Well, that was suitably creepy, but also extremely well written. Talk about being undercover in more sense than one. I wouldn't haveStars: 5 out of 5.
Well, that was suitably creepy, but also extremely well written. Talk about being undercover in more sense than one. I wouldn't have guessed the reveal at the end. I just thought that Starr was worried that her cover would be blown.
And the glimpses of the world we get in this short story are really good too. I wish Tamsyn Muir would revisit this world in other stories, because now I want to know more. I want to know where the ghouls come from and what the difference is between a dry one and a wet one, and why are the big cities in this world on chain tracks and rolling around a desert....more
I come to the conclusion that I don't like how this author writes her protagonists. I had that problem with her previous book, andStars: 2.5 out of 5.
I come to the conclusion that I don't like how this author writes her protagonists. I had that problem with her previous book, and it's even worse in this one. Ophelia is a horrible person, at least in my opinion, and instead of punishing her for her shortcomings and making her grow up and become a better human being, the author rewards her for them.
I mean who you have a protagonist that LIED about her past to get the job she has now. Mind you, this job is to help people suffering from a psychological condition that can make them violent and delusional. Moreover, this is a condition Ophelia is very familiar with because her father had it... yes, that's the part she lied about. Oh, and she also has PTSD from her experience with things her father did, and a plethora of other psychological issues herself, yet she thinks she can be objective enough to help others with this? I mean how self-absorbed do you have to be to think that this is okay?
Also, no professional board in their right mind would ever authorize something like that, so no wonder she had to lie about her identity. Oh, and use the influence and money of the family she despises so much just to get what she wants. So it's okay to disparage your relatives and pretend that you are better than them, but still use their name when it suits you... okay then.
Not only that, but Ophelia also accepts a posting that will put her in the precise situation that will trigger her PTSD. She know is, in fact, she mentions is a few times... yet she fights tooth and nail to still get that position. I mean is that supposed to endear her to me? If this protagonist spent even a moment thinking about anyone other than herself, she would realize that she is the LAST person that needs to go on this mission. That by going she is putting everyone else in danger. She is supposed to provide psychological counseling and stability to the crew put under difficult conditions. How is she supposed to do that when she has several psychological breakdowns just being in an abandoned space station? But no, that thought doesn't even cross her mind.
And, as I mentioned before, the author thinks this is perfectly normal and in fact brave of Ophelia to do that. She is rewarded for being this reckless and selfish at every turn. She is saved from though situations by plot armor and deus ex machina solutions.
That's the other issue I have with this book - the ending is extremely underwhelming, just like the previous book by her, Dead Silence, has been. We get this huge buildup with so many mysteries and horrors... and it all circles back to the evil corporation will be evil trope.. that we already saw in the previous book as well. This is getting old, and it cheapens the plot, in my opinion.
As for the supporting characters, there is really nothing much to say about them. They are more a collection of stereotypes than realized individuals. We have the gruff team leader with a hidden heart of gold who will become the protagonist's possible love interest. Then we have the rude macho dude that hates her from the get go (for good reasons, mind you). And another male character that might as well be a non-entity. As for females, we have the b76chy female that will turn out to be evil, and a sweet young innocent girl that everybody wants to protect. Actually, if you look at the cast of characters in this book and compare it to the characters in Dead Silence, they are identical. Only the names changed.
I think I'm done with this author. Their stories sound so great when you read the blurb, and the covers are top notch, but the execution is sorely lacking, at least in my opinion.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of my favorite Stephen King stories. Probably because it's not full on horror. In fact, the unease creeps in progressiStars: 4.5 out of 5.
This is one of my favorite Stephen King stories. Probably because it's not full on horror. In fact, the unease creeps in progressively as the story unfolds.
For the most part, it's the story of a woman grieving the death of her husband, who happens to be a famous horror writer. She had sacrificed her life and her own professional aspirations to support his career, and she feels lost and adrift now, unsure of her own identity.
She also feels lonely and lost, and tries to remember the stories her husband had told her about this strange place that is and isn't like ours, with its own rules and wonders, but also horrors. And all the mysterious rules their family had to follow to keep that place from invading their life.
I thought that Lisey was a wonderful character, but vulnerable and strong in her own way. I loved her slowly discovering her own strength and her own purpose, and triumphing over the bad guys in the end....more
I was fully onboard with this book for the first 50% or so of the story. Granted, one of the main characters was too stupid to exiStars: 2.5 out of 5.
