REVIEWS OF KNUCKLE SUPPER |
Knuckle Supper by Drew Stepek wins the GOLD MEDAL from the Independent Publishers Book Awards, making it officially the best indie horror novel of the year! This is an honor beyond our wildest expectations.
13. Horror
Gold: Knuckle Supper, by Drew Stepek (Alphar Publishing)
Silver: One Foot Wrong, by Sofie Laguna (Other Press)
Bronze: Dead Set: A Zombie Anthology, Edited by Michelle McCrary & Joe McKinney (23 House Publishing)
Click on the IPPY Logo on the right to view all the results
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"The book's breakneck pace, gruesome violence, and punk noir prose should endear it to genre fans, but it's RJ and Bait's desperate lunge toward salvation that make it Knuckle Supper such a memorable experience."
Famous Monsters Underground |
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"Combining the slick Hollywood decadence of a Bret Easton Ellis novel and the drug-addled realism of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, author Drew Stepek gleefully takes the piss out of the staid troupes of the genre by injecting LA's seedy underbelly with heroin-addicted vampires."
Trevor Tuminski / Rue Morgue Magazine
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| "Even though there are various types of exploitation involved in the lives/backgrounds of almost all the players in this blood fest, Stepek is masterful in enabling the reader to actually feel sorrow and empathy for a few of the characters (not only R.J. and Bait) and to see the human in the monsters and the monster in the humans. 3.5 out of 4."
Theresa Dillon / Fangoria Magazine
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"Violently graphic and unapologetic in style, this could be described as an allegory of the degeneration of the human soul."
Naila Scargill / Gorezone Magazine
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| "It’s a drug-fueled, modern-day vampire saga that reads like a bloodsucking sequel to 1979‘s The Warriors written by James Ellroy. And fans of hardcore horror fiction take blissful note: Stepek’s wicked prose can cut awfully deep."
Ryan Daley / Bloody Disgusting |
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| "The novel covers religious fanaticism, abortion, child prostitution, gang violence, drug addiction, and then wraps it in a loving layer of chocolate by letting vampires take responsibility for these things. And when you've finished the book, you'll end up feeling guilty, because the pen is a pistol, and it sure as hell wasn't aimed at vampires."
Ashley Harness / Vampires.com
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| "This thing actually has the potential to be somewhat of a cult classic and I'm sure a feature adaptation will be coming our way sooner or later. If I had to slap this one into a rating system I'd give it a 9 out of 10."
Jared Pacheco / JoBlo - Arrow in the Head
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| "From the graphic depictions of unmitigated violence to the off-screen gang-bang of an eleven-year-old prostitute, there's a lot in this book that makes the reader cringe."
Scott A. Johnson / Dread Central |
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| "Through the explicit and recalcitrant recitations of all manner of debauchery, the message that comes through to me is that this is a bad scene. In other words, the book doesn’t promote these activities. Rather, it displays them so you can read how bad things can be. More importantly, the writing style of Stepek is bright and fast and, yes, addictive."
Wayne Edwards / Horror World |
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If you are open to a new experience that digs deep into the world of despair and survival with characters who haunt you long after the book has been returned to the shelf, run—do not walk—to your nearest bookstore."
Brit / Bitten by Books
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"I would rank it as one of the best vampire novels I’ve seen, and it was easily one of the most shocking pieces of fiction I have encountered. The low expectations I had for it were blown out of the water, and I feel guilty for judging the book by its cover."
Thomas LeBeau / The Blood Sprayer |
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" The character of Bait shows how limited the choices of these kids are, as she chooses to hang out with ruthless, violent addicts versus being out on the street. Knuckle Supper was an engrossing read and a refreshing change from the norm of the genre.
Barbara Cothern / Portland Book Review |
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"You can grab this novel at a ton of places, and honestly - I suggest you do. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and am hard pressed to think of another book that affected me as much at this one did, in the past year.
Colum McKnight / Paperback Horror |
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| "Whether intentional or not, Stepek has taken vampirism to the other edge of the bell curve, sitting on the opposite end as far away from Twilight as he can and giving it the finger while he pukes in a trash can."
Mike Griffiths / Innsmouth Free Press |
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| "It’s an uncompromising look at street life, at the endless cycle of the predator versus prey, of dog eat dog, and at the destruction and wasted lives left behind; it’s also an equally uncompromising look at unbridled drug-dependency, child abuse, the blatant hypocrisy lying at the heart of both people and religious organisations, and wanton brutality as a way of life and expression."
Simon Marshall-Jones / Book Geeks |
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| "Overall, Drew Stepek’sKnuckle Supper is consistently entertaining enough to be sought out by readers who like their bloodsuckers a bit more down and dirty than the usual fare being offered these days."
Ray Wallace / Chiaroscuro |
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| "It is brutal in the detail of its characters' existence, outlining the violence of the streets and the pathetic existence of those who live in it with harshly brilliant colors."
Wark Worthen / FeoAmante.com |
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"If you took the brute killing force from the vampires in 30 Days of Night, mixed it with the heroin lifestyle of Sid and Nancy then threw it in the environment of The Warriors, added a pinch of the Catholic church, and wrapped it up in a package for humanity, you would have Knuckle Supper."
