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Haunted Puppets, Family Drama, and too Many Endings
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix follows Louise, who’s forced to return to her childhood home after…
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From Serial Deleter to Contract Killer’s Wife: Falling Hard for Leather & Lark
Leather & Lark is the second book in Brynne Weaver’s Ruinous Love trilogy, and it takes place shortly after the…
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When Your Murder Buddy Becomes Your Boyfriend
Butcher and Blackbird by Brynn Weaver is at the top of nearly every dark romance TBR list, but if you’re…
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The Bug Collector by Wrath James White
I’ve seen a lot of splatterpunk and extreme horror videos where The Bug Collector by Wrath James White is mentioned,…
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From Broadway Dreams to Blood-Soaked Screens: The Brutal Rise of Talia
Imagine moving to New York City with dreams of making it big on Broadway. When you find yourself making it…
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Don’t Know Your Limits? Pure Evil Will Find Them
If you’re looking to explore the world of extreme horror and splatterpunk and you aren’t sure how much depravity you…
Welcome to Rotten Reads
Rotten Reads is your one-stop haunt for horror and dark romance book reviews, recommendations, and unfiltered commentary. Whether you’re into blood-soaked splatterpunk, taboo tales, or villains you shouldn’t be rooting for (but do anyway), you’ve found your new favorite nightmare.
Who’s behind the horror?
My name is James Lewis, and I’m the voice behind Rotten Reads. I’m a lifelong horror fanatic with a soft spot for morally gray characters, messy love stories, and books that push boundaries. I created Rotten Reads to spotlight the bold, the brutal, and the beautifully twisted — the kinds of books that linger like a bruise and hit like a hammer.
What you’ll find here:
- Honest, spoiler-free (mostly) reviews of horror and dark romance novels
- Deep dives into indie, extreme, and underrated reads
- Companion content on YouTube and TikTok @jameslewisbooks
- Author interviews, curated rec lists, and themed reading challenges
- A growing community of readers who like their fiction a little messed up
Not your mom’s book blog.
Rotten Reads celebrates the books that others shy away from — the provocative, the polarizing, the beautifully grotesque. If you like your love stories with bloodstains and your horror with heart (and entrails), you’re in the right place.
Join the Rotten Reads community:
Follow me on TikTok and YouTube for video reviews, spicy takes, and exclusive reading content.
Ready to rot your TBR?
Your dark corner of the book world. Expect brutally honest reviews of extreme horror and dark romance books that push boundaries and haunt your thoughts.
Copyright © 2025 James Gass IV | All Rights Reserved.