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Reviewed by Chad Richins for Readers' Favorite
In Unnatural, Lori R. Lopez takes readers on a dark and surreal journey with Darius Exavier, a thin man searching for purpose after the sideshow carnival he called home shuts down. Stumbling across a rural farm, Darius meets Doctor Bloom, a seemingly benevolent physician who offers him a job. However, the doctor’s barn hides sinister secrets: bizarre, unnatural experiments that blend animals, plants, and humans into grotesque hybrids. The centerpiece of these creations is Athena, a massive, sentient plant-like creature with an insatiable hunger for human flesh. Ensnared by a mysterious potion from Athena, Darius becomes a reluctant procurer of victims to feed the monster. The story explores Darius’s internal battle as he seeks redemption, culminating in a dramatic confrontation with the doctor and his monstrous creations.
Unnatural is creative in the way it blends horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy elements. The premise of a sideshow performer being caught in the world of mad science was refreshingly unique, and the hybrid creatures were described with unsettling detail that heightened the atmosphere. The pacing kept me engaged, balancing eerie tension with bursts of action, particularly in the intense climax. Darius’s journey to rediscover a sense of belonging was a highlight, as it added emotional depth to the story. Lori R. Lopez cleverly wove themes like the dangers of scientific hubris and the resilience of nature into the plot, offering readers food for thought alongside the chills. Identity, belonging, and the moral cost of survival are also woven into this eerie and inventive tale. The vivid descriptions of Athena and the experiments also stood out, making the horror feel tangible without being overly grotesque.