Jason Bayless / Zombie Popcorn |
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"Knuckle Supper is a game changer, to be sure, and this has got to be one of the most original vampire works ever created; with it, Stepek turns the entire vampire mythos on its head and fully slays the almost-dead,angst-ridden, sparkly vampire once and for all. "
James Gormley / Vampire Books Navigator |
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"Although Drew Stepek definitely carves his own niche in the paranormal word; succeeding in putting a sick, modern twist on the oft-depicted vampire — there’s definitely no danger of any of Stepek’s characters sparkling in the sun."
Renee C Fountain / Book Fetish |
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| "There will never be a voice claiming Mr. Stepek is devoid of detail. It is truly, undeniably, the nastiest first chapter of a book I have ever read."
Derwood Hunsdale-Talbot / The Written Word |
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| "The book is fantastically dirty. Not dirty as in sexy, but just grimy, filthy, gutsy gross. Stepek has a gift for describing society’s underbelly. Basically, Knuckle Supper has more fluids and shrapnel than a Gallagher show."
Josh Christie / Brews and Books
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"A hard-core, punk-infused, street life laced story that ushers the classic vampire story into a realistic, modern day setting. But don't let that fool you. This is not the watered-down, diluted Twilight crap that's being fed to the mass public."
Tiffany DuFoe / Cult Radio a Go Go |
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| "Stepek's take on vampires is the most innovative that I've seen in years. He took a creature that has grown tired and soft in today's media and made it harsh, powerful and interesting again."
James "Spez" Ferguson / Horrortalk |
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| "Dark, dirty, and excessively violent, Knuckle Supper is a repugnant tale of the consequences of life style choices blanketed in the macabre. RATING: A."
Chris Zimmerman / Comic Book Bin |
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| "Drew Stepek has created a memorable and moving addition to vampire lore that will not soon be forgotten... I give “Knuckle Supper” a well earned and deserving 9 of 10, and demand you go out and pick up a copy as soon as you can!"
The Liberal Dead
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"This is easily one of the most violent books I’ve read in years, and it delivers vampire fiction the swift kick in the ass it’s sorely needed for years."
Mike Snoonian / All Things Horror |
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"Knuckle Supper has a permanent place on my ‘keeper’ shelf. If you’re looking for the ‘anti-Twilight’, or a different kind of vampire novel, or just something fun and unique, grab a copy of Knuckle Supper."
Superheidi / Fangirltastic |
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| "Find the back alley that lurks behind your favorite bookstore and travel to its darkest end. Here, huddled and hooded you will find the lost and Drew Stepek’s Knuckle Supper will most surely be their meal of choice."
Hari Navarro / Hell Street Journal |
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"What begins as an outspoken, unglamorous story about street life and abuse turns into a condemnation of religious fundamentalism. Stepek doesn't hold back and the book is, at times, a dirty, violent read."
Dive Mistress / Zombots!
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"It has been called the anti-Twilight book. However, Drew Stepek’s Knuckle Supper is more than a simple rejection of the romanticized vampire. Indeed, it is a rejection of all things vanilla. Packed with violence, drugs, and anything revolting, this book will have you scrubbing your skin in the shower. "
Becky Sayers / The Horror Effect |
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| "After reading this gritty horror tale, I was eager to speak with the author about the inspiration behind this novel."
Lori Titus / Flashes in the Dark
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| "The ideas contained within the pages are put forth with all the
subtlety of a baseball bat to the face, and that’s what makes it a hell of a
read."
Josh Haney / Horror Punks |
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"A look at a violent existence, living off the streets and the bodies of helpless victims. Mix that with the sadness of child exploitation, and this becomes one of those stories that isn't easy to get out of your head."
Jeani Rector / The Horror Zine |
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| "It's enjoyable to flip the pages of a story that is caked in blood of a pimp or gang member and not have to deal with a flowery romantic view on vampires."
Nikki / Hey Look Behind You!
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| "If the desolate wasteland of A Clockwork Orange haunted you for years or decades, then Knuckle Supper is ready to pick up where Anthony Burgess left off."
Clayton Bye / The Deepening |
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| "...I couldn’t put the book down. I read whenever I had a chance. This book went from a bunch of drugged up vampires doing their thing to their whole world doing a 180 in a flash."
Jonny Taint / Punk Rock Review |
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| "Knuckle Supper is a dark portrayal of addiction and life outside of mainstream society. It is potentially and allegory of man’s own inhumanity and the dearth of justice for the denizens of the edges."
Jerry Actually / Upstarter! |
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"Nothing is left to the imagination in terms of describing viciousness; and ample opportunities are seized to throw in horror related laughs."
Sheila Merritt / Hellnotes |
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"I must warn readers that this novel doesn’t hold back, and while many fans of vampire fiction may be accustomed to the gruesome nature of such horror stories, they may not be used to the brutally honest inner city street life that is displayed upon these pages."
