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rekt
A disturbing examination of toxic masculinity and the darkest pits of the Internet, Alex Gonzalez’s rekt traces a young man’s algorithmic descent into depravity in a future that’s nearly here.
> be me, 26
> about to end it all
> feels good, man
Once, Sammy Dominguez thought he knew how the world worked. The ugly things in his head—his uncle’s pathetic death, his parents� mistrust, the twisted horrors he writes for the Internet—didn’t matter, because he and his girl, Ellery, were on track for the good life in this messed-up world.
Then a car accident changed everything.
Spiraling with grief and guilt, Sammy scrambles for distraction. He finds it in shock-value videos of gore and violence that terrified him as a child. When someone messages him a dark web link to footage of Ellery dying, he watches—first the car crash that killed her, then hundreds of other deaths, even for people still alive. Accidents. Diseases. Suicides. Murders.
The host site, chinsky, is sadistic, vicious, impossible. It even seems to read his mind, manipulate his searches. But is chinsky even real? And who is Haruspx, the web handle who led him into this virtual nightmare? As Sammy watches compulsively, the darkness in his mind blooms, driving him down a twisted path to find the roots of chinsky, even if he must become a nightmare himself . . .
Not for the faint of heart, rekt combines the cautionary warnings of Black Mirror with the seedy rawness of Chuck Palahniuk in its unrelentless examination of the emotional holes we fill with content.
> be me, 26
> about to end it all
> feels good, man
Once, Sammy Dominguez thought he knew how the world worked. The ugly things in his head—his uncle’s pathetic death, his parents� mistrust, the twisted horrors he writes for the Internet—didn’t matter, because he and his girl, Ellery, were on track for the good life in this messed-up world.
Then a car accident changed everything.
Spiraling with grief and guilt, Sammy scrambles for distraction. He finds it in shock-value videos of gore and violence that terrified him as a child. When someone messages him a dark web link to footage of Ellery dying, he watches—first the car crash that killed her, then hundreds of other deaths, even for people still alive. Accidents. Diseases. Suicides. Murders.
The host site, chinsky, is sadistic, vicious, impossible. It even seems to read his mind, manipulate his searches. But is chinsky even real? And who is Haruspx, the web handle who led him into this virtual nightmare? As Sammy watches compulsively, the darkness in his mind blooms, driving him down a twisted path to find the roots of chinsky, even if he must become a nightmare himself . . .
Not for the faint of heart, rekt combines the cautionary warnings of Black Mirror with the seedy rawness of Chuck Palahniuk in its unrelentless examination of the emotional holes we fill with content.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 2025
46 people are currently reading
6,498 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gonzalez
5books26followersAlex Gonzalez is a WGA screenwriter and horror fiction writer. Born and raised in Florida, he now lives in Brooklyn and is the co-founder of the horror zine You Are Not Alone. His screenplays have been optioned, and a feature of his is in development with Ulladulla Pictures and Extra A Productions (Little Woods, The Giant). He currently teaches horror writing workshops with Catapult.co., and his most recent short story “Die Cuban� was published on the Catapult website.
(Source: Amazon)
(Source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
November 30, 2024
3.75 � rounded up to 4 �
What initially drew me to rekt by Alex Gonzalez was its premise—using technology as both a form of horror and a way to process grief. I’ve never read a book that explored these themes in quite this way, and I was captivated by how the darker corners of the internet could shape someone’s coping mechanisms in such a destructive way.
Sammy, the main character, is a tragic figure whose grief and lack of family support lead him down a dangerous path. When his loving uncle dies during his childhood, Sammy starts coping by creating stories about the Wax Man—a character who, as the story unfolds, seems to represent both his uncle and, ultimately, himself. With no one to guide him through healthy grieving, Sammy turns to the internet, where he and his friends watched disturbing and graphic videos as a form of distraction.
Years later, after losing the love of his life in a car accident, Sammy once again seeks refuge in the online world, but this time, it pulls him into a much darker abyss. He becomes obsessed with watching increasingly violent and gruesome videos, ultimately getting lured into a site called chinsky. The way the book portrays how technology amplifies grief and fuels self-destruction is both chilling and compelling.
While I was drawn in by the premise, I did find the pacing to slow down a bit around the 40-50% mark. I struggled to stay fully engaged during this section, though I do think this could have been partly because I was reading in the midst of a big move. That said, I’m glad I pushed through because the unique format kept me hooked. Each chapter begins with short context snippets, almost like posts Sammy might find online, which adds a layer of immersion. The experimental style in the final section, with emails, texts, posts, and comment threads, was a brilliant way to bring the narrative to life.
Overall, rekt is a deeply depressing book—in the best way possible. It’s a raw and unflinching look at grief and self-destruction, with Sammy making the absolute worst choices for himself at every turn. The Wax Man, as a symbol of both his uncle’s death and Sammy’s own spiral, adds another layer of emotional complexity. It’s not an easy read, but it’s one that stays with you, making you reflect on those around you who might be struggling with their own losses or trauma.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for theis eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
What initially drew me to rekt by Alex Gonzalez was its premise—using technology as both a form of horror and a way to process grief. I’ve never read a book that explored these themes in quite this way, and I was captivated by how the darker corners of the internet could shape someone’s coping mechanisms in such a destructive way.
Sammy, the main character, is a tragic figure whose grief and lack of family support lead him down a dangerous path. When his loving uncle dies during his childhood, Sammy starts coping by creating stories about the Wax Man—a character who, as the story unfolds, seems to represent both his uncle and, ultimately, himself. With no one to guide him through healthy grieving, Sammy turns to the internet, where he and his friends watched disturbing and graphic videos as a form of distraction.
Years later, after losing the love of his life in a car accident, Sammy once again seeks refuge in the online world, but this time, it pulls him into a much darker abyss. He becomes obsessed with watching increasingly violent and gruesome videos, ultimately getting lured into a site called chinsky. The way the book portrays how technology amplifies grief and fuels self-destruction is both chilling and compelling.
While I was drawn in by the premise, I did find the pacing to slow down a bit around the 40-50% mark. I struggled to stay fully engaged during this section, though I do think this could have been partly because I was reading in the midst of a big move. That said, I’m glad I pushed through because the unique format kept me hooked. Each chapter begins with short context snippets, almost like posts Sammy might find online, which adds a layer of immersion. The experimental style in the final section, with emails, texts, posts, and comment threads, was a brilliant way to bring the narrative to life.
Overall, rekt is a deeply depressing book—in the best way possible. It’s a raw and unflinching look at grief and self-destruction, with Sammy making the absolute worst choices for himself at every turn. The Wax Man, as a symbol of both his uncle’s death and Sammy’s own spiral, adds another layer of emotional complexity. It’s not an easy read, but it’s one that stays with you, making you reflect on those around you who might be struggling with their own losses or trauma.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for theis eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 22, 2024
There is places on the internet scarier than anything I could make up. There are real people in those spaces that are scarier than any monsters I could imagine. I think this book taps into that fear really well. 4.5 stars.
I loved this. I never want to read it again. I want to wipe all my social media and tape over all my cameras.