I was fully onboard with this book for the first 50% or so of the story. Granted, one of the main characters was too stupid to exist, and some of her choices were that of a braindead child. But the story moved along at a good pace, things were happening, there was a big mystery about, so was happy to overlook an annoying character or two. But then the book kept going... and going... and going with no end in sight. Episodes started repeating themselves without bringing anything new to the story, and I was quickly losing interest.
As I had mentioned, the characterizations in this book are... rather lacking. And forget about character growth. I think the only character that has any is Rapscallion, and he is a sentient robot. Which tells you everything you need to know about the other characters. So if you are looking for a character driven story, move along. This ain't for you.
But the mystery of what the heck is happening around Paradise-1 and why all ships sent there stop responding was compelling enough to have me turning the pages for about half of the book. And I admit that the idea of an alien contract that can invade our minds by planting a destructive idea is rather horrifying, because our bodies have no defense against a virus that isn't biological in nature. I also really wanted to discover what was on Paradise-1 that needed to be guarded so fiercely, and why was it worth so many human lives and so many ships to try and get it.
Unfortunately, this book is at least 300 pages too long, so the story started repeating itself. We get to yet another ship that's infected with different version of the Basilisk. We encounter yet another crazy AI and see the horrors that happened to the human crew. We don't learn anything that we didn't know by reading the first half of the book. The characters flee the ship, or are saved, or take the ship over... then the action switches to yet another encounter with another infected ship.
Honestly, I think the story should have ended after their attempt to run the blockade to land on the planet. The 200 pages after that were just filler, with a few exception, like actually encountering the Basilisk, and even that could have been incorporated into the story differently.
Oh, did I mention that the book ends on a cliffhanger? No? Well, it does. 700 + pages end with no emotional payoff whatsoever. We still don't know what happened on Paradise-1 and why it was so important to get there. The story ends mid-action. I guess the reader would have to pick up the next book in the series to find out what happened to the colony on Paradise-1, but guess what?
I won't be along for the ride. I am not willing to sit through another overlong book and follow annoying characters just to find out that the story isn't finished and there is another cliffhanger. No thanks, I'm out.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was excellent until about 3/4 through the book. I honestly thought this would be a solid 5 start book, but then the ending ruinStars: 3 out of 5.
This was excellent until about 3/4 through the book. I honestly thought this would be a solid 5 start book, but then the ending ruined everything, at least for me. But let's talk about the good parts first.
This was a very unusual haunted house story, because unlike many other stories I read, the inhabitants or said haunted house (well, at least Margaret) aren't trying to get rid of the ghosts. They learn how to cohabit with them instead. I don't think I've seen that done before, but then I haven't read a lot of haunted house stories.
And to be honest, I wouldn't be able to live like that, because despite the matter of fact way Margaret talks about the hauntings, things in this house are pretty horrible. Sure, it's bearable 11 months out of the year, but the things that happen every September are a little bit too much to coexist with. I mean, walls that leak blood for a whole month? Constant screaming that won't let you sleep? A ghost that bites if you come to close to him? Visions of horribly mutilated children haunting you all month? Thanks, but no thanks.
I think it's more a testament to how horrible Margaret's life has been even before the haunted house that she manages to settle into this and survive, even thrive most of the year in a house of horrors like that. And the more you learn about Margaret's live with her "loving" husband, the more you understand why she prefers to live with ghosts. Heck, one of them basically does all the house chores and even cooks for her most of the year.
What I liked about this book was the ambiguity of the situation. Especially when Margaret's daughter arrived and couldn't see or hear any of the hauntings. I loved that even Margaret started doubting herself. Are the ghosts in this house real or are they simply a figment of her imagination? Especially since there is a history of mental illness in her family. And honestly, who would have blamed her for loosing her mind after everything she'd had to endure from Hal? I was perfectly okay if the story chose to take that direction, because that would have made Margaret even more endearing to me.
Unfortunately, the author chose to take a different route and ramp up the fear factor in the last third part of the book to rather ridiculous levels. I mean, those deaths at the end were absolutely useless. They didn't drive the story forward, they didn't serve any purpose except for shock value. And even then, not much shock value, because the readers didn't particularly care about those policemen. We literally met them in the previous chapter.
