“Because I came from you, does that mean I’m capable of killing? That I’ll be addicted to blood? That I’ll get off on torturing people?”The kid had questions.I didn’t blame him.He’d only heard one side, and it wasn’t mine.“Why did you hate my mother?”Now, that was a story worth telling.But, to do that, I had to bring the kid back to the very beginning. When the killing and the blood and the …
When the killing and the blood and the torture had all started.
When I was truly happy.
When I was first called a Monster.
Monster is a follow-up to Animal. Animal must be read first.
WARNING
Monster is an extremely dark novel. There are strong sexual themes, drug usage, physical and sexual abuse, and torture that could trigger and/or cause emotional suffering.
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4.5 seriously twisted stars!! Ok I thought “Animal” was a little crazy but this book was off the chain twisted.
This is book two in the “Animal” Duet. I wouldn’t advise reading as a stand alone.
“..You captured me.
Tortured me.
Killed me.
Now, it’s your turn to die.”
Wow this was crazy as shit!! First off I want to say that I am completely heart broken over what happened to so many of the characters in the first book. Moving on, omg Shank. Wtf!! He is a dirty little fucker!! Can I say that I did love Beard in book one and he broke me a little but Huck… holy shit I fell in love hard. But I will say he lacks some street knowledge that the fucking chosen three had. If you read book one you know the three I am talking about. Oh and Nix…yes please!! I never fully trusted Aria don’t know why but something rubbed me the wrong way.
This book was dark and messed up. This was like a trigger mine field. Shank was one fucked up guy. Now I know why I never liked him. This book though turned out perfect. I won’t tell anymore. Just read the damn book!
This book is full of hate, love, sex, twists, secrets and so much more. This is a book you do not want to miss out on!!
Holy Mother of Madness! Marni Mann is beyond…twisted.
Everything you thought you knew about the f-ed up family you met in Prisoned and Animal is going to be shaken to the foundation.
You will need to pay close attention to everything you read if you don’t want to be slapped with a constant WTF once you get towards the end.
Any theories you had before this book gets opened, will most likely not even come close. Sweet dreams and plenty of screams to keep you company. Enjoy the madness that flows through these pages. I know I did!!!
Oh and anyone else have issues with snakes. this book will not alleviate them. Lol
reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
4.5 Stars
First things first…
Monster is a follow-up to Animal. Animal must be read first.
*WARNING*
Monster is an extremely dark novel. There are strong sexual themes, drug usage, physical and sexual abuse, and torture that could trigger and/or cause emotional suffering.
If you can pass the above requirements, then you are good to go!! Proceed very slowly reading this book. This story needs 100% concentration, every word, devoured with complete dedication.
Monster is a web spun so beautifully, that you find yourself embedded like you were caught in the tangled web. Unable to stop reading from the opening chapter to the end, the story was spun and the beautiful web developed.
Shank needed to tell his story. His story is a very deep, at times gruesome and hard to stomach. But one that once you read, you will have the answers you were looking for.
The Kid, he deserved to hear what his father was like. Of course, he had questions for him. Leave it up to Shank to give the unedited version to his son.
Once the story is told, there is no going back. You will remember this book not just because it was Shank’s story, you will remember it by the Monster that Shank was!!!
WARNING!!! Monster is an extremely dark & twisted novel.
Strong sexual themes, scenes of physical & sexual abuse, Drug use, & torture are abundant here.
Please do not take this author’s warning lightly.
STARS
I Picked up “Monster”(Animal, #2) practically as soon as I’d finished “Animal” and straight away I was plunged back into the world of confusion I’ve now come to expect from Marni Mann.
This lady has such a distinct way of telling a story misdirection should be her middle name.
The way she knits together the pieces of a tale keeping the reader guessing until the very end is just genius.
So I’d love to say this picked up exactly where the first instalment left off, but it really doesn’t.
That would be too simple sigh.
I had no clue where the bleeding hell this was going yet again.
The only character I recognised from this was Shank who is now residing in a Venezuelan prison cell.
So Through a series of letters between Shank and Kid and flashbacks of the past, we get to hear the backstory of events that have led to his incarceration.
His story and it’s hard to stomach in places.
But back to those letters,
They are very graphic dark and brutal, not really the sort of correspondence appropriate for a kid.
Through these we really get an insight into Shank’s Psychotic head, showing us just how sick and twisted he really is.
The one thing I will say is these letters are certainly honest.
unempathetic and evil in their content but straightforward and candid in there intent.
Though Shank we get to find some closure as to what went down with Beard, Tyler, Diego and Toy when the curtain finally closed after the events of “Animal”.
The other scenario we find ourselves visiting is Bangkok Thailand.
and here we get to meet Huck, brothel owner and reluctant rescuer.
After finding a beaten Arin on his backdoor step.
Huck her unenthusiastic white knight takes her in.
Whats starts initially as a grudging rescue Slowly escalates into more and although there is a lack of trust on Huck’s part, he slowly starts to lower his defences letting Arin in.
The sexual scenes in this between Huck and Arin for me somehow counterbalance the gruesomeness off Shanks confessions.
The light to the darkness, I felt the connection. and needed this glimmer of brightness in a sea of black.
A beacon in the dark.
So eventually we are expertly steered to a surprising climax that I really loved.
It was unexpected and so well constructed within these pages that it took me completely unawares.
All is revealed to us the reader, our eyes are opened this story is finally told and the curtain can fall.
