| Title | : | Depraved 2 |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 241 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2014 |
Depraved 2 Reviews
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Depraved 2
Firstly, I apologise for the lame review! It is 1:47 AM here in England, and my eyes are wanting to close 😵 ‘Depraved 2’ is another goody from Bryan Smith, though I don’t think it was as good as the first book ‘Depraved’. It still centres around Hopkins Bend, although some of the families have either been killed by the army or have ‘done a runner’ to other areas, to continue with “the old ways” of abducting the ‘Outsiders’, for their meat, and to have their fun! There are some characters you’ll remember from Book 1, with some nice surprises included........no spoilers here!! 🤐 and it is also, another fun ride. Would definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -
This was a disappointment in comparison to the first book but with that said, I still plan to read the third.
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As a fan of Bryan Smith who owns some half a dozen of his titles, I'd thought I knew what to expect when opening one of his novels. Especially when said novel happens to be the sequel to one of his more gory and disgusting efforts, namely
Depraved.
Turns out I was kidding myself.
Smith here effortlessly outdoes his first foray into the gruesome town of Hopkins Bend by detailing some of the more outlandish and visceral tortures and torments ever visited upon a group of characters in a mainstream published work. Seriously folks, this one has it all. Stomach-churning torture, attempted rape, actual rape, sadistic killings, senseless murders, and detailed descriptions of cannibalism (including the cooking that comes before hand).
If none of that appeals to you, steer right away. Because Smith is relentless in his efforts to explore the limits of human depravity. ie. This one is aptly named.
There are also few - if any - characters to empathise with, as every one of the main POV characters is downright despicable and deplorable by novel's end. This started to grate with me, until I gave in and just went with the flow, realising there was no moral compass to find within these pages. Instead, nobody was truly safe and an ill-fated bullet, axe, or meat cleaver was only one turn of the page away for most of Smith's characters.
Though I can only recommend this to those who enjoy a nastier edge to their horror fiction, I nevertheless found Depraved 2 to flow well, roll off the page smoothly, and generally be a great deal of fun. What that says about my mental state, I'd rather not get into ...
4 Extremely Large Grill Plates for Depraved 2. -
I feel bad giving this 3 stars. Depraved (the original) is one of my all-time favorites in the splatter-punk genre. I love Bryan Smith and all his other works, so when I heard a sequel to Depraved was coming out I had mixed feelings. For me the sequel just didn’t have that special formula as the 1st one. The multiple protagonist that you cared about were missing even the returning protagonist is so different (I had to go back and read some from book one to make sure it was the same character) from the 1st book you’re not caring a lot about her. The other new protagonist do not really offer up a lot to get you interested in them.
And the twist really soured the main story for me. I love twists in novels, but throwing in zombies half way through the book just left me feeling why? An inbred redneck suicidal Goth kid with the ability to raise the dead with some amateurish knowledge of black magic felt weak when I was reading it. Also having the inbred cannibal rednecks working with the government also left me puzzled and disappointed. I would much rather them have just been savage back wood redneck cannibal white trash that their only involvement with the government is food stamps or welfare.
On the plus side there were scenes that really made me cringe which is very difficult to do when I read horror. The grilling scenes were brutal. Overall a 2.5 or 3. -
Bryan Smith pulls no punches in this thoroughly enjoyable sequel to his popular 2009 horror novel, DEPRAVED. DEPRAVED 2 takes place 4 years after events in the first book, and follows Jessica Sloan after she attempts to piece together her life. Having been recruited into the military, and later black ops, Jessica finds herself on the run and pursued by an assassin, after a disastrous mission in Afghanistan. And she ends up back in Hopkins Bend, site for the horrors that have shaped and defined her tumultuous life. She thought those horrors had been eradicated, but she might be very wrong.
Highly recommended. -
4 AND 1/2 STARS
The sequel to author Bryan Smith's popular Depraved is better than the first book in every way possible. The writing itself shows a vast improvement over the original story, both technically and creatively. In Depraved 2, Smith also ratchets up the violence to unbearable levels, taking the reader into truly taboo territory. Reading almost exclusively horror, it takes an awful lot to make me uncomfortable, but this book had me feeling queasy and sick at certain points. In a good way, of course.
With Depraved 2, Smith continues the stories of a few of the characters from the original book and as hard as it is to believe, puts them in even more violent scenarios. It took a few years, but this author has finally rose to the extreme level of Edward Lee and Wrath James White, but with even better and more polished writing. While I would certainly recommend this book to horror fans, I would still advise starting with the first book in the series. And yes, there is a third and planned fourth book as well. Sign me up! -
Not nearly as good as the first for a couple of reasons. First off, all my favorite characters from book one where killed off and the characters in this book, though likable, just where not as good. Secondly, I think the shock value was wore off in book one. Not that I was that shocked being a hardcore horror fan and all but this book just didn't live up to its predecessor. At parts it felt like it was trying to be over the top just so it could measure up to the first book and it didn't pull it off. Third, I hated the ending. Sorry no spoilers here but it was one of those twists that is so huge it can make or break a book and I hated it. All that stuff being said though, the first book was awesome and there is plenty of room for this one to fall short but still be good. I recommend it for all the reasons I would recommend any Bryan Smith novel, he really is a great writer and you can't go wrong with one of his novels. I give it a solid three star rating.