Highly recommend if : you read a lot of creepypasta when you were 13, or just love a good helpless, horrific spiral.
I loved this. I never want to read it again. I want to wipe all my social media and tape over all my cameras.
Highly recommend if : you read a lot of creepypasta when you were 13, or just love a good helpless, horrific spiral.
October 9, 2024
ARC for review. To be published March 25, 2025.
3 stars, for me, others will likely rate it higher.
Before the car accident Sammy Dominguez thought he had a handle on the world even though things weren’’t pretty - his uncle died a sad, lonely death, his parents didn’t trust him and his dark thoughts came out in the stories he posted online, but he had his girlfriend Ellery and the two of them were going to make it.
And then it was all over.
Spiraling, Sammy is drawn toward some of the darker parts of the Internet. Then someone emails him a video of Ellery dying. He watches that, then hundreds of other deaths, including those of people still alive.
What is this mysterious website and who runs it? Are all of the videos deepfakes? Is anything real?
This was much more gory and disturbing than my normal reads but I don’t know that it quite rises to the level of splatterpunk. Or perhaps it does, not sure. But it’s well-written and will likely find its audience, it just isn’t me.
3 stars, for me, others will likely rate it higher.
Before the car accident Sammy Dominguez thought he had a handle on the world even though things weren’’t pretty - his uncle died a sad, lonely death, his parents didn’t trust him and his dark thoughts came out in the stories he posted online, but he had his girlfriend Ellery and the two of them were going to make it.
And then it was all over.
Spiraling, Sammy is drawn toward some of the darker parts of the Internet. Then someone emails him a video of Ellery dying. He watches that, then hundreds of other deaths, including those of people still alive.
What is this mysterious website and who runs it? Are all of the videos deepfakes? Is anything real?
This was much more gory and disturbing than my normal reads but I don’t know that it quite rises to the level of splatterpunk. Or perhaps it does, not sure. But it’s well-written and will likely find its audience, it just isn’t me.
April 3, 2025
I really am a little dumbfounded by this story. It’s incredibly dark and disturbing.
Sammy Dominguez has just lost his girlfriend, Ellery, in a tragic car accident. He is completely consumed with grief. Even her parents are struggling. Only Sammy is also eaten up with guilt.
He drinks, uses drugs and even trolls the internet. Then, someone sends him a secret video of the actual accident that claimed her life. Who sent this? He becomes fascinated with death scenes online. Soon, he finds himself addicted to the horrors on the dark web.
When I started this, it was such a slow crawl. He spends so much time talking about his misery and what Ellery was like. The pacing was really too slow for me. Then, when we get to how everything spirals out of control, it becomes insane. Lots of gore scenes to make you cringe.
I really wanted to like this one, but it just wasn’t for me. I think fans of grief horror or splatterpunk are the perfect readers for this. The writing was great, just not my cup of tea.
Thank you Erewhon, Alex Gonzales and NetGalley for the opportunity.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sammy Dominguez has just lost his girlfriend, Ellery, in a tragic car accident. He is completely consumed with grief. Even her parents are struggling. Only Sammy is also eaten up with guilt.
He drinks, uses drugs and even trolls the internet. Then, someone sends him a secret video of the actual accident that claimed her life. Who sent this? He becomes fascinated with death scenes online. Soon, he finds himself addicted to the horrors on the dark web.
When I started this, it was such a slow crawl. He spends so much time talking about his misery and what Ellery was like. The pacing was really too slow for me. Then, when we get to how everything spirals out of control, it becomes insane. Lots of gore scenes to make you cringe.
I really wanted to like this one, but it just wasn’t for me. I think fans of grief horror or splatterpunk are the perfect readers for this. The writing was great, just not my cup of tea.
Thank you Erewhon, Alex Gonzales and NetGalley for the opportunity.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 4, 2025
Rekt is an interesting look at grief horror based in the horrifying realities of the dark web.
The story follows Sammy who has always indulged in the dark content available online -various gore videos and snuff films. After his girlfriend dies while the couple are in their early twenties, Sammy finds himself lost. His entire future was planned out with the love of his life and now he is completely inconsolable as he falls deeper into his online ventures. One day, he receives a message containing a single link to a site on the dark web. With curiosity getting the best of him, Sammy follows the link to find a video of the accident that killed his girlfriend.
From here, things go off the rails as Sammy spirals deeper into his obsession, and it starts affecting his life in unexpected ways until he is fully plunged into the complex mystery of the site and all the videos on it...
I thought this had a really interesting premise! I am a fan of grief horror and was intrigued by the mentions of the dark web/tech in the summary. This book gets dark and disturbing at points, and throughout it all is the voice in the back of your head making you remember that some of this shit is a little *too real.* The author takes a good look at AI and internet safety, and the potentially harmful effects AI can have if in the wrong hands.
Though I enjoyed the story, I felt the pacing to be a little off. It started to drag through the middle and lose intrigue a bit. I even put this book down for about a week while in the middle of reading it, which is something I never do. I enjoyed the themes explored and the path the story took, but unfortunately, I was left wishing I enjoyed it more than I really did.
I'd recommend this to horror fans who used to spend a lot of time reading creepypastas and visiting the nosleep subreddit. Also to anyone who likes their horror to get dark and gory with a blend of technology and real world scares.
Thank you to NetGalley, Erewhon Books and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
The story follows Sammy who has always indulged in the dark content available online -various gore videos and snuff films. After his girlfriend dies while the couple are in their early twenties, Sammy finds himself lost. His entire future was planned out with the love of his life and now he is completely inconsolable as he falls deeper into his online ventures. One day, he receives a message containing a single link to a site on the dark web. With curiosity getting the best of him, Sammy follows the link to find a video of the accident that killed his girlfriend.
From here, things go off the rails as Sammy spirals deeper into his obsession, and it starts affecting his life in unexpected ways until he is fully plunged into the complex mystery of the site and all the videos on it...
I thought this had a really interesting premise! I am a fan of grief horror and was intrigued by the mentions of the dark web/tech in the summary. This book gets dark and disturbing at points, and throughout it all is the voice in the back of your head making you remember that some of this shit is a little *too real.* The author takes a good look at AI and internet safety, and the potentially harmful effects AI can have if in the wrong hands.
Though I enjoyed the story, I felt the pacing to be a little off. It started to drag through the middle and lose intrigue a bit. I even put this book down for about a week while in the middle of reading it, which is something I never do. I enjoyed the themes explored and the path the story took, but unfortunately, I was left wishing I enjoyed it more than I really did.
I'd recommend this to horror fans who used to spend a lot of time reading creepypastas and visiting the nosleep subreddit. Also to anyone who likes their horror to get dark and gory with a blend of technology and real world scares.
Thank you to NetGalley, Erewhon Books and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
March 30, 2025
3,5 star, rounded up to 4 stars for ŷ
** I received an ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review**
Rekt is a book that is all about grief. From the very first page, the main character’s grief is just jumping off the page. Sammy has lost his girlfriend in a car accirdent and is having trouble processing the trauma. Throw the deep dark web into the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster.
