After losing his girlfriend in a car accident, Sammy Dominguez spirals into grief and obsession, drawn ever deeper into the dark web and a sadistic site that blurs the line between reality and digital depravity. Exploring themes of toxic masculinity, internet addiction, and the dangers of online desensitization, the novel delivers a disturbing, psychologically intense look at how technology can amplify trauma and self-destruction.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a near-future world, the novel follows Sammy Dominguez, a young man whose life unravels after the tragic death of his girlfriend, Ellery, in a car accident. Struggling with grief, guilt, and a lack of family support, Sammy turns to the internet for distraction, specifically to shock-value and gore videos that echo the disturbing content he consumed in his youth. The story intensifies when Sammy receives a dark web link to a site called chinsky, which hosts videos of real and possibly fabricated deaths—including multiple versions of Ellery’s demise. As Sammy becomes obsessed with the site and its mysterious operator, Haruspx, the narrative explores his psychological descent, the blurring of reality and fiction, and the impact of toxic online spaces. The book incorporates elements of horror, psychological thriller, and crime, using formats such as online posts, emails, and comment threads to immerse the reader in Sammy’s digital and emotional spiral.

Readers frequently praised the book’s exploration of grief, trauma, and the psychological effects of internet culture. Many found the depiction of Sammy’s downward spiral into the darkest corners of the web both compelling and disturbing, with several noting the authenticity of his voice and the emotional weight of his journey. The use of experimental narrative formats—such as chapters beginning with online snippets and the inclusion of digital communications—was highlighted as enhancing immersion. The book’s handling of themes like toxic masculinity, internet addiction, and the dangers of AI and online anonymity resonated with those familiar with creepypasta, nosleep subreddits, and real-world online horror. Some readers also appreciated the rawness of the content and the way the story forced them to confront uncomfortable realities about the internet and human behavior.

Common criticisms centered on the pacing, with multiple readers noting that the story dragged or lost momentum, particularly in the middle sections. Some found the book overly long or felt that certain chapters could have been shorter. The ending was described by several as anti-climactic, unfinished, or too open to interpretation, leaving some readers dissatisfied. A number of reviewers found the characters, including Sammy, to be unlikable or difficult to connect with, and some felt emotionally distant from the protagonist’s experiences. The graphic depictions of violence, gore, and disturbing subject matter were off-putting for some, and a few readers questioned the plausibility or execution of the chinsky website and its AI-driven horrors.

The book has been compared to works like Black Mirror and authors such as Chuck Palahniuk, with references to splatterpunk, creepypasta, and real-life shock sites. It has elicited strong emotional reactions, with some readers needing to take breaks due to the intensity of the content. The narrative’s focus on the intersection of technology, grief, and mental health, as well as its commentary on the dangers of online spaces, has led to discussions about internet safety and desensitization. The book’s average rating is 3.95 out of 5, based on 199 ratings and 104 full reviews, and it is scheduled for publication on March 25, 2025.