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em_harring's review against another edition
3.0
[3.5 stars]
Some of the plot points are a bit 'meh'--but this is an overall wildly entertaining and gross horror novel (which is great, for me). Kurtz has some great, disgusting images in this. And the sounds described make it even worse. So, if you enjoy gore in your horror, you'll love this one!
Some of the plot points are a bit 'meh'--but this is an overall wildly entertaining and gross horror novel (which is great, for me). Kurtz has some great, disgusting images in this. And the sounds described make it even worse. So, if you enjoy gore in your horror, you'll love this one!
dnemec's review
4.0
After two solid weeks into Cozy November, I needed something else. And boy, did this work!
Walt buys himself a fixer-upper cottage, and begins working on it in hopes that he'll be able to propose and move his fiancé in by the end of the year. But as is always the case, he keeps discovering more projects and fixes that need done. Then he finds a spot on the ceiling in the hallway. Cleaning doesn't work, painting over it doesn't work, and then it begins to grow bigger. But it doesn't stop there. The spot begins to grow...a face?!
Reading so many horror books has got me a bit jaded, so I love seeing new and interesting ideas. There is nothing about this book that is tried and true. At its heart, it is a haunted house novel. Except rather than being haunted by a ghost, it's haunted by a hideous creature that manages to manipulate his poor "roommate" into feeding it. And what does the creature want? Fresh blood, of course. I kept looking at the pages remaining book and thinking: "There's no way they are going to continue to get away with this. How can there be so many pages left?" But they do...
I enjoyed the hell out of this book!
Walt buys himself a fixer-upper cottage, and begins working on it in hopes that he'll be able to propose and move his fiancé in by the end of the year. But as is always the case, he keeps discovering more projects and fixes that need done. Then he finds a spot on the ceiling in the hallway. Cleaning doesn't work, painting over it doesn't work, and then it begins to grow bigger. But it doesn't stop there. The spot begins to grow...a face?!
Reading so many horror books has got me a bit jaded, so I love seeing new and interesting ideas. There is nothing about this book that is tried and true. At its heart, it is a haunted house novel. Except rather than being haunted by a ghost, it's haunted by a hideous creature that manages to manipulate his poor "roommate" into feeding it. And what does the creature want? Fresh blood, of course. I kept looking at the pages remaining book and thinking: "There's no way they are going to continue to get away with this. How can there be so many pages left?" But they do...
I enjoyed the hell out of this book!
michaellouisdixon's review
4.0
Reading Bleed was a lot of fun. If you enjoy a good horror story with copious amounts of gore and suspense, I highly recommend Ed Kurtz's Bleed.
arsala's review
2.0
I got this book from the Nocturnal Readers Box, a subscription box that delivers horror books relating to a theme as well as bookish goodies that go with the theme. July's theme was The Feast, which was supposed to be "darker than ever." I did not get that at all with this book. I was halfway through Bleed before I decided it was not worth my time and decided to leave it unfinished.
Kurtz's writing style bored me to tears; he seemed to have a habit of telling rather than showing. His descriptions were pretty good, but I felt really detached from the story and ESPECIALLY the characters. I really didn't give a shit about Walt. From the beginning I wasn't a fan of him. He was WAY too perky and his attitude was insufferable. Then, when Walt starts to become obsessed with the mysterious stain growing on his ceiling, he goes to sleep and the next day he's an asshole. There was no transition--one day he's nice and then the next he's a psychopath. His girlfriend Amanda was just there, and pretty much all she did was worry about Walt and bitch about it to her friend Nora. That's it.
When I read the description on the back before reading Bleed, the plot seemed so intriguing. A dark red spot on a ceiling that grows into a "grotesque, muttering creature" and drives the owner of the house to murder. I was so excited to see how that would play out. But reading it, the spot/creature seemed so cliché, ceaselessly moaning, "Bloooooood, blooood," and, "Moooore, mooore," like a zombie crying about brains. And if that wasn't enough, it asks Walt to give it an name as if it were a dog and not a monster... And out of all names Walt picks Gwynplaine. Really?
So since I didn't finish I can't say that much more. Bottom line, I didn't like Kurtz's writing style, I didn't like the characters, and the spot/creature was a huge disappointment. If you like books filled with chills and thrills, something that'll get under your skin, don't read this book.
