Wow this was NOT what I expected LOL... I knew going in that it would be a "mature audiences" book, but thought that the mature bit would encompass the plot/perspective, not just the language and descriptions. It was vulgar and crude and in-your-face - and while those aren't necessarily bad things or deal breakers for me, I just could not find the story within them. From the blurb I expected a bit of a heavy noir take on the concepts underlying Frankensteinian reanimation - morality, personality/personhood, what it means to be human/have human rights. That's what the opening line and first paragraph of the blurb led me to expect. I thought the undead 80s pop star bit meant it would be tongue-in-cheek, darkly funny and twisty, but still thoughtful. Instead it felt like an over-the-top B-movie - Faster Pussycat Kill Kill is one thing to watch, and another to read (particularly when it's not what you're expecting)... This one is just not for me.

Three things I liked about Franken-Fatale by HJ Bennett...

It’s a nice mix of horror and science fiction. This book would appeal to fans of either genre.

It’s gritty, rattling writing. A fun ride, for sure, and you can tell the author had a good time. That always helps.

The intense first person works well!

To me this book felt like a Troma film as a novel. Don't get me wrong I love Troma movie. I just don't want to invest the amount of time it takes me to read a book into that kind of trashy b-rate world. I feel like I would have loved this as a movie or comic but the comedy and charm didn't come across for me through text.