I stumbled upon 'Rhinos' during a weekend bookstore crawl, and its cover—this stark, almost surreal illustration of a rhinoceros mid-charge—immediately hooked me. The story unfolds in this claustrophobic, bureaucratic nightmare where people transform into rhinos one by one, and the protagonist, Berenger, is left grappling with his own humanity. It’s absurdist theatre at its finest, but what struck me was how eerily relevant it feels today. The way it tackles conformity, mob mentality, and the slow erosion of individuality is chilling. I found myself putting the book down just to sit with some of the lines, like when Berenger whispers, 'I’ll take on the whole of them!'—it’s raw, desperate, and weirdly inspiring.
That said, if you’re not into allegorical heavy lifting or prefer narratives with clear-cut resolutions, 'Rhinos' might frustrate you. It’s deliberately chaotic, and the ending leaves you hanging in this unresolved tension. But for me, that’s the brilliance of it. I’ve revisited it twice now, and each time I notice new layers—how the dialogue mirrors modern political rhetoric, or how the 'rhinoceritis' spreads like a viral trend. It’s a short read, but it lingers like a fever dream.
I lent my copy of 'Rhinos' to a friend last year, and she texted me at 2 AM saying, 'What the hell did you just make me read?' in the best way possible. The play’s genius lies in its simplicity—a town where people turn into rhinos, no elaborate explanations, just this creeping dread. I adore how Ionesco doesn’t spoon-feed you; the absurdity is the point. The first time I read it, I laughed at the sheer ridiculousness of the premise, but by Act Two, that laughter turned into this uncomfortable knot in my stomach. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion, except the train is society and you’re yelling at the characters to STOP JOINING THE HERD.
What’s wild is how adaptable it feels. I’ve seen productions set in corporate offices, high schools, even social media—the core theme of losing yourself to the crowd transcends time. If you’re into thought experiments or love dissecting metaphors, 'Rhinos' is a goldmine. Just don’t expect cozy bedtime reading; this one’s more of a 'stay-up-until-dawn-debating-existentialism' kind of book.
Ever had one of those stories that gnaws at your brain for weeks? 'Rhinos' did that to me. It’s not just a play—it’s a mirror held up to how easily people shed their morals to fit in. I read it during a phase where I was obsessed with dystopian lit, and it stood out because it’s not about some far-off future; it’s about now. The dialogue is punchy, almost frantic, which makes the pacing addictive. There’s a scene where a character rationalizes becoming a rhino with this twisted logic that’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying—I still quote it to my friends when they jump on bandwagons.
Critics call it a masterpiece of the Theatre of the Absurd, but honestly? It’s just a damn good story. Compact, intense, and packed with moments that make you go, '…wait, am I the rhino?'
2026-03-30 17:33:12
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Noah, an Omega's story
Abigail Phillips
9.9
131.4K
This is the prequel to, A Broken Alpha series.
Noah, a frightened little Omega who was kept in a small dark room, tortured, , and abused, since the age of eight by his Alpha…That is until he was finally rescued at the age of 11. Noah is terrified of everyone, especially Alpha's.
What happens when Noah grows up, and discovers his mate is the one thing he's terrified of the most, an Alpha. Will he be able to get over his fears, and accept the Alpha. What happens when he is forced to live with him.
**Warning, bxb, Omegaverse**
Noah, everyone's favorite feisty little white haired Omega from "A broken Alpha" series.
Watch how Noah goes from this frightened abused 11-year-old, to the feisty and strong white hair Omega that everyone knows and loves.
Series in order,
5) Noah, an Omega's story - Prequel
1) A Broken Alpha
2) Alpha Reid and the Hybrids
3) Maddox, the Broken Alpha
4) River Pack and the Vampires
***Warning, this book contains , abuse and torture. Graphic scenes, bxb, bxbxb, bxgxb bxb, Omegaverse, male pregnancy.***
On campus, Emily was surrounded by several girls. Each of them slapped Emily's face and insulted her with dirty words. Emily wanted to stand up and fight back, but her arm was stomped heavily on the ground by one of them. There were many people around who walked indifferently, as if they were no longer shocked by this scene. The second girl kicked Emily's face, "Omega is the lowest level of trash, you should have died long ago..." Suddenly their phones rang, and one of them exclaimed, "The four Alphas are having a party! They actually came back home!..." They all picked up their phones to read the text messages, "I received an invitation to the party..." "I received it too!"... They kicked Emily a few more times and cursed a few times before leaving, leaving Emily alone. Emily got up from the ground tremblingly. She picked up her phone a few meters away. Emily found that there were more than a dozen missed calls from Luna. She suddenly panicked and called back nervously. Luna's voice pierced her eardrums, "Where did you die? The four Alphas and the guests are all at home now. Come back here quickly..." Emily was stunned for a moment after hearing the words of the four Alphas, I felt even more panicked.
The Scions rule the world now.
Born of celestial light, they turned on their creators and claimed the earth for themselves. But their victory came at a cost—every daughter of their kind has withered into dust, and extinction looms.
So they hunt human women to survive.
Anwen has always been fragile.
Sickly. Ordinary.
She was meant to be hidden away in a sanctuary, safe from the monsters who would claim her.
Instead, she’s taken by three of the most feared shifters alive.
A Dragon, cold and untouchable.
A Lycan, lethal and always too close.
A Minotaur, silent and watching—like she’s a puzzle he intends to solve.
They expect her to die like the others.
Another delicate human who won’t survive the bond.
But Anwen doesn’t break.
She burns.
And the longer she remains in their fortress, the more their control begins to unravel. Their magic bends toward her. Their instincts sharpen. Their possessiveness turns feral.
