"What is in the box?"Did you see the movie SE7EN?"What is in the BOX?!?!"Well, dude, it doesn't even matter if it is Gwyneth Paltrow's head:You do Not - and I want to make this perfectly clear - NOT stick your dick in there!Not a bad story, but utterly predictable from about 15%.

There isn't a lot I can say without giving away pieces of this 84 page novella.Jeffrey Reddick called it "the twisted love child of of Cronenberg and Barker"Jeff Strand says " Completely fucked up in the best possible way"I really don't want to tell you that the story has anything to do with a box, but I consider anything on the cover fair game and Adam Howe says "featuring the most mysterious box this side of Se7en". Tell me what's in the box!! Sorry, I had to. I tried not to but I literally, p...

It's a tale as old as time, so true and important that its everlasting impact upon the generations has even been recorded in song with the following blueprint handed down from upon high by the ancients:1. Cut a hole in a box.2. Put your dick in that box.The third and crucial step, of course, is to ultimately derive enjoyment, either singularly or with another (or perhaps even a group 0f) consenting adult(s). After suspecting his wife of an affair, and thanks to the prodding of his best friend Mi...

Jerry suspects his wife is screwing around behind his back. His friend Mike has an idea how to get her love back and introduces him to an old fortune teller. She has something very special for Jerry. Do you want to know what it is? Great tale with uncanny elements, satire, twists and some brutality. Really enjoyed this unusual little horror story. It was fast paced with an absolutely unpredictable ending. This is fantastic modern horror. Highly recommended!

James Newman and Mark Steensland’s story “The Special” begins in a bar, as all such fanciful stories should. Mike and Jerry are co-workers and friends sharing a few brewsikies at their local watering hole when Jerry confesses to Mark that he believes his wife is being unfaithful to him and cheating on him.Mike convinces Jerry “What is good for the goose is good for the gander”, and that immediately tonight he needs to teach his wife a lesson by needing to “set a precedent” in order to save his m...

The Special is a great collaboration between James Newman and Mark Steensland! As a fan of Newman's writing, I felt confident that I was in for a treat when I picked up this novella.I typically don't include a synopsis in my reviews, and I'm sticking with that in this scenario. Especially since this story is only 84 pages. Here's what I can tell you about The Special: it's a cautionary tale, and it has the best elements of a well-written story. Relatable characters, excellent plot and pacing, an...

There’s no easy way to describe this novella. And there’s no easy way to review it without giving any spoilers, which I won’t do ‘cause I need you to go “Ewwwww” when you read it.It starts with three quotes but the last one really hit the spot.“Whether you sniff it, smoke it, eat it or shove it up your ass, the result is the same: addiction.” William S. BurroughsI believe that everyone is addicted to something. Wether it is cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, sodas, make up, food, clothing, books... you...

THE SPECIAL, by James Newman and Mark Steensland is a Thunderstorm Books "Nightmare Alley" Signed H/C, limited to 50 copies. What it's about is a little more difficult to explain without giving much away. . . Luckily, as a novella, you can easily read this in one sitting. Believe me--once you start in on it, you'll *need* to keep going!I honestly don't know how to categorize this one completely. It was definitely horror, but a "dark comedic" kind. I had several laugh out loud moments that many m...

Review to come. This is a signed limited edition with 50 copies made.

“We’re here for the Special.” Jerry’s wife Lisa cheated on him. “Riding some other dude like a Harley on a bad piece of road.” Luckily for him, Mikey knows just how to get over this.Jerry needs a Special. That’s right. Special with a capital “S”.Just what the doctor ordered! Boy, Mikey sure is a great friend. I enjoyed everything about this one. It was fast, fun, gross, inappropriate and bloody. Yep. Just how I like it.

STICK IT IN HEREI’d really like you to buy or borrow this book, right now. Don’t hesitate, just do it. Read it, right now. Trust me. Before you watch the movie. Please?Oh. My. God. Seriously...Oh. My. God. 5/5 Skulls☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️

LOVED it.

** Edited as Review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **So, a bit of confession here – I completely confused James Newman with someone else and didn’t realize this was the same author as Odd Man Out. Insane, right?My first foray down Newman’s literary output was Odd Man Out (for which you can read my review here) and it made me confront some realities that occur in life. That story is brutal, heart wrenching and it forced me to think back to my teen years, when we’d made jokes that were awful.The

A nice little horror story.

Well that was certainly an original and bizarre tale! I didn't know what I was expecting going in but it wasn't what I got and that's always a good thing. I was shocked and appalled and actually quite satisfied with the ending lol.. if you've read this than you know, and if you haven't than you need to. 4/5 squishy skulls 💀

Like a really gross Twilight Zone episode.

This is a fun horror novella that'll gross you out more than it'll frighten. Jerry thinking his wife is cheating on him laments with his friend, Mike, who takes him to a psychic to get "The Special". Once is not enough for Jerry and despite warnings he seeks it out again until it's all he wants.This is a blast to read and leaves you cringing, laughing and more than a little creeped out. Look forward to their next collaboration which is released next week.

I love reading James Newman's books. I thought I knew what to expect from him. Man, was I wrong! Ok, THE SPECIAL was fast moving and well written - that's a no-brainer. But to say anything else, well, the book defies description as it is.. I had a tough time tagging it. The horror is not extreme, the humor is genuine, not juvenile and THE SPECIAL should be bought and read immediately.Don't wait. Buy it for yourself and gift it to a friend. Tell them this one is on you.

I was either grinning or cringing throughout this story! First part mostly grin, with a cringe here and there. Second part, mostly cringe and a stray grin. Moral of the story, be careful where you stick it! LOL. Oh, and I share a name with the main character... yeeeeee. Loved it tho. Quick read, didn't want to put it down.

There's a lot of great stories, but this was one of those books where I finish it and sit there feeling a whole lot of satisfied and blown away by how great the book was. There's so many aspects that I loved about THE SPECIAL. I loved the gore side of the story and the humour as well. The message that JAMES NEWMAN and MARK STEENSLAND formed together was great. The moral of the story getting across about addiction was interesting. As addiction comes in many forms and too much of anything is good