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Bawdy, fun, raucous pulp at it's best!
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This is copy 51 of 60 signed numbered copies.
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This book is not for everyone. This is intensely unpleasant, downright disgusting hardcore horror. Its also brilliantly plotted and insanely effective and involving storytelling. There are things in this book that made me feel sick to my stomach. I questioned myself more than a few times while reading it, "why do I read this stuff"? In the end, it is the mark of a truly effective and gifted writer to elicit that type of response from the reader. Add in the fact that all of the characters rang true, from the truly disgusting, reprehensible ones to the normal ones, and this book is evidence of an already skilled writer truly honing his craft. I was revulsed and freaked out because Smith paints such a vivid picture with his words. The unpleasantness is laid on so thickly that you feel like you might suffocate. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, but the ending is so fantastic that you are left feeling like this book wasn't just some sick experiment in nihilistic violence and well, depravity. Might just be Smith's best book, highest recommendation for horror fans with iron stomachs. I have purchased 4 more of Smith's books since starting this one.
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Knapp 3 Sterne
Ich bin wirklich Besseres von ihm gewohnt. Vieles konnte ich in dem Band nicht verstehen und den Handlungen der Personen nicht folgen. Er kam an den ersten Band nicht ran.
Natürlich muss einen klar sein, worauf man sich bei Bryan Smith einlässt, aber auch sonst waren seine Romane nicht ausschließlich Slasher-Romane. Eine gewisse Handlung war immer da. Diese hat mir hier gefehlt.
Ich hoffe, das der dritte Band es irgendwann wieder raushauen wird. -
Here's how I feel about Bryan Smith.....
Okay... so anyone who reads my reviews or got to know me a bit on Goodreads knows that I am enamoured with Richard Laymon and I am a HUGE horror buff....whether it be movies or books. So, here's how I feel about Bryan Smith and his work:
Anyone who is worth his salt as a horror buff knows who Fred Dekker is. For those of you who don't, he made two absolutely genius horror-comedies in the 80s that were way ahead of their time. He did it on a limited budget with very little marketing. Those two movies were Night of the Creeps and Monster Squad. And, in my humble opinion, they are the epitome of horror-comedy. That being said, after making these amazing creature features, Dekker just about disappeared (truth be told Robocop 3 killed his career and he is involved with the new Predator 2018 movie) but, suffice to say that we lost a fantastic talent who should have been so much more.
So you must be wondering how this relates to Bryan Smith... when Dekker dropped off the face of the earth, I was constantly looking for a writer/director who would replace Dekker and give me the excitement and thrill of watching horror that he did. I was looking for that heart and sense of adventure. I was looking for a story that would pull me in and a movie that I would tell all my friends about (and anyone else who would listen to me).
That is also the same way I feel about Richard Layman's absence. Here was an author who would pull me in and make me excited to read. Every story was unique with twists and turns I totally did not see coming. I was invested. I could not wait to read his next book. Sadly, I have read them all. Now, I ask myself, what do I do? No author is giving me that same jolt.
Bryan Smith is the author that I have been looking for. He is the guy that tells a story like Mr. Layman. He gets you to invest and pulls the rug out from under you. His characters are not what you expect, and his stories end up in a direction you did not foresee. On top of that, he gives you a unique story with lots of heart.
To me, this is the highest praise I can give an author.
Thank you Bryan Smith ;) -
This is the sequel to Smith's book Depraved. I loved the first book and found it a wild and crazy ride. This one was likeable but came short for me. We see some of the surviving characters from the first book in this nightmare. I say nightmare because it's a nightmare. Nobody would want to be in these situations. The characters that are crossing over from the first book to this book are warped and not the same. The town experience has changed them and not for the better. This again has some raping, lots of killing, and still cannibalism.
I was disappointed with the ending. There was an introduction to some types and I just felt it's opened up for so much more. This can make the two books into a series. I'm fairly positive we will see a book 3. Again, this book is likeable (if you like this kind of horror) but it isn't as good as the first book. Still, it was a crazy ride. -
Bryan Smith continues to impress and I have yet to read a single book written by the man that has not completely enthralled me from start to finish. Depraved 2 is no exception. Smith knows how to propel a story into high gear like no other, continually driving the reader and his characters further into darkness and depravity.
