Official Review: The Alter Prey by Frederick Mulae
Posted: 05 Sep 2020, 14:06
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Alter Prey" by Frederick Mulae.]
The Alter Prey by Frederick Mule is one of the most comprehensive books on split personalities I have ever read. The book is about a young man called Stuart Ryder, and his alter, Paolo. As a young boy, he experiences a traumatic accident which leads to the death of both his parents. In order to cope, he conjures Paolo who remains dominant until when he injures Father Flavin to escape the constant sexual abuse. Stuart takes over for twenty years until when using age regression on a patient one day, triggers the re-emergence of a bitter and angry Paolo. He wants to assert dominance over Stuart, who he blames for keeping him imprisoned. He is also angry over the vile acts of sexual abuse he suffered as a young boy. It is no surprise he wants revenge. Exuding childlike characteristics, he is intent on getting his way with a complete disregard for consequences. That is how he ends up committing murder, leaving Stuart with a huge problem: how to report the murder and not get convicted for the crime.
The author does a slow introduction to the story. He first introduces Stuart, a clinical psychologist specializing in psychotherapy, and those involved in his life. Before we get to the meat of the story, we have a good understanding of Stuart and can tell him apart from Paolo. This is one of the things I loved about the book.
Another thing was the coverage of child molestation, sodomy, and homosexual hate crime. I appreciate that the author brought awareness to such sensitive topics. Homosexuality was given prominence due to Paolo's past, as a survivor of sexual abuse. I wish the author had included Father Flavin and the housemistress in the story, so we could see them get punished for child molestation. In Zoltan's (Stuart's therapist) words, "any religious order or institution confessing to such heinous acts would find the social and legal repercussions destructive to their cause."
This is one of the biggest problems that sexual abuse victims face today. It is a shame that a place largely considered as holy, shelters perpetrators of such acts.
The only thing I disliked was some parts that seemed unnecessary. Chapter 30 for instance. Paolo's girlfriend Bailey, and her roommate, hold a conversation that spans the chapter. That it does not contribute to the plot in any way only lengthens the book unnecessarily.
I rate it 3 out of 4 stars because of the reasons above. The book was professionally edited as I found only one minor error. I recommend it to those who love subjects surrounding mental health and psychology. Since it contains profanities and graphic sexual content, I recommend it to an audience of above eighteen years, and to those who do not find graphic content unappealing.
******
The Alter Prey
View: on Bookshelves
The Alter Prey by Frederick Mule is one of the most comprehensive books on split personalities I have ever read. The book is about a young man called Stuart Ryder, and his alter, Paolo. As a young boy, he experiences a traumatic accident which leads to the death of both his parents. In order to cope, he conjures Paolo who remains dominant until when he injures Father Flavin to escape the constant sexual abuse. Stuart takes over for twenty years until when using age regression on a patient one day, triggers the re-emergence of a bitter and angry Paolo. He wants to assert dominance over Stuart, who he blames for keeping him imprisoned. He is also angry over the vile acts of sexual abuse he suffered as a young boy. It is no surprise he wants revenge. Exuding childlike characteristics, he is intent on getting his way with a complete disregard for consequences. That is how he ends up committing murder, leaving Stuart with a huge problem: how to report the murder and not get convicted for the crime.
The author does a slow introduction to the story. He first introduces Stuart, a clinical psychologist specializing in psychotherapy, and those involved in his life. Before we get to the meat of the story, we have a good understanding of Stuart and can tell him apart from Paolo. This is one of the things I loved about the book.
Another thing was the coverage of child molestation, sodomy, and homosexual hate crime. I appreciate that the author brought awareness to such sensitive topics. Homosexuality was given prominence due to Paolo's past, as a survivor of sexual abuse. I wish the author had included Father Flavin and the housemistress in the story, so we could see them get punished for child molestation. In Zoltan's (Stuart's therapist) words, "any religious order or institution confessing to such heinous acts would find the social and legal repercussions destructive to their cause."
This is one of the biggest problems that sexual abuse victims face today. It is a shame that a place largely considered as holy, shelters perpetrators of such acts.
The only thing I disliked was some parts that seemed unnecessary. Chapter 30 for instance. Paolo's girlfriend Bailey, and her roommate, hold a conversation that spans the chapter. That it does not contribute to the plot in any way only lengthens the book unnecessarily.
I rate it 3 out of 4 stars because of the reasons above. The book was professionally edited as I found only one minor error. I recommend it to those who love subjects surrounding mental health and psychology. Since it contains profanities and graphic sexual content, I recommend it to an audience of above eighteen years, and to those who do not find graphic content unappealing.
******
The Alter Prey
View: on Bookshelves
. And I know I'll love it 
.