I Read a Book: Open Wound

Well, seeing as how I’m trying to get more content up in 2024, let’s talk about another book I read, shall we? I appreciate that I only have good things to say, therefore making this format being a review questionable, but that’s because I don’t feel like devoting the time to writing about the real kippers out there (probably why you’ll never see my review for Ready Player One) and therefore only tend to write up my thoughts on books I’ve enjoyed and want to help spread the word about. Got it? Good!

So, a couple of admin points before we begin here. Open Wound is actually part two in the Requiem series, but I just had an impulse to dive in with part two (I’d just finished another book, this one had just been released and figured the author may appreciate an Amazon review based upon my musings!)

And who is the author? Well, it’s Shane Blackheart, who not only writes some very darkly fascinating stories but also has quite possibly the most badass name of all time. Shane is a non-binary trans masc writer who often posts about their life dealing with disability and facing the traumatic events of their life, as well as being a published writer. The Requiem series is based on their own experiences, filtered through a modern fantasy setting – but what the heck does this mean?

Well, I shall give you a rundown of the events of Open Wound, in a vague, non-spoliery kind of way. But it won’t include the events from Everything is Wonderful Now, as I haven’t read it yet. I know, it’s a bit of a weird way to do it… but there you go!

Open Wound follows Shaun, a trans man who lives a rather interesting life, sharing their home with a vampire, an angel and a troll. They have a fairly open relationship between them, and all work hard to keep Shaun safe and happy, hoping to protect them from dangerous thoughts and events that may trigger anxiety and panic attacks. While their supernatural friends do a good job for the most part, Shaun feels that they’re still struggling, even after dealing with a fallen angel and gaining some strength after the events of the prior book.

Enter Vexis, a demonic entity that has been mentally torturing Shaun from childhood and, so our protagonist suspects is behind the cause of a lot of their challenges as an adult. Events in the prior book led to Shaun and their own personal demon coming to something of a truce, and at the beginning of Open Wound Vexis approaches Shaun with a proposition – let the demon teach them how to face their fears down, conquering them through strength instead of hiding from the triggers that set off the attacks. What follows is these lessons, as Shaun reluctantly submits to Vexis’s tutelage and sets off on a terrifying, often violent journey of self-exploration.

Open Wound doesn’t have a villain in the traditional sense. There’s no moustache-twirling devil or evil assassins. The closest thing we have in this role is Vexis, Shaun’s very own demon. From the very off we witness Vexis threatening, mocking and berating Shaun, sticking the knife where anyone else would comfort and protect. This demon is cruel and sadistic but is never once dishonest with their intentions toward Shaun. This is the first thing I noticed, Vexis has a twisted sense of honour, and this only becomes more apparent as the two go further into Shaun’s mind, unwrapping their psyche in order to destroy the causes of their anguish one by one. By the end, we’ve learned the demon’s full story, and seen some of the best character-building I’ve read in a long time too.

Open Wound is a unique read, the tone is relentlessly dark throughout, as befitting the story and subject matter, and this is something that should be bore in mind as you pick up this book (Shane has listed any trigger warnings right at the start too, which is always a wise idea). Pain, death, torture and very sexual events are all contained within this story – but all are used well and nothing is gratuitous or unnecessary for the overall story.

If you like your fantasy dark and heavily based on real-life events then I can most certainly recommend this one, it’s well crafted, has a satisfying arc and isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty in telling a tale that will, I reckon, stay with you for a long time.