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The Bedlam Bible #6
Holus Bolus
OUR PROTAGONIST is pretty sure he's just committed a murder. The body is newly dead, he's the only one around, and a quick look at the evidence suggests he's guilty as sin.
Also, he's totally insane.
A rare brain condition causes his memories to reset every day, and because of this, he often wakes up in strange places with no memory of how he got there. He can't even remember his own name. When he's not racking his brain over his shoddy memory, he's arguing incessantly with a disembodied voice that doesn't seem to belong to him, one he can only hear inside his head.
He may not know much about the troubling situation he just woke up to, but he knows, without a doubt, that he's completely f*cked.
While the odds are certainly stacked against him, there may be hope for our protagonist yet, for clutched in the corpse's cold, clammy hands is a handwritten tome that suggests not only his innocence, but also reveals some bizarre and dangerous secrets, leading him to believe his own apartment building may be to blame... or is, at the very least, an accomplice.
That sounded better inside his head.
Luckily he's not the only one trying to solve the case. The book also leads him to a group of outcasts who are in the midst of their own investigation. The only problem? They all suspect one another!
One thing's for certain, someone inside the tower is a cold-blooded killer. Can our protagonist solve the murder before he falls asleep and his memories reset? Or worse, before the killer strikes again?
Find out in HOLUS BOLUS. You'll be pushed to the very edge of sanity!
Also, he's totally insane.
A rare brain condition causes his memories to reset every day, and because of this, he often wakes up in strange places with no memory of how he got there. He can't even remember his own name. When he's not racking his brain over his shoddy memory, he's arguing incessantly with a disembodied voice that doesn't seem to belong to him, one he can only hear inside his head.
He may not know much about the troubling situation he just woke up to, but he knows, without a doubt, that he's completely f*cked.
While the odds are certainly stacked against him, there may be hope for our protagonist yet, for clutched in the corpse's cold, clammy hands is a handwritten tome that suggests not only his innocence, but also reveals some bizarre and dangerous secrets, leading him to believe his own apartment building may be to blame... or is, at the very least, an accomplice.
That sounded better inside his head.
Luckily he's not the only one trying to solve the case. The book also leads him to a group of outcasts who are in the midst of their own investigation. The only problem? They all suspect one another!
One thing's for certain, someone inside the tower is a cold-blooded killer. Can our protagonist solve the murder before he falls asleep and his memories reset? Or worse, before the killer strikes again?
Find out in HOLUS BOLUS. You'll be pushed to the very edge of sanity!
Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2023
About the author
William Pauley III
37 books568 followers🔥🔥🔥For $5 a month (cancel any time), get access to the entire DOOM FICTION catalog in both audio and digital formats! And much more! 🔥🔥🔥➡️www.doomfiction.com
"The beauty of Pauley’s work is that he makes the reader (relatively) comfortable with these fun, weird elements and then injects the narrative with short bursts of deep thinking and questions that cut to the marrow of human nature." — Gabino Iglesias, author of The Devil Takes You Home
William Pauley III has been praised by critics and readers alike for his contributions to weird science fiction and horror over the last 15 years. He's received rave reviews from Fangoria Magazine, Verbicide, and Dead End Follies, the latter stating "William Pauley III is one of the most recognizable voices in weird literature." He is the author of The Bedlam Bible, Hearers of the Constant Hum, and Automated Daydreaming. He lives in Lexington, KY.
"The beauty of Pauley’s work is that he makes the reader (relatively) comfortable with these fun, weird elements and then injects the narrative with short bursts of deep thinking and questions that cut to the marrow of human nature." — Gabino Iglesias, author of The Devil Takes You Home
William Pauley III has been praised by critics and readers alike for his contributions to weird science fiction and horror over the last 15 years. He's received rave reviews from Fangoria Magazine, Verbicide, and Dead End Follies, the latter stating "William Pauley III is one of the most recognizable voices in weird literature." He is the author of The Bedlam Bible, Hearers of the Constant Hum, and Automated Daydreaming. He lives in Lexington, KY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 7, 2023
Available now! Read it here: https://a.co/d/hHxOlVM
April 15, 2024
"So you're crazy. It's okay. We all are. It's the tower."
