*Originally reviewed at IndieMuse* https://www.myindiemuse.com/author/mo...FEARLESS!Aron Beauregard’s DARK ASSEMBLY brings together six short stories of absolute depravity. This is one of those books you should judge by the cover – if it doesn’t appeal to you, you can go back to start and not collect $200…you won’t be able to handle it.And, if you are unfamiliar with this author, there are illustrations.The six stories are:•The Baptism – the tamest of the lot, but in no way weak. How paranoid were you before your child was born?•Population Control – well, if you’ve ever signed a waiver, you’ll know just about anything can happen to you. Especially if the word ‘experiment’ features in there.•Rotten Eggs – those damn kids on Halloween…•Some Girl – okay, so this is the story you read your child when you want to make sure they practice safe sex and stay away from drugs.•The Procurement of Purity – Well, your first should always be special, so wait for someone special, hmm-kay…•Last Days in Honduras – pushing the boundaries…Beauregard is a gifted author and his stories are very well written. The thing that makes him stand out so much – in my opinion – is his willingness to push the boundaries. There are a lot of ‘violence for the sake of violence’ stories in the Splatterpunk genre, but he actually has a story to tell, and he goes places most authors would be too scared to explore.Most people of my generation, and those younger than us, grew up on the Hollywood version of life. Many are led to believe that a hero will always sweep in at the last second to save you from whatever ills await. It’s a lie.Bad things happen to good people – all the time. To sugarcoat reality, to soften the blows of the harsh truths which might await us, to use the trusted ‘I want to scare you, but not too much’ is nothing but bullshit.Murder, death and violence is never pretty. Those who cause it does not deserve the mercies many want to afford them – because they are human too. If you saw the things they did – and not just the aftermath (usually softened for your own protection) – you might feel very different about it.So, Aron goes all out and I respect the hell out of him for it. The last story – LAST DAYS IN HONDURAS – is harsh, brutal, sick, twisted and depraved. So much so that I even started wondering if he was going too far. But, again, there was a story to tell; and I don’t know of anybody who could have done it better.Finally – the word ‘Splatterpunk’ should be enough of a trigger warning for readers. However, I need to mention that there is animal cruelty in the third story – ROTTEN EGGS – so skip that one if you can’t handle it. I will also say that it was essential for the story, so I can’t take anything away from it. The other five stories are good enough for the investment, though, if you are on the fence about it.Do you dare...?(4.5 stars)