Absolutely loved it. Very very heavy on the trigger warnings of all kinds. Very graphic, very gory. Great representation of internet toxicity and toxic masculinity and the damage these can do to a vulnerable person left without support. Will try and get my hands on a physical copy.

Rekt is an interesting look at grief horror based in the horrifying realities of the dark web.

The story follows Sammy who has always indulged in the dark content available online -various gore videos and snuff films. After his girlfriend dies while the couple are in their early twenties, Sammy finds himself lost. His entire future was planned out with the love of his life and now he is completely inconsolable as he falls deeper into his online ventures. One day, he receives a message containing a single link to a site on the dark web. With curiosity getting the best of him, Sammy follows the link to find a video of the accident that killed his girlfriend.

From here, things go off the rails as Sammy spirals deeper into his obsession, and it starts affecting his life in unexpected ways until he is fully plunged into the complex mystery of the site and all the videos on it...

I thought this had a really interesting premise! I am a fan of grief horror and was intrigued by the mentions of the dark web/tech in the summary. This book gets dark and disturbing at points, and throughout it all is the voice in the back of your head making you remember that some of this shit is a little *too real.* The author takes a good look at AI and internet safety, and the potentially harmful effects AI can have if in the wrong hands.

Though I enjoyed the story, I felt the pacing to be a little off. It started to drag through the middle and lose intrigue a bit. I even put this book down for about a week while in the middle of reading it, which is something I never do. I enjoyed the themes explored and the path the story took, but unfortunately, I was left wishing I enjoyed it more than I really did.

I'd recommend this to horror fans who used to spend a lot of time reading creepypastas and visiting the nosleep subreddit. Also to anyone who likes their horror to get dark and gory with a blend of technology and real world scares.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing / Erewhon Books, and Alex Gonzalez for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publishing.

First things first, this book is NOT going to be for everyone. At times it was barely for me. It is dark, that’s apparent. But it’s... dingy, grimy, sick, twisted, grotesquely intriguing. It’s a lot.

I felt a lot of emotions whilst reading this. Unease was the biggest one, followed by paranoia. I found myself unable to read this book at night because it felt like someone was watching me through my phone camera whilst I read it. I don’t typically get affected by the books that I read, but I can honestly say that this book was the most... reactive? I don’t even know if that’s the right word to use my brain is *that* fried after reading it.

It took me down a very bizarre, very windy road (honestly, probably my own descent into madness) that I can admit now was a batsh-t crazy tangent to even go down, but like I said. The paranoia got to me, and I felt like I was losing my mind and needed to put on a tinfoil hat. I think part of what “scared” me whilst reading, was that the plot hit me kind of like the plot of the Purge franchise. Totally, in a different timeline, plausible. I know the dark web is out there. I know people use it, and probably “normal” people, too. I know that the content mentioned throughout the book is even accessible on the mainstream web, so yeah. At one point in reading this I got pretty convinced that a betting system of people dying, and how, was currently taking place and that I was on the proverbial chopping block. I mean... I was looking around my house and over my shoulder every time I picked my phone up to read. It was bad. But I would not be surprised at the very least if anything like this was to ever come to light, though.

I did have to take a break with reading this book because it got to a point where I was concerned for my own mental health on top of being worried about a fictional character’s mental health. I didn’t know what to really expect when I started reading this (I truly thought it would be meh, I can’t lie), and I did want to be shocked. And shocked, I was. Some stuff felt over the top once I got myself out of the paranoia space, and I felt idiotic for letting a book do that to me, but I guess this book acts as a decent example of how some writers are better than others at getting people to immerse themselves into what they write, either for the best or worst, or the best of both.

Even though it put me into a weird headspace for a hot minute, I did actually like the book and I enjoyed(?) the author’s writing style. I don’t personally know anyone who is into splatterpunk books, but this is definitely up the alley of anyone who is.

Thank you again to NG, Kensington, and Alex Gonzalez for the ARC.

