Vanity Kills Audiobook By Erica Summers cover art

Vanity Kills

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Vanity Kills

By: Erica Summers
Narrated by: Jake Blagburn
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Haunted by his tragic past, Jack LeBlanc, a heavily scarred introvert, finds himself volunteering for the clinical trial of a miraculous new tissue-regeneration drug nicknamed Obsidian. Jack and the other test subjects soon discover that the medication is not what was promised. They’re about to find out the hard way that the pills have nightmarish consequences and that Jack’s pained conscience isn’t the only thing with teeth.

With every pill taken, one thing becomes more clear: the path to perfection will be paved with gore. From the author behind Bad God's Tower, Writhe, and Mantis comes a truly unsettling, Cronenberg-style body horror novel that will make your skin crawl and have you questioning every pill you take.

©2023 Erica Summers (P)2024 Erica Summers Horror

Critic reviews

"Definitely one of my favorite reads this year!" - Justin Boote, author of They Are All Monsters

"Summers drops you right into the story and refuses to let you look away." - Mia Coppola Faller, author of Buried Women Speak

"Vanity Kills is creative, terrifying, and beautifully written." - Nat Whiston, author of Feel Her Pain.
Gripping Horror Story • Unique Horror Depiction • Excellent Narration • Descriptive Brutal Scenes • Fascinating Body Horror
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Listener received this title free

Story was good, a little slow to start but got interesting pretty fast. Didn't care for the narrorator at first but he grew on me as the story went on.

Vanity Kills

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Listener received this title free

The author is a good storyteller. I was able to picture each scene with ease. This thriller had me cringing in several spots. I was kept guessing until the end. If you love horror books, then this is a wonderful thriller to read or listen to. Jack lost his wife in a horrific car accident when he swerved so he would not hit a dog and hit a tree. His wife was killed on impact, and he was trapped in the car on fire. He had multiple third degree burns and masses scars. He is entered into a drug trial for a medication that can reverse damage to the body, including burn scars. This drug trial will change everyone's life. The only question is, will the participants make it out alive. After listening to this story it made me look at drug trials differently.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Drug trials can change your life

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Listener received this title free

Would you undergo a completely experimental test to possibly remove any scars or ailments, even if you are completely unsure of any side effects?

In Vanity Kills, seven people said yes, yes they would. From a model with an appendectomy scar, to a paralyzed man, to a woman with a vicious scar from a hideous attack, they all agreed to be Dr. Walsh's guinea pigs. They would be paid handsomely to live in a test center for three weeks while they are given a new drug called Obsidian, a pill that comes with the promise of getting rid of any old scars and ailments.

Jack is riddled with burns from a car accident years back that killed his wife (in a rather... interesting death scene). He is extremely self conscious of these, and has found life very difficult in the time after recovery. He is desperate to get rid of them, even after seeing who was behind the study.

Does the treatment work? And if it does, at what cost?

The characterization is STRONG in Vanity Kills. It's a slow burn that doesn't really feel like one. Once you get to the true meat of the book, it's brutal and it's descriptive, and you can really see everything well in your head. And the last third of the book really hits hard when everything finally comes together.

The narrator did a fantastic job.

If you're looking for a disturbing and fascinating look into body horror, this is the book for you.

What would you do?

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Listener received this title free

Vanity Kills is an impressive read that mixes medical and body horror while diving into big themes like identity, self-acceptance, and the pressure society puts on us about beauty. The story follows a clinical trial for a mysterious drug that promises to fix physical issues like scars and broken bones, plus help with body dysmorphia. But as things progress, it becomes clear that the drug has some really dark secrets, leading to unsettling changes in the participants and some shocking events that turn their lives upside down.
Summers creates a gripping horror story that pulls readers in, skillfully showcasing characters grappling with their insecurities and desires. Each character feels genuine and multi-dimensional, helping readers really connect with their struggles and quests for authenticity.

Vanity does Kill

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Listener received this title free

The book was amazing. A little pill can do almost anything thanks due to modern science. A new pill on the market is to get rid of scars. Well, be careful the remedy is not worse than the original affliction. Excellent job writing the story. Excellent narration. I would love to read more by this author. I received a free copy of the audiobook, and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Medical Marvel?

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Listener received this title free

This took me awhile to get into but once I did I couldn’t stop listening. Really colorful descriptions and skillful writing. Interesting plot line about a drug study.
The voice actor did a great job distinguishing each of the characters and the female voices don’t sound annoying (like can sometimes sound when they try to do the opposite sex.).

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Slow start turned into a sizzle!

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Loved the narration of Jake Blagburn, who brings out suspense and thrills

Jack is suffering from flashbacks from a accident four years earlier. The accident left him severely disfigured. Jack is struggling with the way he looks. He is was once a handsome, popular and confident man. When offered a chance with a clinical trial for a new drug, he grabs it with eager hands.
At the trail he meets Iris a kindred spirit in Iris. They become close.
When Jack meets the Doctor in charge of the trials for the first time, he knows the familiar face, his guilt and the thought of truly being cured, makes him stay and continue on.

Mick is part of the trial, he's wheelchair bound and also hoping to be healed. He is also Jack's friend. Mick believes some people are being given a placebo. So he decides to take matters into his own hands, the pills get into the wrong hands.
Everyone seems to be healing though, Jack seems to be getting worse. His nightmares are getting worse too, more real.

This book will have on your toes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

vanity

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Listener received this title free

This was my first Erica Summers's book. This is a captivating Medical thriller, filled with intrigue and twists and turns. Some parts of the story are intense. Jake Blagburn did a great job bringing this story to life. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Intense and Captivating!

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Enjoyable story line with well written characters. Mick was my favorite. Don't mix your meds lady's and gent's.

Well written story

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Listener received this title free

This story follows a group of people testing a miracle drug that heals all injuries and scars. If that sounds too good to be true, that’s because it probably is.

I really enjoyed this one. The narrator read a little fast, sometimes blending multiple sentences together but it was still easy to follow along.

How far would you go to fix your “flaws”

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