Where Dreams are En2mbed: Abstraction (Martyr as Art Horror)
To begin, this book is actually a sequel. I went into it knowing this, but was told that it reads equally well as a standalone. It most definitely lived up to that!! I really enjoy authors who try to have series that can be standalones, as usually if a reader likes one or two out of a selection, they end up going back to read them all. I will be going back to read the first! The intro to this book does contain the very end of the first book, but I really don’t think that ruins it for me very much. In Where Dreams are En2mbed: Abstraction, Ember is an artist who’s been kicked out of art school, following an explosive breakdown of a toxic relationship, and she finds herself lonely, desperate to enjoy her craft and get her art into the world. She has very few people in her life, other than her grandmother, and best friend Julie. When Ember receives an email, promising an opportunity if she wins a competition she needs to attend, an offer she doesn’t refuse, it all starts to unravel further for her. All of the suffering throughout this book is in the name of “Art”.
“…stomach suddenly bulging, stretching the fabric of her blood-soaked shirt. Then, with a loud pop, the bloated stomach burst wide open. Flies the size of grapes emerged in a mighty swarm, blocking the light overhead with their swelling numbers. Ember heard the flies speaking to her, impossible as it was. The sound of their wings muffled their tiny voices, yet she could hear them whispering the same thing repeatedly.”
This read is very much one of those “when people are rich and can do whatever they want” situations. At first I thought it was going to be similar to a Hostel style, but the last few chapters were reminiscent of Martyrs (without the whole flaying alive thing). That idea of wealthy people, taking advantage of the lonely and desperate, pushing them to an ultimate limit and causing life changing mental states, is what Where Dreams are En2mbed: Abstraction is about. I enjoyed the constant tension and ominous feel, but it isn’t extremely gory, instead picking its moments and when it happens it hits. Ember suffers throughout this book, breaking her down mentally. The strange art the rich art collectors enjoy comes in both mental and physical form. Almost performance art to them. Chase Will has done a brilliant job at creating a story that keeps the reader hooked and also made me feel for the main character. She goes through so much in this book both at the hands of the art collectors, but also just from life itself. The addition of this kind of world that is within Ember’s mind, helping her to get through trauma, is really interesting. I’d love for this to be explored further perhaps in a future book. I think I’d definitely recommend reading the first, first, even though Where Dreams are En2mbed: Abstraction as a standalone, just because I assume it’s more backstory into this collective of people. This is well worth the read and I think if you love Hostel and Martyrs vibes you would definitely enjoy this book.
Written by Arianne, Sovereign Deity of the Damned
Where Dreams are En2mbed: Abstraction (2024)
Chase Will
Mental Anarchy Press
Cover Art: Don Noble
5 / 5