The Bedlam Bible is a crazy ride. Holus Bolus doesn't depart from the other ones to that regard!
I really liked the ending, when the pieces of the main story are being put together. We finally gain a bit of knowledge about the Eighth Block Tower!
I hope the seventh and final book will reveal more about it. I'm both thrilled and anxious to get into it. Some time soon maybe.
The Bedlam Bible is a crazy ride. Holus Bolus doesn't depart from the other ones to that regard!
I really liked the ending, when the pieces of the main story are being put together. We finally gain a bit of knowledge about the Eighth Block Tower!
I hope the seventh and final book will reveal more about it. I'm both thrilled and anxious to get into it. Some time soon maybe.
January 5, 2024
Another Bedlam Bible and it was good too.
Audiobook is just perfect, narration of Connor Brannigan spot on as always. I hope he does lot many narrations in the future apart from Bedlam Bible too. His voice sounds so good to stop listening to his audiobook.
A man wakes up with no memory whatsoever, and a dead body nearby and a voice talking to him in his head. And that's where starts the journey of Holus Bolus. Although 6th book of this 8th apartment stories, you can read it as stand-alone.
Thank you Netgalley and Doom fiction audio for the Audiobook Arc in exchange of an honest review.
Audiobook is just perfect, narration of Connor Brannigan spot on as always. I hope he does lot many narrations in the future apart from Bedlam Bible too. His voice sounds so good to stop listening to his audiobook.
A man wakes up with no memory whatsoever, and a dead body nearby and a voice talking to him in his head. And that's where starts the journey of Holus Bolus. Although 6th book of this 8th apartment stories, you can read it as stand-alone.
Thank you Netgalley and Doom fiction audio for the Audiobook Arc in exchange of an honest review.
June 28, 2023
In Holus Bolus, our protagonist wakes up next to a dead body, convinced he's the killer. His memory resets every day due to a rare condition, and he hears a mysterious voice in his head. Clutched in the corpse's hands is a book that suggests his innocence and uncovers dangerous secrets about his apartment building. Joining forces with a group of suspicious outcasts, he must solve the murder before his memories vanish again or the killer strikes once more
Holus Bolus is the latest installment in the series which proved to be an absolute delight from start to finish. As a fan of Pauleys work, I can confidently say that this book surpassed its predecessors, capturing my attention with its extended storyline and an array of unforgettable characters.
One of the standout aspects is its expanded length, which allowed for a deeper exploration of the intricate plot and character development. The story unravels at a perfect pace, keeping readers hooked and desperate to uncover the truth alongside our protagonist.
What truly sets it apart is the remarkable cast of characters. From the enigmatic and tormented protagonist to the eclectic group of outcasts he joins forces with, each character is crafted with utmost care and complexity. Their interactions are nothing short of captivating, with dialogues that are sharp, witty, and brimming with intrigue. I found myself engrossed in their banter and despite the gripping mystery and intense moments, the book also surprises readers with moments of levity. The author skillfully incorporates humor into the narrative, providing well-timed comedic relief that had me genuinely laughing out loud. This blend of humor amidst the suspenseful plot added a refreshing dynamic and further showcased the author's versatility.
In conclusion, this was a great addition to the series, earning its place as my personal favorite.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an audiobook arc.
Holus Bolus is the latest installment in the series which proved to be an absolute delight from start to finish. As a fan of Pauleys work, I can confidently say that this book surpassed its predecessors, capturing my attention with its extended storyline and an array of unforgettable characters.
One of the standout aspects is its expanded length, which allowed for a deeper exploration of the intricate plot and character development. The story unravels at a perfect pace, keeping readers hooked and desperate to uncover the truth alongside our protagonist.
