Do you like dystopian stories? Do you like psychological mindfuckery? If yes, then strap in because this one is for you. The synopsis about this book, Alter Arlo by Nordika Night, is going to brief and annoyingly vague because the best way to experience it is to go in completely blind. However, here’s what I can tell you without giving away too much.

When we come into this story, we learn that there’s been an uprising against the US government and, as a result, citizens are now living in a lawless, dystopian world ruled by the corrupted leaders of three rival communities. We meet Cadoc and Zade, who we know are enemies, but it takes time for us to learn why. We do know that they lead two gangs within one of the communities, Genesis, and are forced to work together to war against the other two communities. The other facts that get us going are the fact that a girl has recently been captured, presumed dead, and to be wary a boogyman-type character named Arlo.

I really liked the pacing of this book. Nordika takes her time unraveling the tangled web of unknowns that tie the story together. She trusts her reader to pick up a subtle details here are there. I especially like how she paints this mystery character, who follows Cadoc around like a wraith, leaving him riddles written on cigarettes and speaking almost in verse. At one point, I questioned whether the man was real, as if Cadoc was imagining him or that this book was paranomal or something. See, this character has painted his skin to look like a skeleton, so we don’t actually see him as a human, which adds to question of who he is and why is he following Cadoc around. But just you wait. We do eventually find out and it’s glorious.

Listen, this is a spooky, dark, and, honestly, fucked up book, but I hooked it directly up to my vein as I do for all of Nordika Night’s works. I say this only because these adjectives don’t always feed readers’ souls, so I want to warn you right now to turn back if this isn’t for you. If it is, you will be delighted by the multi-POV unfolding of a story that meshes thriller and MM roman…well…not really romance, but maybe infatuation? Obsession? Have you read Haunting Adeline by HD Carlton? Or maybe God of Malice by Rina Kent? You have to challenge your definition of love when you read these books because the MMCs, by nature, cannot love in the traditional sense. However, if you think about it, what is love, but a connection to another person that you cannot seem to shake, no matter what happens. Smells a lot like obsession to me, don’t you think? You know, just without all of the sappy parts.

Nordika’s range is seriously impressive. There’s only one series that I haven’t read so far, which I know I’ll get to at some point. But other than that, I’ve gobbled up everything else in her back catalog. She doesn’t shy away from stories that depict people being stripped down to their core, whether it’s due to being dealt a shitty hand in life or coming to terms with their true selves without the safe facade. And, uh, Nordika, if you’re listening, you officially managed to unlock a few things I didn’t know about myself…uh…before. So, thanks for that. If you’re interested in reading Alter Arlo or any other of her books, you check out her website here. If you do read this book, please please let me know, so we can freak out together about it.