William Malmborg / Disturbing Tales
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| “Imagine The Basketball Diaries meets Sid and Nancy but with homicidal drug-dealing post-punk vampires in LA.”
It's Dark in the Dark |
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"Stepek's blistering, punk infused prose pumps life and heart into street denizens we usually hurriedly walk past and/or around. An audacious street epic with heat and grit so carefully crafted and realized, you'll want to take a shower."
Paul Zimmerman / Geek Monthly Magazine; Femme Fatales |
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“In some strange alternate reality, Iceberg Slim wrote a splatterpunk riff on Less than Zero and Knuckle Supper was the unholy spawn.”
Gabe Soria / Life Sucks |
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"Drew Stepek's Knuckle Supper hits you like a sucker punch to the gut. It's smart and downright sick which makes it an utterly engrossing read. Leave it to Stepek to create the anti-Twilight."
Mark A. Altman / Castle; The Unknowns; Elvis Van |
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"Drew Stepek is a splatterpunk Mickey Spillane, doling out rough justice to the creeps you'd meet on Hollywood Boulevard, and taking back the night one star at a time."
Paul Cullum / L.A. Weekly; Film Threat; Arthur |
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INTERVIEWS WITH DREW STEPEK |
"The book is tough going at times, making it a rarity in today's cleaned-up horror lit market; a beautiful ugly, and genuinely horrific horror novel about the many forms of vampirism."
Famous Monsters Underground |
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"Knuckle Supper brings horror back to the vampire genre. It tells the story of drug-addicted gangster vampires who tear a man to pieces in the first few pages of the book. It’s a blood-drenched story that reflects the darkness in the human soul."
Vampires.com |
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" We sat down (I should say we remained seated) and chat with Drew Stepek, author of Knuckle Supper and about his wonderful book and the great cause he supports by giving 10 percent of the proceeds of his book to the organization, Children of the Night."
Zombie Popcorn |
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"A hard-core, punk-infused, street life laced story that ushers the classic vampire story into a realistic, modern day setting. But don't let that fool you. This is not the watered-down, diluted Twilight crap that's being fed to the mass public."
Tiffany DuFoe / Cult Radio a Go Go |
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| When it rains it pours! As a special holiday treat, Count Vardulon and the Divemistress chat with hard-horror author Drew Stepek about his latest novel, Knuckle Supper.
The Avod |
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"Reinvention, reboot, rehash, re imagine - any number of the family of ‘re’ is evoked whenever a time-honored icon is again trundled out and subjected to print or screen. But in Knuckle Supper’s case none of the above really fully describe author Drew Stepek’s audacious decision to set up yet another vampire stall, within what is already a bustling and saturated marketplace."
Hari Navarro / Hell Street Journal |
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"This interview was performed by email roughly one week before the release of Stepek’s new novel Knuckle Supper, a graphic look into an urban squalor inhabited by drug addicted vampires."
Josh Haney/ World Horror Network
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" Drew Stepek’s new book, Knuckle Supper, explores an underworld where vampires are drug lords, using destitute teens as prostitutes and drug mules in Los Angeles. After reading this gritty horror tale, I was eager to speak with the author about the inspiration behind this novel. "
Lori Titus / Flashes in the Dark
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" I previously had the opportunity to review Knuckle Supper by Drew Stepek (the book with the R-rating) and discovered that it is virtually impossible to read this work and walk away unchanged. Guess what? “Talking” to the author – okay, so it was an e-mail interview – is much the same. Who knew? Here goes..."
Sylvia Cochran / Horror Fiction |
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Here is a some more information about the book, as well as some blurbs.
Los Angeles' drugs are run by the undead. When the LA heroin-addicted vampire and gang leader named RJ reluctantly takes in a twelve year-old prostitute called Bait, humanity is introduced to his otherwise lifeless existence. An unforgiving, vicious and realistic horror story, Knuckle Supper explores chemical dependency, inner-city brutality, religion, molestation, abortion and the very nature of evil itself.
“In some strange alternate reality, Iceberg Slim wrote a splatterpunk riff on Less than Zero and Knuckle Supper was the unholy spawn.” Gabe Soria / Author - Life Sucks
"Stepek's blistering, punk infused prose pumps life and heart into street denizens we usually hurriedly walk past and/or around. An audacious street epic with heat and grit so carefully crafted and realized, you'll want to take a shower." Paul Zimmerman / Geek Monthly Magazine; Femme Fatales
"They say write what you know. God, I hope not. This junkie vampire street-addled epic weighs in at only ounces less than Anna Karennina, and would no doubt rewrite the part where she goes under the train in sickening, bone-vaporizing detail. Drew Stepek is a splatterpunk Mickey Spillane, doling out rough justice to the creeps you'd meet on Hollywood Boulevard, and taking back the night one star at a time. He learned to write like this at Larry Flynt's Film Threat, and it shows: If there's such a thing as geek vigilante porn, this is it. You wouldn't know it, but there are many of us who've come up the same path, and like Knuckle Supper's damaged avenger, we're out there watching you. Do better -- or else." Paul Cullum / L.A. Weekly; Film Threat; Arthur