What truly sets it apart is the remarkable cast of characters. From the enigmatic and tormented protagonist to the eclectic group of outcasts he joins forces with, each character is crafted with utmost care and complexity. Their interactions are nothing short of captivating, with dialogues that are sharp, witty, and brimming with intrigue. I found myself engrossed in their banter and despite the gripping mystery and intense moments, the book also surprises readers with moments of levity. The author skillfully incorporates humor into the narrative, providing well-timed comedic relief that had me genuinely laughing out loud. This blend of humor amidst the suspenseful plot added a refreshing dynamic and further showcased the author's versatility.
In conclusion, this was a great addition to the series, earning its place as my personal favorite.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an audiobook arc.
July 25, 2023
Just go with it...
Audiobook Review
Hello again from the world of WTF just happened. I don't understand how it happens, I start one of these stories and get sucked in. Add the wonderful narration and I can't resist it.
I really cannot tell you details of this without being really spoilery and I really want you to not know too much before reading.
Just know that its weird, sometimes gross, and utterly confusing, but worth it.
Connor Brannigan narrates these stories superbly.
I am reading all these out of order so don't think you have to start with #1.
Audiobook Review
Hello again from the world of WTF just happened. I don't understand how it happens, I start one of these stories and get sucked in. Add the wonderful narration and I can't resist it.
I really cannot tell you details of this without being really spoilery and I really want you to not know too much before reading.
Just know that its weird, sometimes gross, and utterly confusing, but worth it.
Connor Brannigan narrates these stories superbly.
I am reading all these out of order so don't think you have to start with #1.
September 1, 2023
Going by the title of the book I was a little hesitant but it turned out to be very interesting and intriguing. The main character wakes up without knowing how he got there and next to a dead body. He is suspected of the man's murder who is known by the name of sensei. Now he also has a condition where he forgets everything and a tattoo saying he did a bad thing.
To know the full story and to investigate the murder of Sensei he joins the members of a group headed by Sensei aimed for their spiritual journey. Each member loved him deeply and wanted to find the murderer but each person also has a v deep secret to hide.
I think more than anything or any book I found myself inclining towards this one to know more and more, uncover secrets and solve the puzzle. Overall a weird yet keeps you guessing Sci fi story, only that's how I can describe the ending.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for providing the audiobook arc for the book!
To know the full story and to investigate the murder of Sensei he joins the members of a group headed by Sensei aimed for their spiritual journey. Each member loved him deeply and wanted to find the murderer but each person also has a v deep secret to hide.
I think more than anything or any book I found myself inclining towards this one to know more and more, uncover secrets and solve the puzzle. Overall a weird yet keeps you guessing Sci fi story, only that's how I can describe the ending.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for providing the audiobook arc for the book!
January 2, 2024
First, I will start on a positive note- the narrator was very easy on the ears and did a great job of changing his voices for different characters. I think I would have had a harder time finishing this book if it wasn’t being narrated. I was excited by the description/cover of this book and that’s why I requested it. I am all for weird and twisty sci-fi novels - if done right. For me, this was all over the place. I didn’t feel connected to the characters, so the game show bit didn’t land how it should have. I didn’t really care what happened to anyone, which is never good. The game show plot was in fact unique and I liked the idea of the religious cult overtones, but it didn’t feel fully realized. I don’t know if it needed to be longer for me to be more committed to it or if it just was never going to work for me. This book is part of a series, so I thought that maybe that was my mistake by reading this as a stand alone, but after further research they appear to be separate stories with intertwined themes. Overall, a unique storyline with great narration, but subpar execution.
📖 ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ @netgalley ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʀᴄ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ
📖 ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ @netgalley ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʀᴄ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ
November 11, 2023
Ohh! I really liked how the author wrote all the books in the BB series using mix of genres; they are all in the horror genre but with mix of others. This makes this series is very interesting.
This book done as a mystery triller. The main character waked up in a room with a dead body , doesn’t remember anything, just has a tattoo on his hand that he did bad things, so he thinks he is a murderer and starts his own investigation. Classic!
