How familiar are you with extreme horror? I'm asking because the book we'll be talking about today, Woom by Duncan Ralston, falls into that category. I'm familiar with some of Ralston's other work, but hadn't heard about Woom until I saw it on TikTok. A lot of readers on the platform said the book tested their limits or mentioned that they had to stop reading at parts because it made them physically ill. Naturally, this piqued my interest. I'm not sure what that says about me.
I've mentioned before that I'm a massive horror fan. Since I was 12, I've been consuming any horror content I can get my hands on. When I started diving into horror, there were a lot of things I couldn't handle. Nowadays, I'm a lot more desensitized. I like to think I'm hard to shock. Woom manages to do that. This book hits on so many things that make me uncomfortable, but I still couldn't put it down. Here's a back-cover summary:
"I believe pain lingers," Angel said. "Do I believe in spirits? In the supernatural? Probably not."
The Lonely Motel holds many dark secrets... and Room 6 just might possess the worst of them all.
Angel knows all about pain. His mother died in this room. He's researched its history. Today he's come back to end it, no matter the cost, once and for all.
Shyla, a plus-sized escort, thinks the stories Angel tells her can't be true. Secrets so vile, you won't want to let them inside you.
But the Lonely Motel doesn't forget. It doesn't forgive. And it always claims its victim.
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Extreme horror is a subgenre full of explicit, violent detail. It's an assault on the senses. In terms of MPAA ratings, extreme horror films typically garner NC-17 ratings. Hopefully, this loose definition gives you an idea of what we're working with.
Some common themes and elements of extreme horror include mutilation and gore, violence that doesn't "cut away," bodily fluids and excretions, crimes against humanity, and animal abuse. For the most part, I avoid extreme horror because it can veer into sexual assault territory for the sake of shock, which I've never been a fan of. I am pleased to report that no sexual assault happens in this book. It is mentioned as something that happened to a character in the past, but she doesn't go into detail. I appreciated how respectfully Ralston handles that in a genre where he could have gone so much further.
Now, I'm about to spoil a significant plot point in the book. If you don't want to be spoiled, you can skip this paragraph and continue reading the review below. Ready? Here we go. Although it could be argued that Angel's invasion of Shyla is an instance of sexual assault. I didn't find anything sexual about it.
Author, Duncan Ralston
After all, Angel isn't sticking his head inside her to get off. He wants to be reborn. Still, I'd be remiss if I didn't touch on this point. It's one of the most flagrant examples of how wild and explicit this book gets. If you don't think you can handle that, I'd encourage you not to read it.
Other things in the book that might turn readers off include self-performed abortion, sticking foreign objects in body cavities, drug overdose, and feces. I struggled at some of these points, but Ralston does such a great job setting the scene and conveying suspense and creeping dread that I had to keep reading to see what came next.
Woom is a short, brutal read with an ending that sticks with you. I read the whole book in one sitting. It gets four stars from me. If you're interested in reading the book for yourself, you can purchase it on Amazon (or read it for free with Kindle Unlimited). You can also follow Duncan Ralston on Twitter and Instagram. Until next time!
Briana Morgan (she/her) is a horror author and playwright of books such as THE TRICKER-TREATER AND OTHER STORIES, UNBOXED, and BLOOD AND WATER. She is also a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. Briana lives with her partner and two cats in Atlanta, GA.
