Chilling and Terrifying!

This book was horrifying in the best way possible. I was captivated from the very first page. A very unique and gripping novel.
Jon Athan's narration was perfect for this!
If your in the mood for something dark and gritty and are not easily spooked or scared, give this one a go!

3 people found this helpful

In Order To Build a Man, You Must First Break Him

Malcolm, like so many others, has grown up with no respect for himself, his peers, or his elders. In a last ditch effort his mother turns to her estranged father for help. Not sure exactly what Malcom’s mother knew about her father, but Ronald takes this task very seriously and definitely believes in corporal punishment as a consequence for breaking rules. As you can imagine, the consequences get ratcheted up quickly and to unbelievable heights. By the time you get to the end, which played out a bit predictable, you are ready for a shower and maybe a hug.

I felt like the book had two parts, the first being the setting of the stage and the introduction to the rules and consequences for breaking those rules. The second was just an all out torture story and the conclusion. I personally really liked the first part. I thought that it was the most tense as you weren’t quite sure where things were going to go and as Malcom test the boundaries, I was on the edge of my seat saying “no, don’t do that you idiot”. The suspense of waiting to know what was going to happen next was keeping my blood pressure pumping. I thought that the humiliation and less degrees of torture were much worse in the first part. The second half of the book I kinda lost that feeling. At a certain point torture is torture and the different forms, described in detail, just become so over the top that it seemed unrealistic and became almost silly. I think of it like I do internet speed, at the low end twice as fast is a big deal, but once you are blazing away doubling really doesn’t have much impact.

Many books like this solely focus on how well they describe this single act and get the reader into the scene such that they make you nauseous or force you to take a break. Shock factor is the main focus, and just like horror movies today, the building blocks have already been set and each new movie needs to push the boundaries of staying one step above what is acceptable and mainstream. That point being, I think this had decent characters. Absolutely unbelievable, outside of Malcom, and often doing just B movie type stuff, but I really liked the them. Malcom in my view needed discipline. I think had he caught on to that early on the story could have been very different. I liked that in the end I truly believe that he got to where he needed to be and will never go back. I went from having no remorse for him to complete remorse.

Ronald and Babs are the true focus in my mind. While we never really know what the root cause of their psychotic behavior was, we learn what the triggers are that set them off. Their actions were absolutely twisted and it takes a truly imaginative person to come up with them. I really think Babs was my favorite, her ability to be the nice old nurturing grandma one moment while also being a psychotic drone of Ronald the next was incredible. I think her psychological torture was much greater than the physical torture done by Ronald. She really was the sickest one because she clearly was broken the same way Ronald tries with Malcom, and in the end she was just another Ronald wrapped in grandma’s clothes.

Harry Williams III did a good job with the narration. I thought he had a good narration voice and read the story with a good cadence and provided the right inflections to add tension and bring the characters to life. I really liked his character voice for Ronald and thought that he sounded quite realistic and added to his overall character. Wasn’t really a big fan of his voice for Malcolm. I didn’t think it really fit him as well as it should have and his whinny voice while being tortured just made him sound whiny and not really like someone being tortured.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

2 people found this helpful

Loved it

Jon athan is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to extream horror
A war veteran grandfather uses military style torture to break his trouble making grandson
Not only are the characters disturbing so are their backstories
Great narration and a nice nod to my favorite Ketchum novel the girl next door highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review

5 people found this helpful

Jon Athan is Awesome!

Malcolm Hernandez, a 16-year-old boy who is sent to live with his grandparents when he gets in trouble one too many times. There are rules and consequences. The grandparents are INSANE. I love Jon Athan’s writing style. It sucks you in and you never know what is going to happen next. This book definitely has shock value like Jon Athan’s book Lovesick. I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though I never thought I would like horror.

Harry Roger Williams did a very good job with the narration. I received this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 person found this helpful

Totally Sick

And I mean, really and truly and thoroughly sick. In a great way! If you're into that kind of thing...

A young trouble maker finds himself shipped off to his Grandfather's House where he is supposed to be taught some good old fashioned discipline. What he gets, is something else entirely. It's hard to begin to describe without stepping fully into the disgusting terror that this book includes. I'll let you discover that on your own! Harry Roger Williams III delivers a fabulous performance, though how he got through narrating this one, I really do not know. I'd recommend this story to true horror lovers; it's gruesome.

WARNING: I would avoid "Grandfather's House" if you're sensitive to graphic sexual violence and/or incest.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

1 person found this helpful

John Athan never lets me down!

At my request, I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Once again, I am satisfyingly entertained, disgusted, and horrified by another of John Athan’s books. This guy isn’t afraid to take a story over the edge. Even his milder tales could make a grown man blush. A+

If you’re into sadism and gory disgust, look no further; this is your book. Everything that happens could totally happen in real life. Athan isn’t afraid to cook up the most uncomfortable of scenarios.

Gripping from the very beginning. A little lull about 20 min or so in, but it picks up nicely and just keeps getting better until the very end.

About the details.. Malcom is a kid who likes the attention that comes with being a trouble maker. When his hardworking single mom is out of options, she drops him off at her parent’s house. Parents she hasn’t associated or spoken with for years. Malcom’s nerve and endurance are put to the test when his grandfather, with the help of his crazed obedient wife, decides to “make a man out of him” to correct his troublemaking ways.

My advice? Listen to this book alone or put in some headphones unless you’re prepared to have an awkward conversation with the people around you. I myself have a high tolerance for disgust and even I cringed a few times with this one. It’s that good.

If you’re a sicko who loves an outrageously horrific story, jump right in. This one will not disappoint!

1 person found this helpful

Demented and Gruesome!

Story 4/5
Narration 4/5

“They're not regular 'old people.' They're not like other grandparents. No milk and cookies, no allowances, no normal stories. They're crazy. They're crazy and evil.”
- Grandfather's House

About a budding delinquent left at his grandparents' house for some old style tough love but it becomes twisted and gruesome.

The narrator was very good, but he overdid it on the whiney kid.

Recommended

WOW!!

First off, I must say that the narrator helped make this book, a movie in my head. His voice was easy on the ears and I loved how he changed his voice to fit each character. The book was a very good listen. If you're into Jon Athan books then, this one is a must listen. The book was great and well written.

Hurting at grandfather's house.

Soooo. Let's load up the car and go to grandfather's house! Check out his attic. Check out his dungeon. Play with his tools. Get locked up in his cage. Eat his rotten chicken soup. Play with his rats. Yell. Scream. Sweat. HURT.......
I listened to Audible version. This narrator was excellent. Very nice voice. Very easy to listen to.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Vile! & appallingly great!

I was hooked by the sample I listened to, I had to find out why rats were eating the boys toes, I had to know who, what and why!? great characters , there's many times you're going to be so frustrated and upset! it's not very long that's unfortunate because it's a hell of a tale! The bad guy is a terrible person and you'll be fully invested in the story and you'll have to listen to the end to find out what happens to the vile disgusting grandparents in this story.