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Grotesque

Once in a millennium, the Phoenix will rise. The earth, the shifters, even the planet will call to her, pleading for her help. When they do, she always answers their call. Each time, she will choose a young woman who is deserving of carrying her fire, someone who is loving and caring, but with an inner strength that is difficult to break. Emmi Johnson is a human orphan who was kidnapped by The Mean Ones, grotesque shifters who wanted to create an army to destroy the elemental dragons and other hybrids. The dragons saved her and the others who were being held hostage, but the damage was already done. The Mean Ones were injecting her with their Komodo dragon DNA to make her into a shifter. The pain was excruciating, but the headaches that began soon afterward were worse. Ajax is a human runaway that was captured and experimented on by The Chief and Oliver. They injected him with earth dragon and elf DNA, turning him into a dragon hybrid. When Emmi senses chaos around her, something inside of her begins tearing at her insides. The screeching in her head makes her head throb. Ajax is the only one who can calm the fury inside her. Emmi is terrified that something’s wrong with her. Doc Everett can’t figure out what she is. That is until one day when the danger becomes so great that the Phoenix rises, melding itself to Emmi in a dangerous display of fire that is stronger than any fire dragon’s. Can Ajax help Emmi to find herself? Can she accept that she is no longer human, having been chosen by the ancient Phoenix? And can she become one with her shifter spirit before the danger that threatens them all comes for them?

67 Chapters

The millionaire's secretary

Demetrio Laureti is the most sought-after millionaire in town. An arrogant, domineering and extremely handsome man, he is used to taking all the women he wants into his bed. When his secretary is fired, he immediately sends for a new one. Confident that they have hired the most beautiful of them all, he decides to make a bet with his best friend and conquer Evangelina Anderson, a woman of grotesque appearance, which is not at all to the taste of the Italian, but, however, manages to drive all his senses crazy. Will Demetrio be able to conquer his secretary? Will Eva be able to forgive Demetrio after this bet?

62 Chapters

Revenge Of The Scarred Billionairess

"Hideous" "Twisted" "Scarred" "Beastly" "Ugly" "Grotesque" "Horrifying." Darcy had heard all those words and more in her twenty three years of life, and she had even started to believe that she was nothing more than a worthless beast, cursed with a face that could induce nightmares. A fleeting hope comes in the form of a million dollar offer from a billionaire, but all too soon, she is reminded that there is no knight in shining armor for a woman like her. It's up to her to change her own fate and get her revenge on all those who abused her.

222 Chapters

Blood Lust A Vampire Clan Series

A dark romance, vividly grotesque, morally questionable, fate-defying, vampirically induced tale of happily ever after. With a little bit of dark humor, of course. ****** Tessa was one of the best assassins for hire, she lives for the thrill of the kill. The blood of her victims never tainted her subconscious. Until one day there was a threat to her life. She had three months to live. Tessa was doomed, she had tried everything and she knew she couldn't get out of her impending death. And what did Tessa do when she only had three months to live? She made a bucket list. She had been busy with her lust to kill that she didn't get to live a normal life, after all, she was a psychopath. Within weeks numbers were being crossed off from her list, from having tacos for breakfast, the morning after sex, and somewhere on the list was falling in love. Tessa wrote that as a joke, but deep down she wanted to feel it, she wanted to be able to love someone before she died. Fun fact: Psychopaths are almost incapable of truly loving another. Will Tessa manage to cross everything on her list? ***** The Angel of Death, that was what they called him. Nero Severus Xerxes was a vampire King who was among the oldest. Nero had taken lives, he had taken humans, vampires, and other supernatural beings. Yet none would challenge him. He was a possessive bastard, he was a ruler, a sadistic male who protects what was his. One day Nero was faced with the most beautiful woman with a strange view of death. She even had a bucket list. As a vampire King who had lived a thousand lives her careless attitude intrigued him. Will Nero fall for her?