Then he meet the group of other outcasts as he, who knows the dead guy. They do investigation together. The guy suspects everyone of them, they suspect him. Classic again!
But was really surprised to which direction the plot went.
Also really liked character development in this book, as well the side characters.
I enjoyed this book as the rest of the series. Very entertaining series.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing free audiobook.
This book done as a mystery triller. The main character waked up in a room with a dead body , doesn’t remember anything, just has a tattoo on his hand that he did bad things, so he thinks he is a murderer and starts his own investigation. Classic!
Then he meet the group of other outcasts as he, who knows the dead guy. They do investigation together. The guy suspects everyone of them, they suspect him. Classic again!
But was really surprised to which direction the plot went.
Also really liked character development in this book, as well the side characters.
I enjoyed this book as the rest of the series. Very entertaining series.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing free audiobook.
August 13, 2023
Oh that damn purple tv is back! I know my mind is going to do mental flip flops when I read anything by William Pauley III. This was no exception. We start with a corpse. The flesh is falling of the bones like clumpy jelly. Isn’t that a nice image? We meet many different characters. The protagonist has a sidekick giving him advice while living in his head. The residence of this building find themselves on a game show like no other game show. Make a wrong move and you’re dead. The audience wants blood. The game is intense as some lose and others move to the next round all trying to get to Holus Bolus. The ending just seems right, the way it should end. If you like your thrillers and horror stories to be a little tilted, you will love this book. I did and I highly recommend. The narrator, Connor Brannigan, is top notch and I still think William Pauley III is a genius.
I want to thank NetGalley and Doom Fiction audio for a copy of this audiobook. This review is given voluntarily and the honest thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
I want to thank NetGalley and Doom Fiction audio for a copy of this audiobook. This review is given voluntarily and the honest thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
November 24, 2023
I just need to read the names William Pauley III and Connor Brannigan and I know that I am in for a really good ride, I probably already listened (yes I say listen, because that's another really worth ride and I will explain it further in a little bit) to all or pretty much almost all of the bedlam bible and I cant recommend it enough. The stories are always original, weird, funny and disturbing and all of that at the same time, haha I know I really can’t get enough of it.
In this particular book, we have a weird character that every time he awakes he doesn’t remember a thing of what he did before, and he has a tattoo that says he did something bad before, that brought me back to pimento from Brooklyn nine-nine in that episode that he had the finding dory disease, but that's where the similarities end hahah.
The Gem of this all is the person reading this audiobook, Connor Brannigan, he makes this already very amusing story even better, he is a truly one man band, he does all the voices and brings the story alive out of paper, I really cant recommend this author and Voice actor enough!
Thank you NetGalley and Doom Fiction Audio for the free AAC and this is my honest opinion.
In this particular book, we have a weird character that every time he awakes he doesn’t remember a thing of what he did before, and he has a tattoo that says he did something bad before, that brought me back to pimento from Brooklyn nine-nine in that episode that he had the finding dory disease, but that's where the similarities end hahah.
The Gem of this all is the person reading this audiobook, Connor Brannigan, he makes this already very amusing story even better, he is a truly one man band, he does all the voices and brings the story alive out of paper, I really cant recommend this author and Voice actor enough!
Thank you NetGalley and Doom Fiction Audio for the free AAC and this is my honest opinion.
October 16, 2023
I love this series so much. Super creepy and super fun. This is book 6 and I have been reading them out of order without being too confused. Once again spending my time thinking "what the fuck" but in all the best ways. I can't stress enough how much I love these books.