Great book! It had all the fears of growing up. Make a choice. Turn the page or close the book. Enter the darkness if you wish!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

This is one of the most unique books I've ever read. Rekt walks the line between horror and thriller, but I think it firmly belongs in the horror category. As the story evolves, the concept is nightmarish. I hesitate to say too much, because letting the story surprise me was one of the coolest things about the book. 5 stars

“Rekt” by Alex Gonzalez is a downward spiral into the dark side of humanity, the internet, and toxic masculinity. Disturbing and grotesque, this is a descent down a rabbit hole of madness that very few manage to crawl out of.

When Sammy’s girlfriend, Ellery, dies from a tragic and brutal accident, he turns to the internet as his haven. A place where he can fill the void and distract himself from grief in gore and violence, things that once terrified him as a kid. Not long after, he receives a link to the dark web where he sees the video of Ellery’s death, then hundreds of other deaths, even for those still alive. They range from peaceful to utterly and despicably disturbing.

The host site, Chinsky, is a place of unimaginable horrors brought to life by means Sammy can’t even comprehend. He has no idea what it is or who Haruspex is, the web handle of the person who sent him the link to Ellery’s accident. The more videos Sammy watches in an attempt to find the roots of Chinsky, the more twisted and destructive he becomes.

Before picking up this book, readers should be aware of the several content warnings that will come with this book. It’s not an easy read and has a lot of disturbing material that is hard to push through. At times, I wanted to DNF because the content was dark and things kept getting worse instead of better, making the read quite uncomfortable.

Sammy’s descent took me out of the book at times because his actions were becoming impossible to justify and he didn’t feel like a character worth spending time on. Yet, I pushed through because the concept is so fascinating (in that it doesn’t feel that far out of reach in today’s world). Sticking with it turned out to be a good thing. Sammy gets back on track, and the story has purpose again. What ensues is a bloodbath straight out of a slasher film. Readers of horror may struggle with some of the content in the last half of the book as things only get worse in that regard, but the parts that are something out of a horror film are well written.

There is an appreciation for how Sammy’s grief is depicted. While he turns to some not-so-great habits as a means of coping, his grief is tangible. Losing someone who’s supposed to be there forever … it takes time to heal and learn to live without them. Some people never figure out how to do that. Sammy, arguably, falls into the latter category. Everyone around him is trying to make the best of it while he’s stuck in a loop and that only pushes him to fall deeper into unhealthy coping habits. Having a deeper sense of who Ellery is also helps to understand Sammy’s inability to let her go and generates some sympathy for him.

Overall, “Rekt” is a depressing, grotesque, and horrifying read that only gets darker with every page. Gonzalez offers an unflinching view on grief, toxic masculinity, mental health, and self-destruction that will stay with the reader long after the story. “Rekt” by Alex Gonzalez is expected to be published on March 25th, 2025. Be sure to add it to your TBRs!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing (Erewhon Books) for providing me with an e-ARC and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

Rekt was quite literally INSANE. Just as insane as I had hoped for it to be. Grief horror is top notch and mixing it with this whole world of the dark web was so entrancing. I threw my kindle at the end because WHAT?!?!????! Also, my brain is totally scrambled.

Anyway, I was captivated by this story to say the least. It was action packed, unique, creative and down right disgusting. The mixed media at the end really truly added a lot to it, which I rarely say. Sammy was so lost and beyond damaged yet you kinda have a soft spot for him at times?? Don’t come at me, maybe I’m just too sensitive. I love reading about complex characters like that, who have me questioning every feeling I have.

Firstly, thank you Netgalley, Alex Gonzalez, Kensington Publishing/Erewhon Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

This book delves into themes of grief, mental health, and the chilling realities of the dark web. The storyline itself was intriguing, offering an in-depth exploration of the main character, Sammy. We learn a lot about his personal background and how he ended up in his current situation. However, I found it difficult to truly empathise with Sammy. It was clear the author wanted to offer a nuanced portrayal, but this sometimes caused the story to feel a bit drawn-out. That said, I also struggled to connect with any of the characters. While I wanted to experience their emotions alongside them, I felt more like an outsider observing from a distance rather than being deeply immersed in their journey.

One of the standout moments for me was the final chapter - it was a gripping, intense conclusion that resonated with everything I (personally) enjoy in a horror. I just wish the rest of the book had matched that level of immersion, as it would have elevated my reading experience and likely boosted my overall rating. The concept of the story is particularly unsettling because it feels eerily plausible, making it all the more disturbing.