Bravo Marni your story-weaving skills are epic and twisted girl, I’m so suitably impressed.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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Oh Shank. You are just as evil, twisted, fucked up as I imagined you were. But you are at best very honest about it all. Not sure if that makes up for it, but it is a positive.
I have been waiting your story since Animal. You left us hanging at the end of that. You did not disappoint in your own story, but still so many questions.
I will not give anything away. I was correct on some aspects, didn’t have a clue on others and was just down right WTF on most.
Marni is a conundrum. A shy , introvert looking sweet woman, the kind boys take home to mommy on second date…..until she opens her brain box and out fly these characters !!!
Beard ! Huck ! Toy ! Shank !!!!!!!!!
She apparently ate starburst when she created shank ( I asked) .I’m never eating starburst..ever !!!!!
The book starts with Shank being questioned by Huck (?) What do you know about his mom or why did shank treat her and him so.
”
My..oh…My… The story is worth telling , and worth reading …and worth losing sleep over !
Shank is craziest MoFo created.
“Shank took whatever he wanted. He never asked for permission. In his mind, nothing was off-limits.”
He is venomous and slippery and toxic and perceptive and crazy and psychotic and cruel and simply the most chilling villain created. His name sends shivers down my spine . His means of torture would make Chengiz Khan gag !. His thirst for blood and hunger for screams of his victims…**shudders** .I’d hate to think there’s a living person(s) out there like him
The characters. Shank I’ve explained.
Huck is the Outcast Prince, very turbulent, very disturbed.
Toy is my fave. Perfect Bottom and full of heart. His body for his Love , his Heart for Prince
Tyler is an enigma
Arin is Warrior Princess.
There’s The snake pit
There’s a Yellow Snake
And there’s Daddy!! Oh Daddy, you are a pillar of strength !!
The story is of an iceberg-ian proprtions. The 20% you see on top is book 1. The rest of the bulk is hidden below the surface , in book 2.
My mouth was open and all in amazement in the end of book 1, which just snapped shut with book 2 And I’m Stunned, Speechless and WTF did I just read wide eyed. And now, it all come together. Perfectly , I must add.
For the record, I managed to decipher all the hidden clues so the ending was CRYSTAL CLEAR to me.
I was on the right track all along !!. YAY !!! maybe I’m as fucked up as marni , so we we were on same bone chilling frequency.
Anywho.
Read. The. Book !!
It’s Brilliantly plotted , fabulously written, and exceptionally executed.!!!
Bravo, applause, felicitations, congratulations, well done Marni for twisting our brains and scaring the shirt out of us with Shank !!**gasp**
It’s 5 SSSSSSSSSSSSSS Stars
“So, I rewound my thoughts to when I was twelve. To when I’d killed for the first time.”
Let me start by saying that Marni Mann writes dark novels like no other. I am used to anti-heroes and villains, but Marni always takes it a step further and gives monsters the main stage. This book focuses on Shank, who is one crazy and twisted individual. There is no doubt that he is a monster and just evil. I usually love villains or anti-heroes in books, but I would NOT want to be caught by Shank. I was intrigued by him when I read about him in Animal, so I was excited to learn more about his past. He has done some really horrific things in his life and loves it.
This book also focused on another character. From what I read and experienced in the first book, I was just waiting on the big reveal. I was looking for clues and connections, because Marni does a great job in hitting the reader with plot twists when they least expect it. I loved the moment when I found the missing pieces to the puzzle. It started to make more sense, but just when I thought I figured it out, I was hit with another twist. The ending just like with Animal has me wanting more, I just need more answers to my questions. This review is pretty vague because I don’t want to spoil it. Go in blind and enjoy the dark ride.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Stephanie’s Book Reports.
Monster is the second book in Marni Mann’s Animal series. While you could probably read Monster without reading Animal I strongly recommend that you read Animal first as there are some things from that book you need to remember. Keep in mind this is a very dark book and may hold triggers due to the physical/sexual abuse and the torture.
Shank finds himself sitting in prison but is soon getting out. However the twenty five years he has spent in prison have not changed him one bit. He has even heard from the kid and the kid wants answers. After all he had only ever heard one side of the story and it wasn’t Shank’s. Now that is a story worth telling and tell he does. Shank starts from the very beginning when the killing and the blood and the torture had all started. When Shank was truly happy. When Shank was called a Monster.
Oh Shank…..you demented blood loving torturer. Being inside your head was exactly where I had been wanting to be. And Shank did not disappoint. If fact his story was more than I thought it would be. It is told in three points of view. Shank, Huck and Arin. You just have to read to find out who those two are but I will warn you that you will be shocked!! Oh how fun it is to be shocked by Marni Mann. I loved how Shank went back and told his story to his kid through letters written from his prison cell. We also get to see into the life he is living in prison. If you have read Animal you have some idea of exactly what you are in for. I loved getting to know Huck and Arin and it was so much fun figuring out exactly who they were and what they were up to. I loved their story so much and I am such a Huck fan!!!! You will be too. I hate to be so vague but If I say to much more I am terrified I am going to give away something. This is a book best gone into with knowing as little as possible and experiencing it for yourself.
Marni Mann is an absolutely amazing author. I love when they can write books so dark they give you the willies. Or they write love stories you just simply can’t get enough of. Switching up gene’s is one of my favorite things about Marni Mann. She never has written anything that I haven’t fallen absolutely in love with and I am so excited to see what she gives us next.