5 stars
5 stars
July 23, 2023
The book begins with our main character waking with no memory, a melted corpse, and a mysterious book - I don't know about you but I'm hooked. His memory resets every time he sleeps so he has no idea what has happened. A voice in his head tells him he's not guilty, and so we embark on an investigative journey to find out whodunnit. This book is wild - it gets weirder and weirder with almost every page. The narrator does a good job keeping me engaged and voicing our cast of characters with easily distinguishable voices. My only gripe with the audiobook is there was a very long pause between chapters, to the point that I had to check it was still playing. The plot is weird and wonderful, but also full of trauma for all our characters (and some torture) so I'd recommend checking individual trigger warnings if this sounds like it could be too much for you. I found the ending tied up the mystery in a neat little bow, but was almost too easy - our protagonist didn't really _do_ that much, and I would've preferred more action. He also stayed awake for a few days in order to prevent resetting his memory, and I feel like this could've been utilised more in the narrative, rather than being mentioned repeatedly. He seemed more of an observer for the most part of the book and didn't really find out the answers on his own. I did like the pace of the book, and all the characters were unique, all harbouring secrets to add to our mystery. I enjoyed the book for the most part, even if I was surprised in the direction it went, I would've just preferred our protagonist did more to get to the answers.
August 4, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
Let me start this by saying the premise of this book is definitely unique and unlike anything I've ever read before.
Our main character wakes up and thinks he's a killer. He has a rare brain condition that causes his memory to literally reset everyday. He also hears a voice in his head.
What I enjoyed the MOST out of this book was the cast of truly unique and interesting characters. It's not often you can say that the side characters are just as interesting as the main character. But that was definitely the case here! The character development was absolutely brilliant.
The pace of the book was great and easily kept me engaged as well.
Overall, a GREAT read.
Let me start this by saying the premise of this book is definitely unique and unlike anything I've ever read before.
Our main character wakes up and thinks he's a killer. He has a rare brain condition that causes his memory to literally reset everyday. He also hears a voice in his head.
What I enjoyed the MOST out of this book was the cast of truly unique and interesting characters. It's not often you can say that the side characters are just as interesting as the main character. But that was definitely the case here! The character development was absolutely brilliant.
The pace of the book was great and easily kept me engaged as well.
Overall, a GREAT read.
December 28, 2023
Holus Bolus by William Pauley III is my favorite book in the Bedlam Bible series... well, I think I say that after I read each book in the series. Seems I love them all! The characters are freaking brilliant! Brilliant! Comical and delightfully strange, Holus Bolus is both brilliantly written and organically crafted. The narrator does impeccable character work and the cover is one of my favorites.
I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
August 1, 2023
My top one from William Pauley III😶🌫️
July 8, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
William Pauley lll has done it again! I can’t imagine anyone else narrating his books outside of Connor Brannigan, who may be the best book narrator I’ve ever heard! His range of voices and accents is astonishing and he nails everything! This story is part of the Bedlam Bible series and was so creepily fantastical, I just can’t get enough! I loved the game show aspect and how all the residents were tested in this book about their pasts. I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves horror, but start at the beginning so you get the full spectrum of this amazing story!
William Pauley lll has done it again! I can’t imagine anyone else narrating his books outside of Connor Brannigan, who may be the best book narrator I’ve ever heard! His range of voices and accents is astonishing and he nails everything! This story is part of the Bedlam Bible series and was so creepily fantastical, I just can’t get enough! I loved the game show aspect and how all the residents were tested in this book about their pasts. I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves horror, but start at the beginning so you get the full spectrum of this amazing story!
January 2, 2024
First, I will start on a positive note- the narrator was very easy on the ears and did a great job of changing his voices for different characters. I think I would have had a harder time finishing this book if it wasn’t being narrated. I was excited by the description/cover of this book and that’s why I requested it. I am all for weird and twisty sci-fi novels - if done right. For me, this was all over the place. I didn’t feel connected to the characters, so the game show bit didn’t land how it should have. I didn’t really care what happened to anyone, which is never good. The game show plot was in fact unique and I liked the idea of the religious cult overtones, but it didn’t feel fully realized. I don’t know if it needed to be longer for me to be more committed to it or if it just was never going to work for me. This book is part of a series, so I thought that maybe that was my mistake by reading this as a stand alone, but after further research they appear to be separate stories with intertwined themes. Overall, a unique storyline with great narration, but subpar execution.