I really enjoyed the story, and I personally had no issue with the pacing. There was a lot happening, which managed to keep me engaged enough through out the chapters. Though, I would have liked for the chapters to be a little shorter. Some parts dragged just a little bit, but this was not too big of a bother for me. The scariest part of the book is how close to reality it comes. Lots of things I can see happening in real life, with all of the AI going on.
There was much more gore in this book than I initially expected. Though, it definitely does not reaches the height of extreme horror and splatterpunk books. Not all characters had been equally developed, but the main character -who felt very unlikable, and that’s how I like my morally grey characters- felt very deep. His trauma, grief and insecurity really brings him to life.
Besides the dragging at some parts, the ending felt entirely anti-climactic and I was somewhat disappointed. The story felt a little unfinished. I guess it’s an open ending and up for interpretation? But that’s not the type of ending that I like. I would have given it 4 or maybe even 4,5 stars if the ending had been different.
** I received an ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review**
Rekt is a book that is all about grief. From the very first page, the main character’s grief is just jumping off the page. Sammy has lost his girlfriend in a car accirdent and is having trouble processing the trauma. Throw the deep dark web into the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster.
I really enjoyed the story, and I personally had no issue with the pacing. There was a lot happening, which managed to keep me engaged enough through out the chapters. Though, I would have liked for the chapters to be a little shorter. Some parts dragged just a little bit, but this was not too big of a bother for me. The scariest part of the book is how close to reality it comes. Lots of things I can see happening in real life, with all of the AI going on.
There was much more gore in this book than I initially expected. Though, it definitely does not reaches the height of extreme horror and splatterpunk books. Not all characters had been equally developed, but the main character -who felt very unlikable, and that’s how I like my morally grey characters- felt very deep. His trauma, grief and insecurity really brings him to life.
Besides the dragging at some parts, the ending felt entirely anti-climactic and I was somewhat disappointed. The story felt a little unfinished. I guess it’s an open ending and up for interpretation? But that’s not the type of ending that I like. I would have given it 4 or maybe even 4,5 stars if the ending had been different.
March 5, 2025
Alex Gonzalez's "rekt" (meaning "wrecked" in online gaming slang) combines internet horror and grief horror to come up with an amazing, absolutely original, and tremendously horrifying tale of Sammy, a Latino man in his 20s, losing his humanity and ultimately his sense of social and interpersonal reality. The book goes way beyond anything similar in portraying, in harrowing detail, how the loss of a loved one, his high-school girlfriend, around whom Sam had built his whole life, leads him on a journey through the worst content the dark web has to offer: snuff, torture and gore vids, absolutely dark content which Sam devours daily and about which he inevitably becomes obsessed. Already fed on creepypastas and nosleep-type of subreddits, Sammy gets addicted to the internet's dark side, with disastrous consequences for his personal life and his sense of self. Sammy's descent is described in first person, intimately, intensely; as his world collapses and his sense of morality slowly evaporates, Sammy is reduced to an impersonal, selfish and sick coping mechanism, impacting everyone around him negtively.
Up to this point, the book might have been solely a horrific novel about trauma, grief, and addiction in the online world of the 2020s. However, just a hundred pages in, the story reaches a wholly different level, when Sam is sent a link to a CCTV video of his girlfriend's fatal car accident. And then he's led to a host site with links to an assortment of videos where she's killed in the most gory of ways. In one, she's being drown slowly and painfully. In another, she's abused horribly. And in yet another, she gets tortured to death. WTF right? Well, what follows is an original, gory, entertaining and totally immersive, yet emotionally very heavy, tale of Sammy's unfortunate discovery of a nightmarish conspiracy celebrating pain and death for money. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
"rekt" is totally unpredictable, immensely imaginative, and incredibly well-written. I've never read anything like it. It touches in unexpected ways themes of toxic masculinity, internet addiction, and PTSD, visting places most people feel uncomfortable even mentioning. It'll blow your mind.
Up to this point, the book might have been solely a horrific novel about trauma, grief, and addiction in the online world of the 2020s. However, just a hundred pages in, the story reaches a wholly different level, when Sam is sent a link to a CCTV video of his girlfriend's fatal car accident. And then he's led to a host site with links to an assortment of videos where she's killed in the most gory of ways. In one, she's being drown slowly and painfully. In another, she's abused horribly. And in yet another, she gets tortured to death. WTF right? Well, what follows is an original, gory, entertaining and totally immersive, yet emotionally very heavy, tale of Sammy's unfortunate discovery of a nightmarish conspiracy celebrating pain and death for money. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
"rekt" is totally unpredictable, immensely imaginative, and incredibly well-written. I've never read anything like it. It touches in unexpected ways themes of toxic masculinity, internet addiction, and PTSD, visting places most people feel uncomfortable even mentioning. It'll blow your mind.
March 20, 2025
This book made me deeply uncomfortable and gross. The nightmare every single one of these characters went through is enough to make anyone nauseous. There were so many horrific things described so casually that it was reeling to keep up with.
But I could not put it down. Because that was the point. It overwhelmed the senses, it was confusing and weird and unsettling and awful and thrilling and consuming. It talked about toxic taboo things by forcing them to be black and white. And while there are no characters you'd necessarily root for, especially Sammy, you walk away really wanting things to turn out all right for them.
I've never read a book like this before and I don't think I ever will again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Gonzalez, and Kensington Books / Erewhon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
But I could not put it down. Because that was the point. It overwhelmed the senses, it was confusing and weird and unsettling and awful and thrilling and consuming. It talked about toxic taboo things by forcing them to be black and white. And while there are no characters you'd necessarily root for, especially Sammy, you walk away really wanting things to turn out all right for them.
I've never read a book like this before and I don't think I ever will again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Gonzalez, and Kensington Books / Erewhon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
August 29, 2024Plot is somewhat reminiscent of the graphic novel I read, but obviously focuses on different themes and goes in a different direction. I can't wait to read it.
October 6, 2024
Unfortunately, I would self-conciously consider myself chronically online. So I was intrigued by the premise, even if I don't read a lot in this genre.
This book is classified as horror and it was in fact horrible to read. Because it's not that far off that the things described in the book could happen IRL. The internet is a scary place. And because the thoughts of the toxic-masculine protagonist feel like they can - to some extent - be found in a lot of men nowadays as well. The downward spiral he goes through feels authentic.
Apart from that I felt that the book had a few lenghts. Also, it didn't get to me the way I think it could have. But maybe that's a me problem, as I'm rarely impressed with horror stories.
All in all 3.5 �
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is classified as horror and it was in fact horrible to read. Because it's not that far off that the things described in the book could happen IRL. The internet is a scary place. And because the thoughts of the toxic-masculine protagonist feel like they can - to some extent - be found in a lot of men nowadays as well. The downward spiral he goes through feels authentic.
Apart from that I felt that the book had a few lenghts. Also, it didn't get to me the way I think it could have. But maybe that's a me problem, as I'm rarely impressed with horror stories.