It also made the ghosts seem extremely overpowered, which... well, I can only suspend my disbelief so much. It also raised a lot of questions as to how that haunting works. How is a ghost able to cook actual meals? How is it able to learn how a cellphone works? Or why the other members of the Vale family aren't haunting this house, when all the other victims of Master Vale seem to be stuck there? Also, why didn't Hal appear as a ghost?
Honestly, you shouldn't think about this book too much after you are done reading, because the more you question this, the more holes you see in the reasoning and the narrative, and the more disappointing the book gets. I would suggest that you just enjoy it for what it is and don't question it too much. After all, it's a very good book almost all the way through. Too bad the ending was so disappointing.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the beginning of this book better than the end. Mostly, because there really isn't an end. It's not even a cliffhanger. The Stars: 3 out of 5.
I liked the beginning of this book better than the end. Mostly, because there really isn't an end. It's not even a cliffhanger. The story just stops mid-stride. None of the plot lines are resolved for any of the characters. No explanations are given to any of the questions. You need to buy the next book to find out what happens next.
Problem is, I don't care about any of the characters enough to invest in the next book in the series. They are all rather unlikeable or pathetic or both. Sorry, I think this series is a miss for me....more
This is definitely not for me. I don't deal well with religious drama, cults, and religious zealots, and while I was toldStars: 1 out of 5.
DNF at 35%.
This is definitely not for me. I don't deal well with religious drama, cults, and religious zealots, and while I was told that the book eventually moves past that, I just didn't feel the strength to slog through that part of the story to get to the interesting bits. I put this book away and picked it up so many times, I finished 3 other books in the meantime. And I had to force myself to pick it back up every time. The only reason I stuck with it so long is because it's an advanced copy. I usually feel obligated to at least make it through a quarter of a book I received for review before I call it quits.
Religious oppression and violence is not the only reason I couldn't finish this book. I can't stand the main protagonist. I also don't understand her motivations. The choices she makes don't makes sense. She is so pious and ready to become a saint, and judgmental of anyone she considers not pious enough, especially her mother... then she decides that she wants to find the Devil? Hmmm, why exactly? How a barely remembered story (that ended badly, by the way) would make her think that confronting the Devil would save her village? Why is she willing to commit theft and perjury for that?
There are a lot of her other choices and behaviors that made me shake me head in dismay. And they made me like her even less. For someone who sees herself as a sort of paragon of piety and virtue, she is extremely judgmental and unkind to everyone who she sees inferior to her. That's especially glaring towards her fellow saints and her sister. I'm sorry, but I can't possibly root for someone this unlikeable.
The worldbuilding is wobbly at best. I can't even picture how this village lives. What kind of technology do they have? How do they feed themselves? What do they wear? How do they craft their tools? Nothing. The explanation about Extasia is also rather unsatisfying.
I've seen a lot of raving reviews for this book on Goodreads, but for me, it was a disappointment.
PS: I received an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Sometimes I just crave a zombie book like a zombie craves... well... brains. Unfortunately, good zombie books are very hard to find. Stars: 4 out of 5
Sometimes I just crave a zombie book like a zombie craves... well... brains. Unfortunately, good zombie books are very hard to find. This one was short and fast paced and hit the spot.
It's surprising that when you think about the origins of the zombie plague, most authors go directly for lab experiments go wrong, and not many think of the thing that gave us the word "zombie" in the first place - a voodoo ritual. So this was a refreshing take on the origin of the end of the world.
I also really felt bad for Dennis. What his mom did is criminal, and I am not even sure she was doing it out of pure altruism or if she just really wanted to try a shiny new ritual.
I will definitely check out the series this is a prequel to....more
This was an entertaining story with very likeable characters. Wasn't particularly scary, but I had a good time following our unfortuStars: 4 out of 5.
This was an entertaining story with very likeable characters. Wasn't particularly scary, but I had a good time following our unfortunate crew, even if they didn't have a good time at all.
This starts like one of those lost tape movies (kind of like Blair Witch Project) about a group of amateur mystery hunters filming a YouTube documentary about the Kincaid Cavern in the Grand Canyon. The location of this cavern is unknown, and even its existence has never been properly acknowledged. Plus, our crew has a bad track record when it comes to actually finding things. As in, they never do. But lo and behold, they find the cave this time, though by the end of this adventure, they will all be wishing that they never did.