July 20, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This is the sixth book in The Bedlam Bible series. I loved listening to this! Pauley is a master of gore, there were so many gross parts to this, that just made my skin crawl. If you love horror and gore this is a series for you.
July 18, 2023
I received an audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Reader, this book is weird. Just prepare yourself. It’s good, really good, but weird. You get some unusual characters in an outrageous situation and you can’t help but be invested in the outcome. A very cool and satisfying ending is the reward for taking a chance on an unusual book. Give it a try! You’ll either love it or give up 30 pages in!
Reader, this book is weird. Just prepare yourself. It’s good, really good, but weird. You get some unusual characters in an outrageous situation and you can’t help but be invested in the outcome. A very cool and satisfying ending is the reward for taking a chance on an unusual book. Give it a try! You’ll either love it or give up 30 pages in!
July 5, 2023
The audio narrator truly excelled in this performance, delivering a remarkable job. While I did encounter some confusion when the story delved into the game show part, the beginning of the story was enjoyable. Throughout it all, the narrator remained engaging and delivered a great performance.
September 10, 2023
I received the audiobooks version of this story thanks to NetGalley
Connor Brannigan as narrator Is always a great choice for this series.
This story is the longest in the series by far, about twice as long as any of the previous stories actually. I feel that with it being longer, you were able to get to really know all the characters better than if it was the normal length.
It was a great ride and I don’t expect the outcome.
This is also my new favorite book in the Bedlam Bible Series.
Connor Brannigan as narrator Is always a great choice for this series.
This story is the longest in the series by far, about twice as long as any of the previous stories actually. I feel that with it being longer, you were able to get to really know all the characters better than if it was the normal length.
It was a great ride and I don’t expect the outcome.
This is also my new favorite book in the Bedlam Bible Series.
July 1, 2023
*Audiobook
The audio narrator was good on this one. Only issue was the beginning was confusing and a bit all over the place so I had a hard time following it. However, the 2nd half was good. The game show part stressed me out. Would def be a good screen adaptation situation.
The audio narrator was good on this one. Only issue was the beginning was confusing and a bit all over the place so I had a hard time following it. However, the 2nd half was good. The game show part stressed me out. Would def be a good screen adaptation situation.
November 2, 2023
I received this audiobook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity.
Weird…Wild…Creative
A story with equally weird, wild and creative characters.
The plot in this story is pure genius and so interesting.
The narrator really did an incredible job telling this story.
Weird…Wild…Creative
A story with equally weird, wild and creative characters.
The plot in this story is pure genius and so interesting.
The narrator really did an incredible job telling this story.
November 27, 2023
First of all- THE SALT PILES?!?! I was screaming in my car. I genuinely feel like I need to get a cork board and some string to make sense of all the connections between Pauley’s stories. We start off Holus Bolus meeting Mondin, who wakes up next to a dead body and the bedlam bible. He has a condition that resets his memory when he sleeps, but lucky for him he has a voice in his head that is telling him he is not the murderer. We meet a group of tower residents who have formed their own religion(or cult, depending on who you ask) and all have secrets from their past they are hiding. You might want to grab some tower flower to help you get through this investigation because this story keeps you guessing until the very end.
July 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! The story progressed at a good pace and kept me interested the whole time. The narrator for the audio book did a fantastic job! I will definitely be reading more books by this author in the future. 10/10 Highly recommend!!
Special 'Thank You' to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a copy of the audiobook before publication.
Special 'Thank You' to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a copy of the audiobook before publication.
September 27, 2023
I read this without knowing anything about it. Let alone that it was book 6 in a series.
It is absolute insanity in the best way. I do recommend reading in series as there are threads through the other books that will make the insanity even more enjoyable.
It is absolute insanity in the best way. I do recommend reading in series as there are threads through the other books that will make the insanity even more enjoyable.
October 2, 2023
Soo at first I was a little bit iffy about this one but.. just stick with it! The concept is not like anything I’ve read before!
Thanks #NetGalley for letting me read this ARC!
Thanks #NetGalley for letting me read this ARC!