All in all 3.5 �
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2024
Oh yeah, this one is definitely gonna stay with me for a while. As someone who has been deeply entrenched in the internet for at least 18 years, but has largely avoided this gruesome side to it, I was incredibly drawn in by the premise of this book. I think rekt provides such an interesting look into toxic masculinity, grief, and the horrors of the internet (and the desensitization to such horrors). I loved being in Sammy's head, despite how disturbing it was to be there sometimes.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!
March 24, 2025
Rekt by Alex Gonzalez ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Sammy’s girlfriend dies in a horrific accident, he turns to shock value videos online for distraction. Until someone messaged him a dark web link to various videos of his girlfriend dying, including one of the accident that killed her. As he dives into this site, he becomes obsessed and the darkness takes over.
Given this book is largely about snuff films, please only read if you can deal with gore or have a strong stomach. That said, there is so much more to the story than that. It’s a twisty, action based, creepy story, that also is a strong character study and dives into mental illness. Fans of creepypasta and just overall odd tales, will enjoy this one. Personally this would have been a five star read for me except it was a little longer than it needed to be and I lost interest at some points. I still highly recommend!
“Now I’m fairly certain that anything good online is fake, but everything bad online is real.�
Rekt comes out 3/25.
When Sammy’s girlfriend dies in a horrific accident, he turns to shock value videos online for distraction. Until someone messaged him a dark web link to various videos of his girlfriend dying, including one of the accident that killed her. As he dives into this site, he becomes obsessed and the darkness takes over.
Given this book is largely about snuff films, please only read if you can deal with gore or have a strong stomach. That said, there is so much more to the story than that. It’s a twisty, action based, creepy story, that also is a strong character study and dives into mental illness. Fans of creepypasta and just overall odd tales, will enjoy this one. Personally this would have been a five star read for me except it was a little longer than it needed to be and I lost interest at some points. I still highly recommend!
“Now I’m fairly certain that anything good online is fake, but everything bad online is real.�
Rekt comes out 3/25.
April 4, 2025
This was good! More emotional than I expected, for sure. And definitely as messed up as I'd imagined. Maybe even more so, if that is possible. I was certainly invested in the story, as I found Sammy to be quite the heartbreaking character. And frankly, I wanted to know just how messed up the internet can be. Is it this bad? Is it worse? I have no idea but it sure is thought provoking! The pacing is a little off at times, and I think I had hoped for a wee bit more from the ending, but it was an engaging story and one that definitely made me think and also freaked me out!
April 6, 2025
A fantastic read that took me way longer than it should have because of how often I felt I needed to put it down for my own sanity. Completely and thoroughly sick and I could predict absolutely nothing that would come next, which led to me being so perfectly uncomfortable until the very last page. Tows the line so carefully on splatterpunk but manages to sway back into horror because of the authenticity of its writing and message. A woman at my tea shop asked to borrow it when I was done and I feel like I'll be giving her the Ring VHS.
Also, as I was reading it in public, a stranger came up to my table and sat down and said "ahh, I remember my snuff film days" and somehow that was not the most uncomfortable part of reading this.
Also, as I was reading it in public, a stranger came up to my table and sat down and said "ahh, I remember my snuff film days" and somehow that was not the most uncomfortable part of reading this.
December 20, 2024
I’ve read a few splatterpunk/horror books that centre around the dark web and red rooms. Those parts of this story were gross and frightening, but that’s what I was looking for in a scary story.
What bothered me were the characters, I just found them all unlikeable. The story also dragged at some parts- it felt way too long and the narrator rambled on and on at times.
What bothered me were the characters, I just found them all unlikeable. The story also dragged at some parts- it felt way too long and the narrator rambled on and on at times.
November 20, 2024
rekt is about Sammy, a young man who grew up watching online videos he probably shouldn't have and writing creepypasta. When his girlfriend dies, he copes by delving deeper into that dark online world until he spirals out of control, both mentally and physically.
This is a dark, dark book. It made me feel kind of sick, it discusses topics I won't write out because I'm pretty sure ŷ would flag the review, and I almost regret reading it. Sammy is a haunted person, and his grief is heavy and ugly.
But the thing is, I couldn't stop reading. I had to find out how far he would go, and I honestly wanted to know if he would be okay. And I say it that way because his thoughts felt so real, like he was talking to me, and I grew to genuinely care about him. I read it in less than 24 hours, which is saying something for a 350 page book.
When I picked up rekt, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was like the first time I read a Palahniuk book (too young)—by the time I realized how upsetting it was, I was too hooked to stop. rekt is sad and highly disturbing, yet somehow beautiful. I cannot stop thinking about it, and I don't know that I ever will.
(TW for virtually everything except for animal harm.)
Side note, for anyone else who might care or notice, the editing is wonderful.
This is a dark, dark book. It made me feel kind of sick, it discusses topics I won't write out because I'm pretty sure ŷ would flag the review, and I almost regret reading it. Sammy is a haunted person, and his grief is heavy and ugly.
But the thing is, I couldn't stop reading. I had to find out how far he would go, and I honestly wanted to know if he would be okay. And I say it that way because his thoughts felt so real, like he was talking to me, and I grew to genuinely care about him. I read it in less than 24 hours, which is saying something for a 350 page book.
When I picked up rekt, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was like the first time I read a Palahniuk book (too young)—by the time I realized how upsetting it was, I was too hooked to stop. rekt is sad and highly disturbing, yet somehow beautiful. I cannot stop thinking about it, and I don't know that I ever will.
(TW for virtually everything except for animal harm.)
Side note, for anyone else who might care or notice, the editing is wonderful.
January 28, 2025
Special thank you to #NetGalley and Kensington Publishing via Erewhon for this eARC.
Incredible. Absolutely incredible. The goosebumps are still fresh as I write this, but rekt is a gritty powerhouse of raw emotion, adventure and character that I was nowhere near expecting. I still cannot believe this. What did I read? What the heck did I just read?
Sammy Dominguez has not had an easy life. In his college years, one downward path after another leaves him to find solace lurking on shock sites as Blue Bird, posting Creepypastas every once in awhile on an old forum. Then he receives a random message to check out a certain site on a dark web browser. A dark personal descent occurs before a world of chaos opens up.
Imagine Robert Rodriguez had a vision of The Matrix opening up to a world where The Minority Report predicted death� and there was evil intent throughout all of it. That does not even take into account rekt is a tremendously human story with flawed characters making the best of grief within a horror scenario. Terrible events happen throughout rekt but Alex Gonzalez skillfully has woven human characters getting tough in the face impossible odds. The writing is pulse-poundingly tough, gritty and gruesome without basking in the gore and unflinching in every way. And when you think that the foot is being let up off the gas, or that the next twist is surely the one to off-rail this ride, Gonzalez pulls out another card to floor you and get the heart racing again. Get ready for an ending that will leave you ‘rekt,� this novel is top-tier excellent.
Incredible. Absolutely incredible. The goosebumps are still fresh as I write this, but rekt is a gritty powerhouse of raw emotion, adventure and character that I was nowhere near expecting. I still cannot believe this. What did I read? What the heck did I just read?