Obviously you should read
Depraved first before diving into this sequel. But be warned. This book is not for wimps. Bryan Smith will shock you. He will cripple your emotions. This is the highest praise I can possibly give to a writer of his caliber. -
“You’re gonna wake up again, but you won’t really be you anymore.”
Once again falling down the treacherous tales lain to rest in Hopkins Bend, another tale of grisly murder and deceit was taking form. As more victims fall privy to the nightmares that this isolated town holds, many would cross the darkest of lines to try and save their own skin. For Jessica Sloan, she never wanted to visit the town of so many nightmares again, but after waking up hungover after a night after release from deployment following a botched service job in Sabdul, she’s horrified to see the target placed above her head, leaving many craving her blood to be on their hands. Hunted fiercely by a woman named Zara, she learns secrets meant to never grave her ears of her father’s betrayal to not only his daughter, but for planting the hit on her mother that resembled a suicide years prior. Facing an execution from another highly trained assassin, she takes shelter in the last place she wanted; Hopkins Bend. Yet the isolated and seemingly abandoned town held its secrets, as she took Billy hostage and forced him to be a traveling companion back through it all again. Savagely beating him and sexually assaulting him, she turned on him time and time again until he went on the attack. Barely able to breathe underneath his grip on her throat, he was shot in the chest by Zara, who in turn was shot by the two hillbillies; Cletus and Floyd. In an attempt to sexually abuse her, she didn’t realize the other turned towards Zara’s body until she reanimated and attacked, killing the other man. Her revenge was never going to be enough, as she executed both of them before fleeing the zombies and facing her father for the first time since she hid. Finding the truth in his deceit, she shot her father point blank and set off, desperate for an escape.
Only now she was alive again, jerking ceaselessly against the chains and making noises like a demon. The noises scared the shit out of Jodi. She became certain some agent of Satan had possessed the dead flesh.
Jodi Lynn Baker and younger sister Sienna found themselves orphaned after their father was executed by military personnel four years prior as they fought to escape the clutches of death. Feeling resentful and hateful of her older sister, Sienna enjoyed tormenting and breaking down Jodi’s spirit, until she finally pushed her far enough to kick her out of their home. Believing all the blame should be placed on her eldest sister, Sienna found herself deeply captivated by death and magic, convincing herself of mythical abilities to rise the dead back to a life of the living. After brutally murdering her cousin Arlene, she found by chance a young buy who stumbled in at the wrong moment, she used his innocence and faith as current as she executed the boy with a hammer. As Arlene rose form the dead craving flesh, Sienna was impressed with her powers, as she killed the woman a second time. Now, she turned her path to the young boys family where she kidnapped Allie, a younger child who was abducted from her family months prior. Using her as a vessel, she accidentally rose all the dead and buried in the town, not just the remains of her father. As she fled the scene, she knew in time she would find a way to bring a plague to the world, starting in Manhattan.
Just when it felt like you were getting ahead of the game a little, some damn crisis or other would come along to bring you right back to square one.
Daphne Sanders and Adam Vanak has a platonic friendship with a hint of sexual undertones as the two would hang out weekends, yet only when Daphne’s current boyfriend of three years was our traveling for work. Stumbling across the ghost town that is Hopkins Bend, the two were hesitant of the warming’s and roadblocks set in place, her with a little convincing she had Adam wrapped around her finger and willing to cross the line for a chance of a sexual experience with her. While the two decided of an escape, Cletus and Floyd stumbled upon them and executed Adam in the head, while bringing Daphne back to experiment Mama Hunt (Vivian Hunt) first hand. At a standard appearing diner, was a secret, one where human flesh was still a delicacy and could be ordered if you were a part of the elite insiders who knew. Hung and strung up over a beam, she met a woman named Kate who was terrified by the prospect of being slaughtered and eaten. As Lexus shows her sexual desires towards feet, Daphne hung in wait before kicking her hard enough to snap her neck. Now with an angry father grieving his daughter’s death, she lies to earn herself a chance of life as she’s invited to an elite dinner party featuring Kate as the main course. While Vivian begins enjoying her company with Daphne, she finds herself amazed at the way she was willing to accept cannibalism so quickly. As the father who was wronged turned to murder, she was tied to the grill and began cooking before the zombies of his victims turned on him before consuming her flesh. Now with the second installment slowly ending, nobody will be safe from Sienna and The powers she has.
As usual, however, He didn’t seem to be listening. -
Въпреки много доброто пълп звучене на цялата книга, нещо не ѝ достига, за да се изравни с предшественичката си. Пъхам си я при зомбитата, макар да не са водещия елемент в повествованието, а по-скоро са бутнати за WTF ефект.
Влечението на Смит към щури, психотични дами тук става доста натрапчиво, но хей, това си му е като подпис в произведенията.
В случая имаме три сюжетни линии, всяка една през погледа на различно момиче и всички се преплитат във вече известното ни градче Хопкинс Бенд.
