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spookylittlebooknerd's review
5.0
Simon pledged to his abusive mother that he would bring order to his crime-riddled town. He wants to be a super-hero so bad. So, he puts on a leotard…ahem, I mean suit…and sets about to calm the chaos. It takes him a little bit to come up with the perfect name but he eventually decides on The Reformer. By the way, all the criminal names in this were absolutely hilarious. I mean, ‘Bum Fluff’?! 😂
While there are plenty of action-packed scenes, you also get Simon’s back story. I love a hero’s backstory! I enjoyed following along as he invented himself as a superhero basically from scratch, all while hearing his dead mother’s critical voice in his head the whole time.
He meets some interesting characters along the way who I also loved getting to know a little. This was the perfect blend of darkness and comedy. I had the absolute best time reading it! There were so many laugh out loud moments and also moments that had me on the edge of my seat. I can’t explain how much I loved this book! Seriously, just read it. You won’t be disappointed.
While there are plenty of action-packed scenes, you also get Simon’s back story. I love a hero’s backstory! I enjoyed following along as he invented himself as a superhero basically from scratch, all while hearing his dead mother’s critical voice in his head the whole time.
He meets some interesting characters along the way who I also loved getting to know a little. This was the perfect blend of darkness and comedy. I had the absolute best time reading it! There were so many laugh out loud moments and also moments that had me on the edge of my seat. I can’t explain how much I loved this book! Seriously, just read it. You won’t be disappointed.
dans_bookscape's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
‘A town on its knees, dread’s bony fingers wrapping around its throat and squeezing, death rattles soon to follow. Drugs, filth, and a lack of human decency are starving it of hope.
Introducing Simon Dooley, our wannabe superhero, the relentless voice of his dead mother pleading with him to “end the chaos.”
The town needed a hero... it got Reformo.’
I don’t know about any of you but I distinctly remember wanting to be Batman when I was younger, obviously as I got older I realised that it wasn’t going to work...I just don’t have the resources of Bruce Wayne.
For Simon Dooley, the hero of our tale, he wasn’t going to let that stop him and in his superhero suit (it’s not lycra) he steps out into the night and begins his mission to save his town.
Chasing the Dragon is an interesting tale of someone just fed up with the crime and chaos surrounding him, he may not get it right every time, more often it goes hilariously wrong, but he slowly makes progress.
There were plenty of moments that had me genuinely laughing out loud but amongst the funny names and mishaps there is a brutal violence that builds as the story moves along and you realise Simon isn’t as out of his depth as it first appears.
There are some side characters, with their own issues, that keep Simon motivated, whilst his dead mothers voice is a constant in his head that leaves you questioning his sanity.
Will Simon survive his ordeals and become Reformo, the saviour the town needs...find out in Chasing the Dragon!
Thank you to Mark for the advanced copy, it was a pleasure to read.
Introducing Simon Dooley, our wannabe superhero, the relentless voice of his dead mother pleading with him to “end the chaos.”
The town needed a hero... it got Reformo.’
I don’t know about any of you but I distinctly remember wanting to be Batman when I was younger, obviously as I got older I realised that it wasn’t going to work...I just don’t have the resources of Bruce Wayne.
For Simon Dooley, the hero of our tale, he wasn’t going to let that stop him and in his superhero suit (it’s not lycra) he steps out into the night and begins his mission to save his town.
Chasing the Dragon is an interesting tale of someone just fed up with the crime and chaos surrounding him, he may not get it right every time, more often it goes hilariously wrong, but he slowly makes progress.
There were plenty of moments that had me genuinely laughing out loud but amongst the funny names and mishaps there is a brutal violence that builds as the story moves along and you realise Simon isn’t as out of his depth as it first appears.
There are some side characters, with their own issues, that keep Simon motivated, whilst his dead mothers voice is a constant in his head that leaves you questioning his sanity.
Will Simon survive his ordeals and become Reformo, the saviour the town needs...find out in Chasing the Dragon!
Thank you to Mark for the advanced copy, it was a pleasure to read.
stephv99's review
5.0
I loved that this book was part horror and part comedy as well. It might have it’s horror element of blood and guts within the story but it also made me giggle at times. I personally thought it was a good read. I will definitely be looking into reading more books by mark towse
xombieky's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If Mark Towse is not on your radar yet, now is the perfect time to check out his work!
I just wrapped up Chasing the Dragon today, and I just can’t say enough how much fun this book is. You can tell when an author genuinely had a blast writing a novel, I’m sure Mark was laughing the whole way through.