While I would recommend this book to others, I do urge potential readers to check the trigger warnings first. The content can be graphic and unsettling at times, and it’s important to be prepared for some tough, intense scenes.

This review has also been posted on goodreads, tiktok and instagram.

I felt unease the whole book and not for the good reason. I won't recommend or post about this book on my own blogs and social for this reason. I dnf halfway through it.

The dark web is elusive to most but every now and then a horrific video will become mainstream, usually finding it's way into the feeds of young boys. Typically, they watch a few and move on, grow up. But not Sammy, he craves more, the darker the better. After his girlfriend Ellery dies he continues to dig deeper, go darker for anything that will make him feel something; until he finds the video of her death. Unlocking a whole other side of the internet Sammy he begins to spiral into the dark but, are the things he's watching even real? Who are the people behind the host site? Is Sammy in danger?

The first 50% of this book is hard to read, and I mean that as a compliment. Internet horror is always the most chilling to me, the most real and "rekt" by Alex Gonzalez is no exception. Gonzalez frames a very harsh reality in a very real way. Sammy as a character is deeply flawed and hard to love, yet you continue to root for him to make the right decision. I found myself flying through this story, unable to put the book down, needing to know what happened next. I look forward to reading more by Gonzalez and his creative mind.

This book I think goes for shock value a little too hard. It is truly an interesting story, but it pulls too hard into "the worst of the worst" in online spaces. The main character is dealing with the difficulty of their life and engaging with these terrible places. One of the biggest issues is that the book doesn't connect enough of the real life experiences and the interactions on the internet. The reader can assume or interpret how this is affecting him, but in general the character doesn't give us enough to really be able to empathize with him, and if we are not supposed to empathize with him then he's not an interesting enough person to care about otherwise.

This is not an easy read, and so much of the terrible things included are to set the stage, not really to actually push the plot or character development forward.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a rough read… For several reasons…

It was really difficult to get through at times. The internet can be a dark and scary place. The things that happen in this book are not far from reality, which is horrifying. Serious trigger warning for: depictions of torture, death, accidents, grief and similar subjects. There is a scene involving a baby, extremely hard to read and I pretty much had to skim over the whole thing to not get nightmares for weeks afterwards… I took a break from this book for a few days after that… This book is not for the faint of heart, proceed with extreme caution.

I did struggle a little bit with the writing. It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t click with me. The characters were really unlikeable, I usually don’t have an issue with that but because of the other (graphic)content in this book it didn’t really make me want to pick this book up, kind of had to force myself…

3.5 rounding up.

This book is strange and cringey and sad. It reads like a peek behind the curtain of a cyber-creep who leaves incel hate comments. But somehow Gonzalez manages to elicit sympathy for Sammy, a sort of underlying thread of pity for a lost soul who doesn’t want to be this person but doesn’t know how to climb out of the holes of depravity he’s dug.

The ambiguity of this novel works, as does the fast pace. I fear Elon lovers would see glimmers of themselves in the vaguely defined villains of this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

DNF @ 39%

First, some praise—I think Alex Gonzalez does an incredible job writing the heavy, unsettling corners of the internet. He is especially observant of the obsessive pull of radical media, starting with curiosity and ending with rabbit holes in rabbit holes of horrific deep diving. I am impressed with the vivid quality of his dark net descriptions, which were transporting and terrifying.

My main issue with the book (and the reason for DNFing) is the pacing. The protagonist does a lot of wallowing and ruminating, yet it’s unclear what direction the book is meant to take from a plot perspective. I find the premise of rekt to be so fascinating, and while there were definitely highlights, the plot was moving way too slowly without an intuitive direction or guiding voice. It felt like this continual (and eventually, boring) oscillation between dislikable decision making from the protagonist, and hugely dark internet content. If it were clearer where the narrative was going, I would imagine that this might be more captivating, but instead, the protagonist sits in place and often digs his heels in deeper while those around him move on.

This book was super intense, a really in-depth look at the internet, violence, and being a young man in today's world. I enjoyed it, though it lagged a bit in the middle.

DNF at 51%.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc :)
Sammy loses his childhood sweetheart at a particularly formative and tumultuous age, afterwards he begins to spiral and fall into an addiction to online snuff videos and alcohol.

