A perfect read for one interested in dark erotic horror with extreme psychological undertones. It would appeal to readers who enjoyed the dark mysteriousness of Alma Katsu’s The Hunger or the utterly psychosis-ridden American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, but taken to an even further extreme regarding visceral, often disturbing content.
If one has a taste for such dark works, then this is surely an engrossing piece-you will love it. It isn’t for the fainthearted, but this is indeed an excellent way through which to learn about fear, morality, and the darker sides of human nature.

TRIGGERS (Just some dear lord please read the list)
Blood and Gore, Graphic Depictions Of Murder, Grief and Loss,
Drugging, Waterboarding, Whipping, Cutting, Graphic Acts Of
Violence, Trauma, Rape and Sexual Assault (mention, graphic, not
with MMC/FMC), Manipulation (not by MMC or FMC), Amputation,
Stabbing, Eye Gouging, Castration, Decapitation, Extensive Use Of A
Gili Saw, Skinning, Flaying. Jaw & Tongue Removal, Scalping,
Breaking Bones, Gun Violence.
Sexual Scenes:
Praise, Primal, Choking, Dub/Con, Graphic Sexual Scenes,
Toe Sucking, DVP, Voyeurism, Sharing, Punishment,
Free Use, Spitting, Exhibitionism, Knife Play, Blood Play, Punishment
Stocks, Spanking, Rough Sex.

Desperate Run by C.J. Riggs and M.L. Burns is an extreme merge of erotic horror with complex moral characteristics. The plot centers around Max and Draven, each of the characters playing his role in this awful and gruesome game of survival, chock-full of hefty psychological connotations.

A setting of a horror carnival entitled “Midnight Menagerie” sets a haunted scene for the dark interaction between predator and prey. It combines visceral, graphic action with complex morality.

Desperate Run is an erotic horror novel that satiates a reader with unapologetic violence and dark themes in sex and the first of its kind, this version foreshadows a narrative teeming with horror and psychological depth.

The novel is about Max, a college student, and Draven, a sadistic hunter, each getting caught up in a nightmarish game at the Midnight Menagerie-a carnival of terrors. We are experiencing this mental and physical strife through their shifting perspectives. Now add to that a gray-at-best morality protagonist in the form of Max into the lethal hunt orchestrated by Draven, a cold, calculated predator with tenuous holds on reality and morality. The maze of carnival greets the debilitating chain of events where one must be witted, strong-willed, and accommodative of the vilest of instincts to survive.

Max: A multi-layered female character, Max has a traumatic history. She has inner demons she struggles with, and her relationship with fear and control is convoluted. Violence and humor at her own expense hide the vulnerability.

Draven: A perpetuating evil as black as his morals are dangerous. This is a personal villain who encompasses heartless regard for human life in addition to instinctive, predatory inclinations. His ruthlessness is absolute, and there’s an interesting layer in the psychological setup, mainly towards the source of his motivation and desire.

Side Characters: The Sasha and Ben, Decker-type characters, add further dimensions to the story as they get intertwined into the horrors of the carnival. The Hunters are all different, each with their own roles and characteristics that add flavor to the story in ways both primal in fearful presentation and sadistically pleasurable.

The relationships in this novel often tend to have instances of imbalance. Draven’s domination over Max, among other characters, always raises questions about consent, fear, and manipulation. Like in all internal conflicts, Max finds her need to be in control of her situation in contrast to the external force that happens to be Draven’s dominance.

Fear and Survival: The novella explores basic instincts of fear and usually makes survival the most prime animalistic aspiration. It’s always thrown into such a situation in which they have to fight not only against the external forces but their own terror.

Morality and Corruption: Max and Draven came across as morally borderline figures, and the story tests the readers regarding what is right and wrong.
Power Dynamics: The power play between Draven and Max, even between the hunters and their prey, serves as another layer to the domination, submission, and free will that have been in exploration thus far.

Writing Style and Effectiveness:
It is a sharp, visceral write, and violence is put forth just as much as intimacy is. Burns has used imagery to drop their readers into some sort of twisted carnival or blood-soaked battle. The pacing is fast-moving, jumping between tense action scenes and the rare moments of reflection. Using the alternating POVs by Draven and Max adds depth to this story and gives the reader a glimpse into the minds of each character to raise tension.

Atmosphere: Dark, seductive, and forbidding, this is a novel that whisks readers into a landscape infested with terror. The use of grotesque imagery coupled with the inbuilt eerie atmosphere of the Midnight Menagerie surely makes one ponder on impending doom.

Desperate Run is a bold venture into the realms of fear, power, and morality gone haywire. With its plethora of characters, all vibrantly real, it will call upon readers to stand against their fears right next to its protagonists. Strong in thematic depth, with complexity of characters and well-crafted world-building, this is probably not a story for every audience, since there is full-blown violent and graphic sexual content. The story navigates some very important discussions about consent, control, and survival with evenness and offers a really new take on many classic horror tropes.

Compared to other works of erotic horror, Desperate Run stands out because it manages to link these elements of primal fear with complex psychological narratives.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Writing Style: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
World-Building: ★★★★★
Spice: ★★★★★
JACKPOT