58 Chapters

Before I Say I Do

My billionaire dad chooses a husband for me. People claim that Sebastian Lambert is a fine gentleman who's absolutely in awe of me. He seems easy enough to deal with, so I agree to the marriage. The wedding is held at the biggest hotel my family owns. On the big day, as I push open the doors in my wedding dress, a bucket of foul-smelling blood comes crashing down on me. The scene inside is even more horrifying. What was supposed to be a pure and romantic ceremony is now decorated with giant spiders and cockroaches. Grotesque clown faces grin at me from the walls. At the altar, there's a black coffin. Sebastian's adoptive sister, Ruth Lambert, strolls over with a group of people. She covers her mouth in fake surprise as she remarks, "Oh my, Claudia, you look like a pathetic mutt right now!" Laughter erupts around me. Holding my anger back, I coldly reply, "All of you, get out." She crosses her arms, arrogantly looking down at me as if she's on some pedestal. "Come on, Claudia. Seb personally asked me to surprise you. I put in a lot of effort to decorate your little wedding. You're telling me to get out? I don't even get a 'thank you'? Do you need me to teach you some manners?" She signals to the people next to her, and two of them step forward, trying to force me to my knees. Stunned for a few seconds, I pull out my phone and call Sebastian. "Is this the so-called surprise you had your sister prepare for me? Forcing me to kneel before her?"

7 Chapters

Fatal Perfume

Queenie Livingston, my best friend whom I have cared for over the years, gives me a bottle of perfume. I immediately turn around and pour its contents down the toilet. In my previous life, that perfume made me sprout hair all over my body and reek. I was shunned by my colleagues, and my then-boyfriend and superior, Preston Zimmerman, wasted no time in dumping me and hooking up with Queenie. I desperately sought medical treatment back then, but with nowhere left to turn, I died in utter agony and despair. Only after my death did I learn that the grotesque condition was caused by the perfume Queenie had maliciously tampered with. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the exact day Queenie gave me the perfume.

8 Chapters

Is Grotesque A Novel Or A Short Story Collection?

3 Answers2026-01-20 02:34:02

I picked up 'Grotesque' on a whim after seeing its eerie cover art in a used bookstore, and wow, what a ride. At first glance, I wasn’t sure if it was a novel or a collection of interconnected stories—it has this layered, almost fragmented structure that keeps you guessing. Turns out, it’s a full-length novel by Natsuo Kirino, but it feels like a mosaic because of how it weaves together multiple perspectives. The way it dives into the lives of two sisters, their twisted rivalry, and the murders tied to them is so immersive. Kirino’s style blurs lines between character studies and crime fiction, which might explain the confusion. It’s dark, psychological, and lingers in your head like a shadow.

What’s wild is how the book shifts tones—sometimes it reads like a confessional, other times like a detective’s notes. That fluidity makes it hard to pin down, but that’s part of its brilliance. If you enjoy works that challenge form, like 'The Vegetarian' by Han Kang, 'Grotesque' will hooked you. Just don’t expect a tidy resolution; this one’s all about the messy, haunting journey.

Why Is Grotesque Considered A Disturbing Novel?

3 Answers2026-01-20 12:21:56

Reading 'Grotesque' by Natsuo Kirino was like stepping into a shadowy alley where the air feels thick with unease. The novel’s brutality isn’t just in its graphic depictions of violence but in how it meticulously dissects the darkest corners of human psychology. Kirino doesn’t shy away from exploring themes like misogyny, societal alienation, and the commodification of women’s bodies, all through the lens of a cold, almost clinical narrative voice. What disturbed me most wasn’t the murders themselves but the way the characters’ inner monologues revealed a chilling acceptance of their own degradation. It’s as if the novel holds up a cracked mirror to society, forcing you to stare at the reflections you’d rather ignore.

The structure adds to the discomfort—shifting perspectives between the victims and the perpetrator, blurring the line between sympathy and revulsion. The protagonist’s sister, Yuriko, is particularly haunting; her beauty becomes a curse, and her fate feels inevitable in a world that reduces her to an object. Kirino’s writing is unflinching, refusing to offer catharsis or moral resolution. By the end, I felt complicit, as if the book’s grime had seeped under my skin. It’s a masterpiece, but one I’d hesitate to recommend without a content warning.