Sammy Dominguez has not had an easy life. In his college years, one downward path after another leaves him to find solace lurking on shock sites as Blue Bird, posting Creepypastas every once in awhile on an old forum. Then he receives a random message to check out a certain site on a dark web browser. A dark personal descent occurs before a world of chaos opens up.
Imagine Robert Rodriguez had a vision of The Matrix opening up to a world where The Minority Report predicted death� and there was evil intent throughout all of it. That does not even take into account rekt is a tremendously human story with flawed characters making the best of grief within a horror scenario. Terrible events happen throughout rekt but Alex Gonzalez skillfully has woven human characters getting tough in the face impossible odds. The writing is pulse-poundingly tough, gritty and gruesome without basking in the gore and unflinching in every way. And when you think that the foot is being let up off the gas, or that the next twist is surely the one to off-rail this ride, Gonzalez pulls out another card to floor you and get the heart racing again. Get ready for an ending that will leave you ‘rekt,� this novel is top-tier excellent.
April 8, 2025
> be me, 40-something
> looking for the next the sluts
> penance would be fine too
> feel nothing
I really wanted this one to land for me, but it just didn't. I felt thiiiiiiiis far away from Sammy the whole time. I didn't feel his grief, his horror, his slow (and then quick) sinking into online spaces no one should be. I didn't feel Sammy experience the way that kind of content can turn your soul black and be a cruel reminder that we are vulnerable bags of meat and then reconcile that with the pain of losing Ellery. I read it, but I didn't feel it. I wanted to feel it.
Chinsky: why? Having the story pivot on this hinge of online boogeymen made rekt feel like there were two separate novels that got smashed together and didn't marry well. I'm not usually the sort who needs a lot of technical questions answered in fiction, but the way chinsky worked left way too much room for me to be distracted. My AI fear is real, but this is not the kind of AI fear that's effective for me.
All that being said (I know it sounds like a lot of negatives), I did enjoy reading rekt. I enjoyed what it was trying to do, but I'm just not sure it succeeded. I also realize that I'm probably not the audience for this one.
I predict that many people will find what I was looking for in it, and I truly love that for them.
> looking for the next the sluts
> penance would be fine too
> feel nothing
I really wanted this one to land for me, but it just didn't. I felt thiiiiiiiis far away from Sammy the whole time. I didn't feel his grief, his horror, his slow (and then quick) sinking into online spaces no one should be. I didn't feel Sammy experience the way that kind of content can turn your soul black and be a cruel reminder that we are vulnerable bags of meat and then reconcile that with the pain of losing Ellery. I read it, but I didn't feel it. I wanted to feel it.
Chinsky: why? Having the story pivot on this hinge of online boogeymen made rekt feel like there were two separate novels that got smashed together and didn't marry well. I'm not usually the sort who needs a lot of technical questions answered in fiction, but the way chinsky worked left way too much room for me to be distracted. My AI fear is real, but this is not the kind of AI fear that's effective for me.
All that being said (I know it sounds like a lot of negatives), I did enjoy reading rekt. I enjoyed what it was trying to do, but I'm just not sure it succeeded. I also realize that I'm probably not the audience for this one.
I predict that many people will find what I was looking for in it, and I truly love that for them.
October 1, 2024
I thought that the most frightening thing about this book is that it's something that potentially could really happen. No doubt there are thousands of people who spend nearly all their time online watching this sort of disturbing material.
Sammy, the main character, has had to deal with several tragedies in his life. His way of coping, albeit unhealthily, is by watching videos online of people being tortured and murdered. One day, he opens a mysterious link that sends him on a downward spiral.
While much of his book kept my interest, I do admit I got bogged down in the middle of it. Nearly all of the characters in the book are unlikeable, and I felt that I almost needed a break from it at times. There are some graphic depictions of torture, death, accidents, etc.. There was one description in particular involving a baby that was really hard to read.
The writing is really good. And the characters, although mostly pretty awful, are believable.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sammy, the main character, has had to deal with several tragedies in his life. His way of coping, albeit unhealthily, is by watching videos online of people being tortured and murdered. One day, he opens a mysterious link that sends him on a downward spiral.
While much of his book kept my interest, I do admit I got bogged down in the middle of it. Nearly all of the characters in the book are unlikeable, and I felt that I almost needed a break from it at times. There are some graphic depictions of torture, death, accidents, etc.. There was one description in particular involving a baby that was really hard to read.
The writing is really good. And the characters, although mostly pretty awful, are believable.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2024
This book is going to stick with me for quite a while� This book is scary for the simple fact that, this is something that could happen. There are probably plenty of people who spend their time online watching and paying for this kind of disturbing material.
You don’t realize how dark and scary the internet or people can be until you come across a book like this. There are real people on the internet scarier than any monster you have ever read about and this book taps into that very well. This book has me looking at my social presence online and wanting to step back�
However, if you grew up on creepy pasta and loving spiraling down a horrific rabbit hole then this book is for you! Highly recommend if you want something fresh to read in horror. But be prepared, this book is dark and at times can make you emotional.
You don’t realize how dark and scary the internet or people can be until you come across a book like this. There are real people on the internet scarier than any monster you have ever read about and this book taps into that very well. This book has me looking at my social presence online and wanting to step back�
However, if you grew up on creepy pasta and loving spiraling down a horrific rabbit hole then this book is for you! Highly recommend if you want something fresh to read in horror. But be prepared, this book is dark and at times can make you emotional.
September 22, 2024
I feel like I’ve been hearing about this book a lot lately (or maybe just from Paul Tremblay?) so I was thrilled to get the ARC from NetGalley and not have to wait. Plus it’s Spooky Szn!
Intriguing premise: a man’s GF dies in a car crash and he’s sent a link to a website with a video of her death. Which leads him to more and more death videos on the site. (Ah, the internet.) Some death videos are real, some are fake, he becomes obsessed.
The concept is pretty fascinating, as everything unfolds and people track down the actual reason for the site and those behind it.
This is definitely a good real-world-horrors horror novel. Especially if you’re interested in the Chronically Online culture. It’s bleak AF, but that’s the world, right?
Intriguing premise: a man’s GF dies in a car crash and he’s sent a link to a website with a video of her death. Which leads him to more and more death videos on the site. (Ah, the internet.) Some death videos are real, some are fake, he becomes obsessed.
The concept is pretty fascinating, as everything unfolds and people track down the actual reason for the site and those behind it.
This is definitely a good real-world-horrors horror novel. Especially if you’re interested in the Chronically Online culture. It’s bleak AF, but that’s the world, right?
October 6, 2024
Rating 3.5/5
Rekt is such a horrific, mind-bending, and unfortunate story that is so close to reality it’s terrifying. With themes of death, grief, and mental illness, it highlights the bleakness of the internet and the haunting of real life nightmares. I truly never want to read this book again. There is no place scarier than the internet.
For fans of online horror, No Sleep, and creepypasta.
**Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!**
Rekt is such a horrific, mind-bending, and unfortunate story that is so close to reality it’s terrifying. With themes of death, grief, and mental illness, it highlights the bleakness of the internet and the haunting of real life nightmares. I truly never want to read this book again. There is no place scarier than the internet.
For fans of online horror, No Sleep, and creepypasta.
**Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!**
March 5, 2025
This was an addictive read. I enjoyed almost everything about it. I will say that there was one incredibly disturbing mention/trigger that I really could’ve done without. But woah! What a book! Really makes me want to cover up the little camera on my phone and laptop, that’s for sure.
“I am born, and I am miserable, and I need people to know it� I want my trauma to blossom like a corpse plant. I do not want to heal.� (doesn’t this sound like The Used lyrics? lol)
“I am born, and I am miserable, and I need people to know it� I want my trauma to blossom like a corpse plant. I do not want to heal.� (doesn’t this sound like The Used lyrics? lol)
March 24, 2025
A story of grief and tragedy that weaves in body horror and Black Mirror-esque themes through technology and the dark web. Our main character, Sammy, is a walking tragedy. After losing his uncle in a devastating way, he copes by writing stories called ‘The Wax Man� on Creepypasta. With the lack of family support that he needed, he really turned to these stories to find solace. At least he had his girlfriend and soulmate, Ellery, to keep him grounded and moving forward. Until the car accident. Spiraling, he turned back to the dark web and was sent a link that would unravel his life in ways he never expected that turned his online obsession into a real life manhunt.
Who runs this profane site and what is real?
I’ve never read something like Rekt. Sometimes it was a deeply tragic story of grief, sometimes I was cringing at the body horror, and other times I was on the edge of my seat. It really highlights the hidden horrors of the internet and how an obsession can change your psyche into not knowing what’s real and what isn’t. If you were a creepypasta fan, you will absolutely eat this one up. Overall, I really liked this. My only minor complaints is there were a lot of characters to keep track of, and some parts were a bit slow. Otherwise, this is a really unique book that I think a lot of people will really enjoy!
Thank you @erewhonbooks and @nahitsjustalex for the advanced copy!
Who runs this profane site and what is real?
I’ve never read something like Rekt. Sometimes it was a deeply tragic story of grief, sometimes I was cringing at the body horror, and other times I was on the edge of my seat. It really highlights the hidden horrors of the internet and how an obsession can change your psyche into not knowing what’s real and what isn’t. If you were a creepypasta fan, you will absolutely eat this one up. Overall, I really liked this. My only minor complaints is there were a lot of characters to keep track of, and some parts were a bit slow. Otherwise, this is a really unique book that I think a lot of people will really enjoy!
Thank you @erewhonbooks and @nahitsjustalex for the advanced copy!
March 11, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the digital ARC, publishing 3/25/25. A timely read about the darkest corners of the internet, where urban legends, misinformation, panic, and conspiracy theories proliferate, largely unchecked.
November 25, 2024
I’m being generous.
April 1, 2025
couldn’t help but worrying that the author is a creepy incel torture p*rn lover the whole time bc he wrote it a little too well
February 8, 2025
Super fucked up!! A timely cautionary tale about the dark side of AI and the internet. Definitely not for the faint of heart, rekt is nasty, horrific, and brilliant! For fans of Black Mirror and being a low-key Florida hater.
Deducted a star for the anxiety dreams and because I cannot (in good conscience) give a book about snuff films a perfect score, but I guess that’s more of a me problem.
Thank you, Alex, for the ARC - rekt rips!!! So proud of you 🤩
Deducted a star for the anxiety dreams and because I cannot (in good conscience) give a book about snuff films a perfect score, but I guess that’s more of a me problem.
Thank you, Alex, for the ARC - rekt rips!!! So proud of you 🤩
March 14, 2025
For fans of: The Terrifier films, Red Rooms (2023), American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami, This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno, Maeve Fly by C.J. Leede
"The only thing that is real is death and dying and murder and blood. I am a man online. I am traumatized and I need people to know it."
This book grabbed hold of me and did not let go. I kept feeling the itch to dive back in, just like the main character Sammy and his obsession with the dark corners of the internet. It was the pull of a good internet rabbit hole, an internet legend in the making the likes of which you might see covered by a channel like or . There were immersive, epistolary elements like chat logs, forum threads, and emails that gave the legend more weight. If you've ever been caught up in following the unfolding of an internet mystery (like , a recent example off the top of my head), that's exactly the feeling this book gives you. And it is dark. You have been warned.
With beautiful turns of phrase and imagery, Gonzalez unleashes the monsters of the dark web, presents horrific scenes of gore and brutality, and positions it all through the lens of a grief-stricken, traumatized young man who's trying to come to terms with his past and maybe even find some kind of redemption. He's so guilty about the death of his girlfriend that she haunts him just like the Wax Man, a CreepyPasta monster he created and wrote about to process his trauma. He won't allow himself to open up IRL the way he needs to, and like his dead girlfriend, he's grappling with wanting to not want to be online.
Which leads me to my ultimate takeaway from this: In the digital age, we are only given so many ways to process and share feelings about what we're doing, especially in the current alienated, fractured society of social media. It can start to feel like only the internet world matters, and lives in meatspace are meaningless or unimportant. We assert our selves and personalities through consumerism and media. Our connections are performative, fragile, and insincere. Some friends we only know by their internet usernames and social profiles. For troubled young men especially, they can end up in online spaces that twist them in ways they don't even realize are happening until it's too late and they've been caught. As one character says: "It has you."
Speaking of characters, they were overall rich and well done. There's a lot to appreciate in every single person who appears in a scene, if even for a paragraph. Everyone has their secret traumas and motivations, and it's only a matter of time before they get revealed.
It's the secrets and the mystery and the cyber-horror that drives this story. It's being haunted by or through technology: just when you least expect, or in the middle of a tense, high-stakes moment, you get a mysterious text on your phone. It's the lack of real privacy in the digital age: mass surveillance + AI = the creation of fucked up and non-consensual deepfakes of everyone you know spread on the internet.
Mix this with the toxic masculinity and anti-empathy of the dark web, and you get, well, something like . Or Andrew Tate and Joe Rogan types who build whole fanbases around misogyny and living up to a certain male standard. A "real" man puts women down by objectifying, beating, and raping them. Empathy is the problem instead of the solution; giving in opens you up to vulnerabilities, which goes against their "survival of the toughest/meanest" mindset. In a kill-or-be-killed world, only the killers survive.
Which brings me to thoughts on another recurring theme: death, grieving, memento mori. Sammy started out watching so many deaths online in order to desensitize himself from it. His girlfriend's death was just another car accident caught on a traffic cam. There was no ultimate meaning to it. Or was there? This is what gets under his skin and he has to find out, or die trying. Because without her, he can't find a real reason to live. Which is pretty sad, to be honest, but there are people like that, and it's people like that who can end up going down the same dark road Sammy has. Their tragedy makes for an excellent story.
And excellent money, because these sickos on the dark web managed to capitalize even on how people might die. They turned death into a game people can bet on.