October 2, 2023
This has to be my most favourite story of the bedlam bible series so far, I’m a bit gutted I haven’t managed to read them in order but still enjoying it. Each time I thought I solved the clue to who murdered Sensei, I kept getting proved wrong and I wasn’t expecting the twist at the end!
December 11, 2023
William Pauley has written down such a solid piece of work here. I am just awed by how incredibly deep this story is. The eighth block tower is written more like a character than a place. The world building is in the tower itself. The tower is a creature and it drives other creatures to madness, pursuits, murders, irrationality and even spirituality.
The story starts off with our main character waking up amnesiac. Not remembering the reason for tattoos on his arms or the corpse lying in his room, or the book in the dissolved flesh of the corpse, be runs out of the apartment and is taken hostage by a group of people whose mentor's was the corpse in the man's room. So basically, this book follows these people trying to find who killed their mentor, sensei. This sensei was a spiritual person and was trying some real big stuff with his disciples.
The thing with this eighth block tower is that it is crazy It is paranormal. It's an animal and it's horrifying. There are these rivers or streams of immaterial substance that binds the residents to the an unseen core of the tower. It is a living creature and people are irrevocably bound to it and and it insidiously draws them in. It binds them in a sweet bewitchment where their soul is emptied and mind is switched off. Sensei wanted to break free of this curse, to stop slumbering to the radiating hummings of the tower, to wake up and overcome the power of this tower. And he makes a huge plan. The ending turned out to be a lot like the Jigsaw film and it was cool ngl.
The concept of this tower having a giant brain is so awfully cool and deliciously disturbing to me. So the thing with this this book is that William Pauley doesn't treat it like a spooky children's story. It has those Stephen King vibes creeping onto it where there is a depth to things, a message, an emotional nuance. The tower is the fear of residents, they live to it, they die to it and it's an evil entity for me, people can't live outside of it even if they do find out a way to get out.
The story was over all well written with a little blandness at times but managed well still. Just like the other stories the ending was everything here. The eeriness brought to the highest crescendo at times, with a transcendental tint at others. I especially found the concept of The Beyond very intriguing.
So here's the thing, William Pauley KNOWS how to bind the reader by putting in his story the most bizarre things and then making it more impactful by keeping some things unexplained. Things like the voice in the head, the purple television, the bedlam bible stuff. While I do agree that things can become more interesting and concrete if there is given more time to world building and overall descriptions aside from the characters and actions, I also think it comes with its own uniqueness of flavors. At least it's true for me.
Having mentioned everything, I also want to talk about his gore scenes. I have always found body horror fun to read. And yes I do admonish myself for my sadistic wants but that's just how it is, I love gore and this book satisfies much of my fantasies. Not that I enjoy the painful moments but I like to be haunted by a book.
So yeah, an amazing ride, always recommended. Perfect fast read for spook lovers.
The story starts off with our main character waking up amnesiac. Not remembering the reason for tattoos on his arms or the corpse lying in his room, or the book in the dissolved flesh of the corpse, be runs out of the apartment and is taken hostage by a group of people whose mentor's was the corpse in the man's room. So basically, this book follows these people trying to find who killed their mentor, sensei. This sensei was a spiritual person and was trying some real big stuff with his disciples.
The thing with this eighth block tower is that it is crazy It is paranormal. It's an animal and it's horrifying. There are these rivers or streams of immaterial substance that binds the residents to the an unseen core of the tower. It is a living creature and people are irrevocably bound to it and and it insidiously draws them in. It binds them in a sweet bewitchment where their soul is emptied and mind is switched off. Sensei wanted to break free of this curse, to stop slumbering to the radiating hummings of the tower, to wake up and overcome the power of this tower. And he makes a huge plan. The ending turned out to be a lot like the Jigsaw film and it was cool ngl.
The concept of this tower having a giant brain is so awfully cool and deliciously disturbing to me. So the thing with this this book is that William Pauley doesn't treat it like a spooky children's story. It has those Stephen King vibes creeping onto it where there is a depth to things, a message, an emotional nuance. The tower is the fear of residents, they live to it, they die to it and it's an evil entity for me, people can't live outside of it even if they do find out a way to get out.