Where Can I Read Grotesque Online For Free?

3 Answers2026-01-20 03:26:56

I totally get wanting to dive into Natsuo Kirino's 'Grotesque'—it’s a gripping, dark masterpiece! While I’m all for supporting authors by buying their work, I know budgets can be tight. You might find excerpts or previews on sites like Google Books or Amazon’s 'Look Inside' feature, but full free reads of recent books are tricky legally. Some libraries offer digital loans via apps like Libby or OverDrive, which is how I first read it. Just input your library card, and boom—legal access.

If you’re into the gritty themes of 'Grotesque,' you might also enjoy Ryu Murakami’s 'Piercing' or 'Out.' They’re similarly intense and explore psychological depths. Honestly, hunting down physical copies at secondhand stores or library sales can be a thrill too—I found my battered copy of 'Grotesque' at a flea market, and it felt like fate.

What Is The Main Theme Of Grotesque By Natsuo Kirino?

3 Answers2026-01-20 06:52:51

The first thing that struck me about 'Grotesque' was how Kirino doesn’t just tell a story—she dissects the underbelly of societal expectations with a scalpel. The novel’s main theme revolves around the brutal pressures women face in conforming to beauty, success, and social norms, but it’s also about the grotesque distortions of identity that result. Yuriko and Kazue’s lives are like funhouse mirrors reflecting how society chews up and spits out women who don’t fit the mold. The way Kirino intertwines their fates with the unnamed narrator’s bitterness makes it feel like a slow-motion car crash you can’ look away from.

What’s even more chilling is how the book explores complicity. The narrator isn’t just an observer; her jealousy and passive aggression contribute to the tragedy. It’s not just about the violence of the outside world but the internal violence we do to ourselves and others. The prose is clinical yet dripping with venom, which makes the theme of dehumanization hit even harder. I finished it feeling like I needed to scrub my brain clean, but in the best way possible—like it left a stain.

Can I Download Grotesque As A PDF Legally?

3 Answers2026-01-20 07:24:27

Ah, 'Grotesque' by Natsuo Kirino is such a gripping read! I remember devouring it in a weekend, totally absorbed by its dark, psychological depth. Now, about finding it as a PDF—legally, that's tricky. Most of Kirino's works aren't freely available as PDFs due to copyright restrictions. Publishers like Vintage or Kodansha hold the rights, so the best legal route is purchasing an ebook through platforms like Amazon Kindle, Kobo, or Google Books. Some libraries might offer digital loans via OverDrive too.

I totally get the appeal of PDFs for convenience, but pirated copies floating around aren't just illegal; they also don't support the author. Kirino’s craftsmanship deserves that respect. If budget’s tight, secondhand physical copies or library waits are worth it—trust me, the book’s haunting brilliance justifies the effort.

How Does Grotesque Compare To Out By Natsuo Kirino?

3 Answers2026-01-20 18:05:54

Reading 'Grotesque' and 'Out' back-to-back was like diving into two different layers of the same dark, unsettling world. Natsuo Kirino has this uncanny ability to peel back the surface of ordinary lives to reveal the raw, often brutal truths underneath. 'Out' focuses more on the immediate aftermath of a crime, with its ensemble cast of women working the night shift at a bento factory. The tension is almost physical—you can feel the sweat, the exhaustion, the desperation. It's gritty and fast-paced, with a plot that hooks you like a thriller.

'Grotesque,' though, takes a slower, more psychological route. It's narrated by a bitter, unnamed woman who dissects the lives of her more 'successful' sister and a classmate, both of whom end up as sex workers murdered in Tokyo. The tone is colder, more analytical, almost like a clinical autopsy of envy and societal pressure. While 'Out' leaves you breathless, 'Grotesque' lingers, like a stain you can't scrub off. Both are masterpieces, but they hit in completely different ways.