Finally, I gotta talk about free will, because this made even a firm believer in free will like me start to question things. How much control do we have over where we end up based on where we started and what choices we have available to make? What were Sammy's options, considering his family members and their inherited trauma, his upbringing and natural personality? Was he always going to go down the dark path and get caught by it? What might have made things different, and at what points? Sammy grapples with this, but I think he finally does come to a conclusion.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book. I am leaving my honest feedback here voluntarily.
Related links and articles:
- Theme song for Sammy and Ellery:
-Propublica:
- Truthout:
- 404Media:
- Wired:
"The only thing that is real is death and dying and murder and blood. I am a man online. I am traumatized and I need people to know it."
This book grabbed hold of me and did not let go. I kept feeling the itch to dive back in, just like the main character Sammy and his obsession with the dark corners of the internet. It was the pull of a good internet rabbit hole, an internet legend in the making the likes of which you might see covered by a channel like or . There were immersive, epistolary elements like chat logs, forum threads, and emails that gave the legend more weight. If you've ever been caught up in following the unfolding of an internet mystery (like , a recent example off the top of my head), that's exactly the feeling this book gives you. And it is dark. You have been warned.
With beautiful turns of phrase and imagery, Gonzalez unleashes the monsters of the dark web, presents horrific scenes of gore and brutality, and positions it all through the lens of a grief-stricken, traumatized young man who's trying to come to terms with his past and maybe even find some kind of redemption. He's so guilty about the death of his girlfriend that she haunts him just like the Wax Man, a CreepyPasta monster he created and wrote about to process his trauma. He won't allow himself to open up IRL the way he needs to, and like his dead girlfriend, he's grappling with wanting to not want to be online.
"That really sucks. You were a kid and you saw something that fucked you up. You went online to cope, and you made a persona where you can be angry and weird, and the internet liked it. And then it decided to eat you. There are a billion people out there and they saw a weak kid struggling and so they sunk their teeth into you. Then they showed other people. Then others. . . What difference does it make? You're not the chosen one. You're just one of many poor bastards that they decided to fuck with."
Which leads me to my ultimate takeaway from this: In the digital age, we are only given so many ways to process and share feelings about what we're doing, especially in the current alienated, fractured society of social media. It can start to feel like only the internet world matters, and lives in meatspace are meaningless or unimportant. We assert our selves and personalities through consumerism and media. Our connections are performative, fragile, and insincere. Some friends we only know by their internet usernames and social profiles. For troubled young men especially, they can end up in online spaces that twist them in ways they don't even realize are happening until it's too late and they've been caught. As one character says: "It has you."
Speaking of characters, they were overall rich and well done. There's a lot to appreciate in every single person who appears in a scene, if even for a paragraph. Everyone has their secret traumas and motivations, and it's only a matter of time before they get revealed.
It's the secrets and the mystery and the cyber-horror that drives this story. It's being haunted by or through technology: just when you least expect, or in the middle of a tense, high-stakes moment, you get a mysterious text on your phone. It's the lack of real privacy in the digital age: mass surveillance + AI = the creation of fucked up and non-consensual deepfakes of everyone you know spread on the internet.
Mix this with the toxic masculinity and anti-empathy of the dark web, and you get, well, something like . Or Andrew Tate and Joe Rogan types who build whole fanbases around misogyny and living up to a certain male standard. A "real" man puts women down by objectifying, beating, and raping them. Empathy is the problem instead of the solution; giving in opens you up to vulnerabilities, which goes against their "survival of the toughest/meanest" mindset. In a kill-or-be-killed world, only the killers survive.
Which brings me to thoughts on another recurring theme: death, grieving, memento mori. Sammy started out watching so many deaths online in order to desensitize himself from it. His girlfriend's death was just another car accident caught on a traffic cam. There was no ultimate meaning to it. Or was there? This is what gets under his skin and he has to find out, or die trying. Because without her, he can't find a real reason to live. Which is pretty sad, to be honest, but there are people like that, and it's people like that who can end up going down the same dark road Sammy has. Their tragedy makes for an excellent story.
And excellent money, because these sickos on the dark web managed to capitalize even on how people might die. They turned death into a game people can bet on.
Finally, I gotta talk about free will, because this made even a firm believer in free will like me start to question things. How much control do we have over where we end up based on where we started and what choices we have available to make? What were Sammy's options, considering his family members and their inherited trauma, his upbringing and natural personality? Was he always going to go down the dark path and get caught by it? What might have made things different, and at what points? Sammy grapples with this, but I think he finally does come to a conclusion.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book. I am leaving my honest feedback here voluntarily.
Related links and articles:
- Theme song for Sammy and Ellery:
-Propublica:
- Truthout:
- 404Media:
- Wired:
March 13, 2025
Alex Gonzalez is a WGA screenwriter and horror fiction writer, which means he gets paid to make people deeply uncomfortable. Born and raised in Florida—because of course—he now lurks in Brooklyn, a place only marginally less terrifying than the setting of his book. He co-founded the horror zine youarenotalone, a title that feels eerily relevant when reading rekt, considering its themes of internet voyeurism, grief, and the slow, rotting descent into digital nihilism. Gonzalez also teaches horror writing workshops, meaning he’s actively training others to fuck with your head. Thanks, dude.
rekt is the story of Sammy Dominguez, a man whose life is crumbling faster than your WiFi connection at peak hours. Once a seemingly functional human with a future, Sammy finds himself sinking into the darkest corners of the internet after his girlfriend, Ellery, dies in a brutal accident. What starts as morbid curiosity—watching gore videos as a coping mechanism—mutates into a full-blown obsession when he stumbles onto Chinsky, a dark web hellhole that provides a buffet of snuff films, including a disturbing number of videos that seem to feature alternate deaths of Ellery herself.
As Sammy delves deeper, his life implodes. His relationships dissolve, his sanity flickers like a dying LED light, and his moral compass? That thing is spinning like a fucking Beyblade. But Rekt isn’t just about one man watching too much internet horror—it’s about the very real horror of the internet watching back. It’s about AI, voyeurism, and the terrifying realization that nothing online is ever really gone.
If the internet is a meat grinder for the human soul, then rekt is a 400-page reminder to keep your hands (and your goddamn eyes) away from the gears. Gonzalez isn’t subtle about his themes, but who needs subtlety when you’re talking about toxic masculinity, AI-generated nightmares, and the moral decay that happens when your browser history reads like a police report? Grief horror is nothing new, but rekt takes the concept and straps it to a jet engine. Sammy isn’t just grieving Ellery; he’s grieving himself, his past, his possible futures. His descent into the bowels of internet depravity is an act of self-destruction, a digital form of cutting where the scars aren’t on his skin but in his perception of reality. Watching death videos doesn’t just numb him—it reshapes him. He isn’t just watching horror; he’s being rewritten by it.
Sammy’s journey is also a grim examination of how the internet radicalizes lost, lonely men. He’s not some 4chan basement troll from the start—he’s a normal guy with trauma, a dude who starts by peeking into the abyss and eventually gets dragged inside. His story is a cautionary tale about how online isolation festers, how grief and guilt can warp into something unrecognizably monstrous, and how unchecked digital consumption can make you a participant in your own downfall.