Джесика се завръща след четири години в Хопкинс Бенд - мястото, където в първата книга беше брутално психически контузена. Уж връзките на баща ѝ са вкарали военни в средището на канибали и извратеняци, но сякаш има нещо друго тук. Параноя или конспирация? Няма значение. Джесика отново ще се потопи в ужаса, даже не знае какво ще ѝ се исипе на главата.
Дафне е разглезено богато момиче, което ще стане свидетел на убийството на най-добрия си приятел. Това ще доведе до брутални последствия и Дафне ще се замеси с селташките канибали. А ние ще станем свидетели на една стремглава деградация на човешкия дух, явно заложена в характера на героинята.
Сиена е една от малкото оцелели след военната чистка на родното ѝ градче. Следвайки "старите традиции" тя става доста потентна вещица и няма да се спре пред нищо, за да вдигне баща си от гроба, в който са го изпратили преди четири години военните. Опитът, обаче малко ѝ липсва, за сметка на силата. Това ще докара едно хубавко гнездо на зомби зараза и ще изтърбуши цялата книга.
Интересно какво ще ни поднесе чичо Браян в третата част. Не че се съмнявам в умението му за плетене на леймънски сплетър сюжети - до тук не ме е разочаровал. -
Gratuitous filth and over-indulgent excess for their own sake do not bother me. But weak dialogue and paper-thin characters do get tiresome after a while. There is a sense of 'sameness' to the majority of Smith's works that I have learned to accept and take in stride, because it works as often as it doesn't.
Unfortunately, Depraved 2 is another example of its failure to properly engage. Make no mistake, this book is pure grade-z schlock splat, pulling out (almost) every stop in the playbook to try to horrify and nauseate the reader. That is exactly what I expected, of course, given the title and the series. But when you boil this book down to its component parts, it becomes apparent that there is simply nothing else on offer here whatsoever.
The violence was visceral and generally well-depicted. The plot was ludicrous, the characters and their motivations moreso. Again, none of this was surprising. It isn't even really a complaint. But it does mean that the book is a hopelessly average, mediocre entry into a rather stale sub-genre that continues to show no real sign of evolution.
Not recommended to anyone who isn't already intimately familiar with Smith's work and knows exactly what to expect in tone and theme when walking in the door. And even then, average fair at best. -
If you read Depraved then you'll know the kind of story to expect. If you didn't read Depraved, then why the f#$k not? No holds barred, in your face, proper old school horror. Bryan Smith takes the reader back to Hopkins Bend, the scene of the first book, and back into the insane lives of the lunatics who live in the vicinity. There are no likeable characters here, no one to root for, just a bunch of people who either live in the wrong place or found their way there for one reason or another - and end up wishing they hadn't. Although this sequel lost its way towards the end and almost lost a star, what came before was such a treat that I gave it a generous 4. Not for the fainthearted and not quite as good as the first one, but this is the way horror should be written.
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This sequel was just as exciting as the first book, but the inclusion of the zombies felt a bit forced and ridiculous.
Also there were WAY too many back to back deus-ex machinas for me and it felt silly after a while how RIGHT as the protagonist was about to die a miracle happens and their adversary gets killed in cold blood, only for the adversary's killer to attack the protagonist - and right as the protagonist is about to get murdered a second time ANOTHER person comes and kills the new attacker. It literally happened 3-4 times in one scene.
Despite my two complaints, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the third book in the series. -
This is a pretty awful book.
It starts off well, similar type of thing to the first then completely derails as we get into the final chapters.
* Sienna's entire story was pretty terrible.
* Daphne's story was ok.
* Jessica's was so needlessly OTP for this type of book. I don't even know why she had to be in this instalment.
I'll give Depraved 3 a go, but hopes aren't high after this. -
So disappointed...I am going to wait a while before I read Depraved 3. I dislike Jessica now and the fact that she didn't get what she deserved made me mad. Also Sienna...she shouldn't have survived either. WTH...I'm just not looking forward to reading 3, I'm not in a hurry at all. It can wait.
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Gulped down the first part, and abandoned this one after Jessica said to Billy, - I am a professional killer. Does not compare to the first book, sorry attempt to write a sequel, like with the movie Wrong Turn; all the subsequent parts are just marking time.
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Another great read from Bryan Smith. I've only read the first 2 depraved books so far but he definitely has my splatter punk sensibilities and am looking forward to reading more from him. Highly recommend to anyone who loves old school video nasty style cinema.
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Love Byran Smith!
Bryan Smith has yet to disappoint! If you've never read anything by Bryan, what the hell are you waiting on? -
Yep, I loved it. Good ol' Bryan Smith fashion, gory nasty and straight to the point. Also carries a good story and made me hungry for a steak in a weird messed up way ;-)
