If I Were Real: A Gothic Tale of Horror & Humanity
$3.99
Heat Level
HIGH HEAT: multiple open-door sex scenes with descriptive physical details, some body fluids, and some adult words for body parts. Physical intimacy is part of the plot.
Trigger Warning(s)
Alcohol and drug use, Assault by the antagonist, including physical, emotional, and mental, Body horror, Classism with a strong religious backing, Criminal behavior, Graphic male-male sex, Homophobia, Medical horror, Misuse of science, Political corruption, Post-collapse world with a strict religious ideology, Post-Traumatic Stress and depression with suicidal ideation, Racism and prejudice, Sexual assault by the antagonist (unconventional but horrific), Sex work, Trafficking, Violence and murder with gore
When life is born in darkness, so too can life come from the darkness of a foul creator’s hand.
I have a purpose, but I did not choose it. I hold a form, remarkable in its design, but I did not choose it. I am awake, but the manner in which consciousness found me, yet again, was not mine to decide. I have but one clue to the origin of my current state: the vision of a once-beloved man hidden by a surgeon’s mask.
Wielding a scalpel.
Am I only the manifestation of his predetermination, or does a future yet to be shaped lie ahead of me? Moreover, what can become of me when I no longer resemble the living, when the facets of my make are fortified by copper and blasphemous science?
What is to be said of love when a heart no longer beats in the center of my being?
If I Were Real is a macabre, steampunk tale of love and loss, betrayal and rebirth, inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the animated film, Metropolis.
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2 reviews for If I Were Real: A Gothic Tale of Horror & Humanity
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Lover of dark, decadent, and deadly romances, RE Johnson has been a passionate storyteller and fantasy fan since they were in elementary school. In fact, they wrote their first novel in the fifth grade, after dictating full-blown melodramas to their kindergarten teacher, mostly which had to do with Sailor Moon.
Now, they use their Creative Writing degree to create stories that profess love, lust, respect, pain, darkness, and triumph over evil. You’ll find flawed, strong female characters who are always ready to throw down–both in and out of the bedroom–obsessive love interests who stretch or break the definitions of morally gray, and so much queer spice, it’ll leave your loins in shambles.
Currently, they reside in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they spend their free time playing Dungeons & Dragons, wrangling their two small goblins that delight in climbing on them like a damn jungle-gym, and reading all the smut they can get their hands on–light or dark, fantasy or contemporary, but especially monsters and queer (you know, the same shit they write).
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[email protected] –
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This book brought so many emotions out of me. Rien pulled at my heartstrings and in some ways I even related to him. The relationship between Rien and Laurent was stunningly beautiful. The way they communicated and protected each other; loved each other completely and selflessly.
Before picking up this book, be ready to cry. RE Johnson bled so much emotion onto these pages and it is heartbreakingly beautiful and bittersweet. I highly recommend you lose yourself in this story at least once.
Dominabyss –
This book is a masterpiece. I have been struggling to write this review because even though the story is bittersweet and tragic I didn’t want to write a review that would make people not read it. I’m serious. You all need to read this book. If you enjoyed Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or any iteration of the book, let’s say the most recent film by Guillermo del Toro, then you will certainly enjoy this book. RE Johnson was inspired by Mary Shelley’s book and the animated film Metropolis and you can clearly see the inspiration in the book with the automatons. The corrupt politics, the dystopian like nightmare setting, the villain Javerre…my god, I haven’t disliked a villain like this in a very long time.
Now to the romance: It’s all consuming, tragic and what real love is supposed to be, which involves, sometimes, sacrificing parts of yourself. I cried with this book like I haven’t cried in a very long time reading a book. The spice is amazing and very interesting, considering the theme of the book. RE Johnson knows how to write creative spice and they delivered in IIWR.
The ending: I wouldn’t say non HEA. Definitely bittersweet though. I think that after everything Laurent and Rien go through (also I don’t know if it was on purpose, but the fact that they named the “monster” Rien -french for nothing- was very clever) the ending was good. Bittersweet, but hopeful.
I would give this infinity stars if I could <3