In rekt, the internet serves as the monster in the closet, the demon under the bed, the thing that whispers, Just one more click. Chinsky, the dark web site Sammy stumbles onto, feels less like a malevolent entity, one that evolves, predicts, and consumes. Gonzalez taps into a fundamental fear of the digital age: that we aren’t in control of what we see. That we’re being watched. That our deepest, most fucked-up impulses are being catered to, curated, and fed back to us.
Gonzalez writes like someone who has seen too much and isn’t afraid to make you see it too. His prose is unrelenting, visceral, and disturbingly immersive. The book reads like a mix between Chuck Palahniuk, Creepypasta threads, and a transcript from an FBI internet crimes division case file. The pacing is relentless, pulling you deeper into Sammy’s unraveling mind until you’re trapped with him in a nightmarish freefall.
There are moments where the novel slows, and yes, some might argue that certain passages drag—but that’s the point. The book mirrors the experience of doomscrolling: the hypnotic, inescapable pull of something awful that you know you should look away from but can’t.
Strengths
Unflinching Horror: Gonzalez absolutely embraces disturbing content. The book is visceral, relentless, and at times, genuinely stomach-churning.
A Relatable (If Deeply Flawed) Protagonist: Sammy isn’t some edge-lord caricature; he’s disturbingly real. His descent is believable, and that’s what makes it horrifying.
Relevant as Hell: This book taps into fears that feel uncomfortably current—AI-generated horror, radicalization, online addiction.
Emotional Weight: This isn’t just about the horror of gore—it’s about the horror of grief, of being lost, of not knowing how to climb out of the abyss.
Criticisms
Pacing Gets Murky in the Middle: There’s a stretch where the momentum slows, and while thematically it makes sense (mirroring Sammy’s increasing detachment), it may cause some restlessness.
Not for Everyone (Which is a Strength and a Weakness): If you have a weak stomach or a lingering sense of optimism about humanity, this book is gonna wreck you (pun intended).
The Ending Will Divide Readers: Some will love it (I personally was into it), some will hate it, but no one is walking away indifferent.
rekt is not a book you read lightly. It’s a book that grabs you by the skull and forces your eyes open to witness the worst parts of human nature—online and off. Gonzalez has crafted something uniquely horrifying, a novel that doesn’t just tell a scary story but becomes one. It’s bleak, brutal, and borderline dangerous in its ability to make you think about every link you’ve ever clicked.
Is it a fun read? Fuck no.
Is it a brilliant one? Absolutely.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to clear my browser history and tape over my webcam. Again.
rekt is the story of Sammy Dominguez, a man whose life is crumbling faster than your WiFi connection at peak hours. Once a seemingly functional human with a future, Sammy finds himself sinking into the darkest corners of the internet after his girlfriend, Ellery, dies in a brutal accident. What starts as morbid curiosity—watching gore videos as a coping mechanism—mutates into a full-blown obsession when he stumbles onto Chinsky, a dark web hellhole that provides a buffet of snuff films, including a disturbing number of videos that seem to feature alternate deaths of Ellery herself.
As Sammy delves deeper, his life implodes. His relationships dissolve, his sanity flickers like a dying LED light, and his moral compass? That thing is spinning like a fucking Beyblade. But Rekt isn’t just about one man watching too much internet horror—it’s about the very real horror of the internet watching back. It’s about AI, voyeurism, and the terrifying realization that nothing online is ever really gone.
If the internet is a meat grinder for the human soul, then rekt is a 400-page reminder to keep your hands (and your goddamn eyes) away from the gears. Gonzalez isn’t subtle about his themes, but who needs subtlety when you’re talking about toxic masculinity, AI-generated nightmares, and the moral decay that happens when your browser history reads like a police report? Grief horror is nothing new, but rekt takes the concept and straps it to a jet engine. Sammy isn’t just grieving Ellery; he’s grieving himself, his past, his possible futures. His descent into the bowels of internet depravity is an act of self-destruction, a digital form of cutting where the scars aren’t on his skin but in his perception of reality. Watching death videos doesn’t just numb him—it reshapes him. He isn’t just watching horror; he’s being rewritten by it.
Sammy’s journey is also a grim examination of how the internet radicalizes lost, lonely men. He’s not some 4chan basement troll from the start—he’s a normal guy with trauma, a dude who starts by peeking into the abyss and eventually gets dragged inside. His story is a cautionary tale about how online isolation festers, how grief and guilt can warp into something unrecognizably monstrous, and how unchecked digital consumption can make you a participant in your own downfall.
In rekt, the internet serves as the monster in the closet, the demon under the bed, the thing that whispers, Just one more click. Chinsky, the dark web site Sammy stumbles onto, feels less like a malevolent entity, one that evolves, predicts, and consumes. Gonzalez taps into a fundamental fear of the digital age: that we aren’t in control of what we see. That we’re being watched. That our deepest, most fucked-up impulses are being catered to, curated, and fed back to us.
Gonzalez writes like someone who has seen too much and isn’t afraid to make you see it too. His prose is unrelenting, visceral, and disturbingly immersive. The book reads like a mix between Chuck Palahniuk, Creepypasta threads, and a transcript from an FBI internet crimes division case file. The pacing is relentless, pulling you deeper into Sammy’s unraveling mind until you’re trapped with him in a nightmarish freefall.
There are moments where the novel slows, and yes, some might argue that certain passages drag—but that’s the point. The book mirrors the experience of doomscrolling: the hypnotic, inescapable pull of something awful that you know you should look away from but can’t.
Strengths
Unflinching Horror: Gonzalez absolutely embraces disturbing content. The book is visceral, relentless, and at times, genuinely stomach-churning.
A Relatable (If Deeply Flawed) Protagonist: Sammy isn’t some edge-lord caricature; he’s disturbingly real. His descent is believable, and that’s what makes it horrifying.
Relevant as Hell: This book taps into fears that feel uncomfortably current—AI-generated horror, radicalization, online addiction.
Emotional Weight: This isn’t just about the horror of gore—it’s about the horror of grief, of being lost, of not knowing how to climb out of the abyss.
Criticisms
Pacing Gets Murky in the Middle: There’s a stretch where the momentum slows, and while thematically it makes sense (mirroring Sammy’s increasing detachment), it may cause some restlessness.
Not for Everyone (Which is a Strength and a Weakness): If you have a weak stomach or a lingering sense of optimism about humanity, this book is gonna wreck you (pun intended).
The Ending Will Divide Readers: Some will love it (I personally was into it), some will hate it, but no one is walking away indifferent.
rekt is not a book you read lightly. It’s a book that grabs you by the skull and forces your eyes open to witness the worst parts of human nature—online and off. Gonzalez has crafted something uniquely horrifying, a novel that doesn’t just tell a scary story but becomes one. It’s bleak, brutal, and borderline dangerous in its ability to make you think about every link you’ve ever clicked.
Is it a fun read? Fuck no.
Is it a brilliant one? Absolutely.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to clear my browser history and tape over my webcam. Again.
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