personalities, but they believably help with the plot.
The narration of Bad Parts audiobook was odd. The narrator did a decent job of changing voices, but sometimes what sounded like purposeful accents were downright odd. I did as another reviewer suggested and sped up, which helped greatly.
I probably wouldn't read this book again, but I'd read a future book from the same author.
Bad Parts has an interesting premise. What if you could trade a "bad" part of your body for a good one? Make a deal with a creek demon, exchange a faulty leg, heart, etc, and then you're bound to one town. Of course, making a deal with anything described as a demon will inevitably go wrong.
The story is good, eventually. The first fourth dragged too much, though. The very first few chapters made me think I was getting into a generic, run of the mill, low-end horror thriller. But it evolved into a fresh, interesting, and developed plot. What I didn't like about the first few chapters is that Ash sounded like a teenager in a bad YA novel, immature and flat. Around the thirty percent mark, though, the action picked up, the story deepened, and I kept listening until the book was over.
That brings me to characters. The characters in Bad Parts are there to serve the story, and they do this well. They don't have a lot of development or facets to their personalities, but they believably help with the plot.
The narration of Bad Parts audiobook was odd. The narrator did a decent job of changing voices, but sometimes what sounded like purposeful accents were downright odd. I did as another reviewer suggested and sped up, which helped greatly.
I probably wouldn't read this book again, but I'd read a future book from the same author.
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