As a self-professed child of the internet (older gen z/early millennial), I grew up spending endless hours on Reddit reading Creepypastas, disturbing threads and purposefully avoiding any kind of snuff video (whenever I could). Luckily, as a child couldn't afford wifi until I was around 12 or 13, so I missed the era of gore videos and live death- but still read about the majority of them.
Basically - I'm no stranger to horror, icky feelings and pursuing the darker side of the internet without delving into the dark web. Reading the synopsis of >rekt, I was excited to get into some weird horror/sci-fi centred around Sammy and these videos but it all kind of just fell flat for me.
The descriptions of the videos made me uncomfortable (which is good as that's hard to do in a novel), but I found the chapter featuring the young girls pretty difficult to get through.

(To be honest- I think this may be my own issue of struggling to read books with male narrators? I often just straight up dislike them. I know this is kind of the point of >rekt, but still)

The writing is fine, it goes on a bit too long at times and I found myself wishing it would get to the point quicker. All in all, I just got bored.
>rekt does a good job of illustrating gross 4chan/8chan/lolcow dwellers; however I doubt frequent users of said sites have HALF as much sex and intimate relationships as Sammy does.

I might pick it back up to finish at some point, we'll see.

Special thank you to #NetGalley and Kensington Publishing via Erewhon for this eARC.

Incredible. Absolutely incredible. The goosebumps are still fresh as I write this, but rekt is a gritty powerhouse of raw emotion, adventure and character that I was nowhere near expecting. I still cannot believe this. What did I read? What the heck did I just read?

Sammy Dominguez has not had an easy life. In his college years, one downward path after another leaves him to find solace lurking on shock sites as Blue Bird, posting Creepypastas every once in awhile on an old forum. Then he receives a random message to check out a certain site on a dark web browser. A dark personal descent occurs before a world of chaos opens up.

Imagine Robert Rodriguez had a vision of The Matrix opening up to a world where The Minority Report predicted death… and there was evil intent throughout all of it. That does not even take into account rekt is a tremendously human story with flawed characters making the best of grief within a horror scenario. Terrible events happen throughout rekt but Alex Gonzalez skillfully has woven human characters getting tough in the face impossible odds. The writing is pulse-poundingly tough, gritty and gruesome without basking in the gore and unflinching in every way. And when you think that the foot is being let up off the gas, or that the next twist is surely the one to off-rail this ride, Gonzalez pulls out another card to floor you and get the heart racing again. Get ready for an ending that will leave you ‘rekt,’ this novel is top-tier excellent.

I will not be posting a public review outside of NetGalley as I did not finish.

DNF @ 76%

Racism isn't entertaining unless the character learns from it. I could not finish it and in keeping to my feelings on this couldn't review. It could have had potential.

Wow, I really liked this! This was such an interesting, creepy concept and definitely more disturbing than I typically read. The synopsis sounded so intriguing initially, and I'm so glad that I read this, and that it lived up to my expectations.

rekt is going to stay with me for a while I think, the idea feels so uncomfortably realistic and I know there is a world of people out there consuming content like this. Alex Gonzalez does a fantastic job of tapping into how scary the internet and dark web can be. I agree with some other reviews about the ending being a bit anti-climatic, but honestly, I didn't have a problem with that.

I would definitely recommend rekt to anyone into disturbing horror and creepypasta. Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for supplying an ARC!

rekt
rekt by Alex Gonzalez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh wow. I haven't read a horror for years that genuinely creeped me out like this.

I mean, sure real life can creep me out nearly as well, and that's kinda the point. There are a lot of really bad people out there, and this really taps into that rich, ugly vein.

Dark corners of the internet aside, this novel does something rather unique. It made me actually care for the narrator. Sorrow, obsession, and being broken is the major flavor here--and then it gets really dark. When the darker side of the internet comes out, it really rears its worst side. Generated snuff films?

Wow, DARK. The book really snuck up on me. Yikes.


For those of you who want a true low-budget psychological thriller horror feel, don't sleep on this. It'll be worth the shivers.

Now, I need read or watch something super light. I don't think I'll write a synesthesia review of this novel. Nobody needs that level of creepy-pasta.