The story was over all well written with a little blandness at times but managed well still. Just like the other stories the ending was everything here. The eeriness brought to the highest crescendo at times, with a transcendental tint at others. I especially found the concept of The Beyond very intriguing.
So here's the thing, William Pauley KNOWS how to bind the reader by putting in his story the most bizarre things and then making it more impactful by keeping some things unexplained. Things like the voice in the head, the purple television, the bedlam bible stuff. While I do agree that things can become more interesting and concrete if there is given more time to world building and overall descriptions aside from the characters and actions, I also think it comes with its own uniqueness of flavors. At least it's true for me.
Having mentioned everything, I also want to talk about his gore scenes. I have always found body horror fun to read. And yes I do admonish myself for my sadistic wants but that's just how it is, I love gore and this book satisfies much of my fantasies. Not that I enjoy the painful moments but I like to be haunted by a book.
So yeah, an amazing ride, always recommended. Perfect fast read for spook lovers.
August 20, 2023
So first of all I’d like to say thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Important notes:
This review will be focused on the audiobook and the narration most importantly. I’d like to state that Holus Bolus is the six installment in The Bedlam Bible series, I personally haven’t read the previous ones since I - for whatever reason - didn’t notice that. So I have read the audiobook as a stand alone, without reading the previous books in the series. This caused for much confusion on my side! So you have been warned.
Synopsis:
The main character wakes up to a gruesome scene: a murder has been committed and he’s sure that he’s the cold blooded killer. Though we as readers quickly learn that he battles a very rare brain condition that erases his memory after sleeping. On top of that he also hears a voice in his head.
At the scene he finds a book that makes him believe he isn’t the killer after all. He searches for clues and stumbles upon a bizarre cult that resides in the Tower. For the first half they are searching for the killer, all suspecting each other. And for the second half they are participating in a Game Show that is hosted on the Towers television networks - as I understood.
What happens after that I won’t spoil.
My opinion:
The narration was incredible! The narrator really went all out with the voice acting. Amazing!
Though the story in itself wasn’t really my type. I accidentally mistook it for extreme horror but it turned out to be bizarro-fiction - which I had never read before.
I also had no idea that this was part of a whole series, I don’t know how I did not realize that - but that’s on me. So I had not really any background on what the Tower actually is.
But if you are a reader who is into some bizarre, weird, strange fiction then this one’s definitely for you. Especially if you have read the previous installments.
Important notes:
This review will be focused on the audiobook and the narration most importantly. I’d like to state that Holus Bolus is the six installment in The Bedlam Bible series, I personally haven’t read the previous ones since I - for whatever reason - didn’t notice that. So I have read the audiobook as a stand alone, without reading the previous books in the series. This caused for much confusion on my side! So you have been warned.
Synopsis:
The main character wakes up to a gruesome scene: a murder has been committed and he’s sure that he’s the cold blooded killer. Though we as readers quickly learn that he battles a very rare brain condition that erases his memory after sleeping. On top of that he also hears a voice in his head.
At the scene he finds a book that makes him believe he isn’t the killer after all. He searches for clues and stumbles upon a bizarre cult that resides in the Tower. For the first half they are searching for the killer, all suspecting each other. And for the second half they are participating in a Game Show that is hosted on the Towers television networks - as I understood.
What happens after that I won’t spoil.
My opinion:
The narration was incredible! The narrator really went all out with the voice acting. Amazing!
Though the story in itself wasn’t really my type. I accidentally mistook it for extreme horror but it turned out to be bizarro-fiction - which I had never read before.
I also had no idea that this was part of a whole series, I don’t know how I did not realize that - but that’s on me. So I had not really any background on what the Tower actually is.
But if you are a reader who is into some bizarre, weird, strange fiction then this one’s definitely for you. Especially if you have read the previous installments.
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