Tormented (Extreme Horror Series Book 2)
Tormented
By Lee Mountford
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
The first chapter in this story clenched it for me. All of these stories are connected by the place that all of our supernatural entities are coming from. It is described in some detail here and there are things that rang bells from the description at the end of “The Mark” when Simon gets sent there. Only here we get some more insight about what it looks like there. What that place is all about. After this I now understand why so many of the entities are so desperate to come to our reality and stay here. Yikes! It’s a terrifying place even for the terrifying.
Adrian is essentially our main character. He has some baggage involving his parents that, in truth, should not carry much guilt BUT who am I. Sounds like his dad deserved it and all he did was assist his mother to pass with a tiny bit of dignity. By her request as well. So the guilt that is eating him (especially about his mother) makes him an easy target. One where he believes he should be where he is. Turns out that he actually has a fairly large pair of brass ones and honestly has his head on the correct way. If you consider those around him in this story, short of Jack, he is the best of the best! Quite frankly the end pisses me off a bit. All that and for what?! I really hope we see him again!
Trevor has a serious mommy complex. Somewhere near “Insidious 2” mommy issues. Okay “Insidious 2” mixed with “Psycho”. And she is a badass bitch when she comes forward. Like crazy! The character does remind me a lot of Norman Bates because Trevor is quiet and shy where as his mother is a raging shitbag! And even though he does not have a huge role in the story he is still a really interesting supporting character.
Sean is kinda boring. Your typical withdrawn drug addict. Kind of a cannon fodder type of character who does indeed meet a rather disgusting and horrible end. I do wish he would stick up to Seymour a bit more. I mean considering what a bloated windbag the dude is.
You love to hate Seymour. I mean truly. The dude has a go at everyone, including those that are considered part of his “group”. He’s detestable. I mean there are a lot of assholes in this story, lots of bullies but this guy is the worst as he is nasty to his own. You expect that shit from the orderlies but come on! He also never seems to learn his lesson. Especially when it comes to Adrian. After the dude bloodied my face once I think I would learn to keep my fat mouth shut. But nope…can’t seem to manage it. I imagine him being like Dale the Whale in the show “Monk” only maybe not that fat. But the triple chin definitely! I did enjoy him getting wailed on by Adrian but I have to say that best part of all is his end. Descriptively it is possibly in the top three most gory I have had the pleasure of reading thus far. I mean you can see it happening in your minds eye and it’s brutal! I say as I smirk…
Jack is quite possibly the most lovable of characters here or maybe anywhere really. I imagine him being like a Hagrid type looking guy. A big teddy bear. The reason for his “incarceration” is because he killed a man. In my humble opinion a man who had it coming. In spades! But being who he is there is guilt following him around like a shadow. I was seriously upset when he died. He does die a hero however. While he does not have a many appearances throughout the story I’d argue that he had a significant part to play in the survival and downfall of those involved. I mean you can’t be a bad person and have your last words be “I’m sorry”.
Isaac Templeton needs a pineapple enema. He is the “director” of the institution which is really nothing more than a large experimental lab. This is no mental health facility. Everyone there is there of their own volition for one reason or another. Mostly the lies and false promises that are fed to them by Templeton about curing them and their emotional suffering. I mean this dude recruits all over. Not just on the street but in prisons and rehab facilities. Really he’s part of the cult that have been in the background of most of these stories thus far. Not unlike the Nazis in my opinion. Keeping people prisoner and experimenting on them. His is one of the more interesting conclusions. I’d say that he got more than he bargained for. I suspect that most of the cult members will eventually end up in that situation as well.
Dr. Reid is living in the dark ages of psychological treatment. Still thinking that icepick lobotomies, hydro-therapy and electro-shock treatments are the cure for every condition. Now mind you there are no specifics as to when this particular story takes place and it very well may be during the time of these procedures; however, I still don’t understand how professionals could ever have thought those things were proper treatment. Although I do have to admit that he sincerely seems to think that he is going to help people with these types of treatments but ultimately I think he’s more hoping that they will by him back his reputation and save his ass.
Closing thoughts:
This has to be one of the goriest stories that I have read thus far. The funny thing is that I smiled in some parts. Especially when Seymour’s turned into a gooey mess. That cracked my ass up! Definitely not for those with an easily turned stomach. Lots of bloody bodily destruction to be had here and it’s very well written which makes it even more entertaining/disturbing (depending on where you stand). Very violent as well. So many creatures with different “talents” ascribed to their method of destruction. There is an open ending to this one that makes me wonder if there is another series that involves this universe. What a fascinating chapter to this group of stories. You really learn a lot more about what is going on here and it’s great. You make connections all over the place. It’s great! It’s exciting! Eager to learn more about everything that is going on! Continue connecting pieces of the puzzle. Really dig into the meat!