Kurtz's writing style bored me to tears; he seemed to have a habit of telling rather than showing. His descriptions were pretty good, but I felt really detached from the story and ESPECIALLY the characters. I really didn't give a shit about Walt. From the beginning I wasn't a fan of him. He was WAY too perky and his attitude was insufferable. Then, when Walt starts to become obsessed with the mysterious stain growing on his ceiling, he goes to sleep and the next day he's an asshole. There was no transition--one day he's nice and then the next he's a psychopath. His girlfriend Amanda was just there, and pretty much all she did was worry about Walt and bitch about it to her friend Nora. That's it.
When I read the description on the back before reading Bleed, the plot seemed so intriguing. A dark red spot on a ceiling that grows into a "grotesque, muttering creature" and drives the owner of the house to murder. I was so excited to see how that would play out. But reading it, the spot/creature seemed so cliché, ceaselessly moaning, "Bloooooood, blooood," and, "Moooore, mooore," like a zombie crying about brains. And if that wasn't enough, it asks Walt to give it an name as if it were a dog and not a monster... And out of all names Walt picks Gwynplaine. Really?
So since I didn't finish I can't say that much more. Bottom line, I didn't like Kurtz's writing style, I didn't like the characters, and the spot/creature was a huge disappointment. If you like books filled with chills and thrills, something that'll get under your skin, don't read this book.
hannahmae91's review
1.0
I'm not a very eloquent person so I can't explain what exactly was wrong with this book. Suffice it to say, it was poorly written. Wording was odd, character behavior, plot...and it made no fricking sense. And I bought it! After hours of hunting down a decently priced copy! This is example number 79 for why I don't like to buy books that I've never read before. Because I just get angry when they suck. Really, really angry.
This book is nonsensical and the writing is deplorable. Don't read it.
This book is nonsensical and the writing is deplorable. Don't read it.
lanternsjourney's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book in my Nocturnal Readers Box last year. I was putting it off because gore is not usually my type of horror. However, this book was really well written. I kept wanting to know what was going to happen and the story itself felt very original.
This book is called bleed, and for a good reason. It down right disgusted me. The monster was gross and scary. This book would have not been my cup of tea if I wasnt so interested in the story.
I knocked it down one star because I felt the back story of the monster framing the story could have been stronger. I would've also liked to have experienced more of Amanda and Walt's bond.
This book is called bleed, and for a good reason. It down right disgusted me. The monster was gross and scary. This book would have not been my cup of tea if I wasnt so interested in the story.
I knocked it down one star because I felt the back story of the monster framing the story could have been stronger. I would've also liked to have experienced more of Amanda and Walt's bond.
saekoshiro's review against another edition
5.0
Lovers of gore, read this. If you have that movie reel vivid imagination, don't eat while you read.
While he did not read it, I very thoroughly discussed the details of the book with my husband. Together we determined 'It's Kurtz must have watched tentacle hentai and read Johnny the Homicidal Maniac' LOL.
This was one of the most morbid and disgusting books I have ever read. I loved it. And a nice little twist was the bloody cherry on top.
EDIT: I found that an independent film maker tried to make a series to represent the book starting in 2017. It most likely didn't pan out for them, but there is about 20 minutes of footage at the following link if you are interested: https://watch.seeka.tv/#/catalog?fi=11e710a6-e0aa-4b90-85a2-0a94b668199a
While he did not read it, I very thoroughly discussed the details of the book with my husband. Together we determined 'It's Kurtz must have watched tentacle hentai and read Johnny the Homicidal Maniac' LOL.
This was one of the most morbid and disgusting books I have ever read. I loved it. And a nice little twist was the bloody cherry on top.
EDIT: I found that an independent film maker tried to make a series to represent the book starting in 2017. It most likely didn't pan out for them, but there is about 20 minutes of footage at the following link if you are interested: https://watch.seeka.tv/#/catalog?fi=11e710a6-e0aa-4b90-85a2-0a94b668199a
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
5.0
HO-LY SHIT!!! This might just be the best damn book I read all year! This book had me hooked right from page one, it sunk its claws right into me and didn’t let go until I was finished and gasping for air from being utterly and completely mind blown. This is easily one of the most gruesome and gory books that I’ve read and I devoured every second of it. It’s absolutely addicting and impossible to put down! Horror fans, do yourself a favour and pick up this bloody brilliantly gem of a horror novel!
last_page_books's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing, you really see the extremes some people will go for a little companionship.