Others want her.
Their High King demands her.
But these three won’t give her up.
Because the fragile human they stole?
She might be the most dangerous creature in their world.
And they’re done pretending she isn’t theirs.
Trapped by her own family, betrayed by her pack, and branded a traitor, Nova Lawrence’s only hope is to survive until her eighteenth birthday—when her wolf will awaken and she can finally run. But when a cruel twist lands her in a nightmarish asylum, Nova’s world shatters. Tortured and alone, she discovers a hidden strength: a wolf gifted early by the Moon Goddess, and a destiny far greater than she ever imagined.
Rescued by the boy she once loved—and the royal brothers she never knew—Nova is thrust into a world of power, secrets, and ancient conspiracies. As she fights to heal and reclaim her life, Nova must unravel the truth behind her kidnapping, confront the darkness at the heart of werewolf society, and decide who she can trust with her heart.
But when the mate bond she thought was lost proves unbreakable, and a sinister plot threatens the kingdom’s future, Nova faces her greatest challenge yet. Can she rise from the ashes of her past to become the leader—and the legend—she was born to be?
A story of survival, found family, and the courage to fight for justice, "Nova" is a gripping fantasy of resilience, romance, and hope.
Numbers is everything here in New Gloria-- and the World. Once your Reborn and earn your class and system, those numbers that measure your abilities mean your life....or your death. Many Heroes lay down their lives in pursuit of fame and power while exploring the Tangent's. But the main goal is to stop the creatures from within the Tangents from coming out and further Terra-forming the Earth, as well as combating the Bosses of the Tangent's who seem to have their own ulterior motives.
Somewhere within the vast green forests of western New Gloria, a boy named Claude Grey learns pretty fast that most people in power do everything they can to stay that way, even if that means stepping on the throats of the ones they hold dear. Claude's only ever liked a few humans and as he gets older he learns new ways to hate them. Hate that is cultivated during his exploration of the Tangent's where he stumbles upon a strange and beautiful transformative power that helps to show him how truly horrible humans are and maybe these beasts of the Tangent's arent what the Heroes make them out to be...
***
Cover art does not belong to me so if the original creator happens to stumble upon my novel and would like credit or for me to take it down please let me know.
The Alpha's pup is an Omega!After being bought his place into Golden Lake University; an institution with a facade of utmost peace, and equality, and perfection, Harold Girard falls from one calamity to another, and yet another, and the sequel continues. With the help of his roommate, a vampire, and a ridiculous-looking, socially gawky, but very clever witch, they exploit the flanks of the inflexible rules to keep their spots as students of the institution.The school's annual competition, 'Vestige of the aptest', is coming up, too, as always with its usual thrill, but for those who can see beyond the surface level, it's nothing like the previous years'. Secrets; shocking, scandalous, revolting and abominable ones begin to crawl out of their gloomy shells.And that is just a cap of the iceberg as the Alpha's second-chance mate watches from the sideline like an hawk, waiting to strike the Omega! NB: Before you read this book, know that your reading experience might be spoiled forever as it'll be almost impossible to find a book more thrilling, and mystifying, with drops here and there of magic and suspense.
Ever since I stumbled upon Eugène Ionesco's 'Rhinoceros' in a dusty secondhand bookstore, it's lingered in my mind like a half-remembered dream. The absurdity of townspeople transforming into rhinoceroses isn't just bizarre—it's a razor-sharp metaphor for conformity and fascism that feels uncomfortably relevant today. The dialogue crackles with dark humor, especially in scenes where characters rationalize their transformations with disturbingly familiar logic.
What really hooked me was how Ionesco balances existential dread with slapstick. The protagonist's final, lonely resistance against the herd mentality hits differently after living through modern social media mobs. The companion plays in this collection, like 'The Leader' and 'The Future is in Eggs,' showcase his talent for turning mundane conversations into surreal nightmares. If you enjoy theater that makes you laugh while punching your gut, this collection's a must-read.
Ever since I stumbled upon 'Rhinoceros: A Play in Three Acts' in a dusty secondhand bookstore, it’s lingered in my mind like a peculiar dream. Eugene Ionesco’s absurdist masterpiece isn’t just a play—it’s a visceral experience. The way ordinary townspeople transform into rhinoceroses, one by one, feels eerily relevant today, mirroring how conformity spreads like a contagion. The dialogue crackles with dark humor, and the surreal imagery sticks with you long after the final act. I found myself rereading passages just to savor the irony. If you enjoy works that challenge societal norms with a blend of wit and nightmare fuel, this is a must-read.
What surprised me most was how personal it felt. Ionesco doesn’t spoon-feed metaphors; he lets you wrestle with them. The protagonist, Berenger, starts as an everyman but becomes a quiet rebel against the herd mentality. It made me question my own moments of passive acceptance. Plus, the play’s brevity works in its favor—it’s dense but never draggy. Pair it with 'The Trial' by Kafka or '1984' for a thematic marathon, and you’ll see why absurdism still punches hard.
Raptor' is one of those books that sneaks up on you—I picked it up on a whim, expecting a standard thriller, but it turned into this wild ride blending historical intrigue with visceral action. The protagonist’s moral ambiguity hooked me immediately; he’s not your typical hero, and that unpredictability kept me flipping pages way past midnight. The prose is gritty but poetic, especially in scenes where the medieval setting clashes with the protagonist’s brutal pragmatism.
What surprised me most was how the author wove philosophy into the violence. There’s a chapter where the main character debates fate while literally covered in blood—it’s messed up but weirdly profound. If you’re into dark, character-driven stories that don’t shy away from messy ethics, this’ll stick with you long after the last page.