It has a great amount of suspense, some truly shocking twists and turns, and a loveable character to follow throughout. Our main character has a lot of heart, a lot of trauma, and a personality to keep you rooting for him the whole way through.
It’s fast paced, engaging and well written. Mark has a lot of writing under his belt already but this is his debut novel, and it’s a grand slam. Look at the Goodreads reviews, they speak for themselves. With a March release soon coming, it’s definitely time to pop this bad boy on your TBR
I just wrapped up Chasing the Dragon today, and I just can’t say enough how much fun this book is. You can tell when an author genuinely had a blast writing a novel, I’m sure Mark was laughing the whole way through.
It has a great amount of suspense, some truly shocking twists and turns, and a loveable character to follow throughout. Our main character has a lot of heart, a lot of trauma, and a personality to keep you rooting for him the whole way through.
It’s fast paced, engaging and well written. Mark has a lot of writing under his belt already but this is his debut novel, and it’s a grand slam. Look at the Goodreads reviews, they speak for themselves. With a March release soon coming, it’s definitely time to pop this bad boy on your TBR
booksnbeers13's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Chasing the Dragon is Mark Towse’s debut novel, and ladies and gents it is coming in hot!!
If you enjoy dark, gritty genre blending reads, lots of humor, and superheroes then I highly recommend you pick this one up! Fresh out of prison, Simon intends to keep the vow he made to his deceased mother, by ending the chaos and bringing hope back to the streets.
“All I have is now and tomorrow, and my mission still stands.”
Reformo is a crazy, hilarious and lovable superhero who just wants to right his wrongs by making the world around him better. In the throes of grief he is adamant to fulfill his vow to his deceased mother by reclaiming order in the world. Donning his superhero costume (a leotard and cape) he takes to the streets and begins, one dog shit at a time. 😂
With classic Towse humor, Chasing the Dragon will have you laughing uncontrollably and cheering on reformo in this dark horror fantasy adventure. It packs all the punches and was an absolute treat to read. Congrats Mark, you’ve truly written a masterpiece!
If you enjoy dark, gritty genre blending reads, lots of humor, and superheroes then I highly recommend you pick this one up! Fresh out of prison, Simon intends to keep the vow he made to his deceased mother, by ending the chaos and bringing hope back to the streets.
“All I have is now and tomorrow, and my mission still stands.”
Reformo is a crazy, hilarious and lovable superhero who just wants to right his wrongs by making the world around him better. In the throes of grief he is adamant to fulfill his vow to his deceased mother by reclaiming order in the world. Donning his superhero costume (a leotard and cape) he takes to the streets and begins, one dog shit at a time. 😂
With classic Towse humor, Chasing the Dragon will have you laughing uncontrollably and cheering on reformo in this dark horror fantasy adventure. It packs all the punches and was an absolute treat to read. Congrats Mark, you’ve truly written a masterpiece!
locket1981's review
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was honestly such a fun read. This dude has some parental issues that’s for certain. So Simon decided on the advice of his dead mother that he’s going to clean house and the neighbourhood. So he invents Reformo the super hero everyone needs. Now all the way through this book I couldn’t stop laughing which when you’re on a bus full of people you get crazy looks. You can tell the author has poured everything into this book and it really has paid off. It’s dark, funny, bloody , violent and even a little emotional at the end there. Please read any trigger warnings as it does touch a few and it is dark and violent with some graphic details.
I was kindly given this to me by the author in return for an honest review.
I was kindly given this to me by the author in return for an honest review.
sharron_joy_reads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reformo is a superhero determined to clean up the streets, to bring hope back to a town infested with apathy. The law of the street reigns, dished out by the criminal underclass, getting rich as the citizens drown in their own filth. Even when their derision becomes physical he remains determined and hopeful. The reality is the fight for justice means the superhero also needs to be the villain.
Simon’s internal monologue, the voices driving him on, are vivid and heartbreaking. Physically he is a force of nature but with the childlike naivety of a toddler and a child would destroy the world if it had the power. His childhood trauma haunts and belittles him in a screaming nightmare cacophony. The violence is brutal, intense and visceral, Simon justifying his savagery as a necessary evil to bring order to a town running on hopelessness.
This is a horror thriller with a crime noir feel, it pulses with righteous anger, the blackest humour and a cast of complex flawed humans. The characterisation is spot on and this, in my humble opinion, is Mark’s greatest work to date. It is unflinching in its portrayal of the horrors of modern life, the darkness, the cruelty, the degradation. Simon is so real, so raw, singularly focused.
The writing is sublime, a tour de force, the story nestles in your brain begging for attention. This tale lingers long after you close the book.
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