As I mentioned before, this wasn't particularly scary for me, though some situations the characters found themselves in were particularly uncomfortable. Stuck in a cave with no light? Having to negotiate a narrow passage back to the others by feel alone and in pitch darkness? Yeah, even not being claustrophobic, that had an extra eek factor for me.
But the main strength of this book is in the relationship between the characters. You can feel that they are complex individuals with their own agendas and desires. You can also tell that they worked together for a long time and really know each other well. The banter, and good-natured insults they throw each other's way, but then they are always ready to help and support each other when needed. I grew to know and love them for that, so I was invested in their well-being. I was worried about them, and I really wanted all of them to survive this ordeal and see the light of the sun again.
The titbits of information and conspiracy theories that Nolan shares with the viewers of his future documentary are also very interesting. I love The Unexplained series on Netflix, so this was right up my alley.
I must admit that the conspiracy plot in this book was a bit over the top. And the villains were a lot less rounded than the main characters. They were very one-note, in fact. I still don't understand what their motivation was behind switching on the terraforming machine ahead of schedule. Did they think they would be spared by creatures that are programmed to wipe out all of humanity? On what grounds? What made them the chosen ones to be spared annihilation?
Maybe we will find out in future books, since it is mentioned that the society that financed this expedition has their hands in a lot more projects one of which directly involves Nolan's ex-wife, so I'm sure he won't let this slide.
In any case, this was an enjoyable read, and I am definitely excited to pick up the next book in the series....more
This is my absolute favorite in the whole Dark Tower series. This particular book resonated with me like none of the rest did. I thinStars: 5 out of 5
This is my absolute favorite in the whole Dark Tower series. This particular book resonated with me like none of the rest did. I think because I've always loved the Seven Samurais by Akira Kurosawa, and this story is a direct homage. Also, it's very well written....more
This was a heartbreaking story about a much younger Rolland and his friends who thought that they could take on the world and rightStars: 4.5 out of 5
This was a heartbreaking story about a much younger Rolland and his friends who thought that they could take on the world and right all wrongs... and got burned for it. You can see how much that experience changed him....more
The Dark Tower books get better as they move along and this one was much better than book 2 which really dragged in places. Blaine Stars: 3.5 out of 5
The Dark Tower books get better as they move along and this one was much better than book 2 which really dragged in places. Blaine the Mono is terrifying....more
If you thought the first book was terrifying, wait until you read this one. The level of terror and claustrophobic horror is turned Stars: 5 out of 5.
If you thought the first book was terrifying, wait until you read this one. The level of terror and claustrophobic horror is turned up a notch in Solitary. I was physically uncomfortable a few time reading this book and just imagining what the protagonist was going through. It goes to prove that psychological horrors are sometimes more terrifying than even physical violence.
This book begins moments after the end of the fist book with Alex and his comrades jumping into the underground river to escape furnace. Unfortunately, their escape doesn't last long. They are recaptured and put into solitary, well the two of them that survive. And solitary is full of its own horrors that make you wonder what's worse - to dies at the claws of the Rats, or to go completely mad confronted by your own mind in the dark silence of a solitary cell?
I could feel the cloying despair and hopelessness that Alex was starting to feel the longer he stayed in that cell. I honestly think that if it wasn't for the Lost Boys, Alex would have given up and given in to his fears right there.
As it stands, I was rooting for all of them throughout this book, wishing that they would finally find a way out. So the ending came like a slap in the face both for the characters and for the reader. The author slowly built our hopes up, bit by tiny bit, then smashed them into dust with one decisive strike.
I am definitely picking up book 3, because I am invested in these characters now and I want to know what happens next. And I honestly hope that by the end of this series good with triumph over bad, and the Warden and his cronies get their just desserts.
I don't understand all the glowing reviews for this book on Goodreads. I found it boring as fish. For a relatively short 200 page boStars: 2 out of 5.
I don't understand all the glowing reviews for this book on Goodreads. I found it boring as fish. For a relatively short 200 page book it, it draaaaged and almost put me to sleep several times. I felt like just reaching the ending was an uphill battle.
My biggest issue was the multitude of grammatical and stylistic errors. I mean, English isn't my first language, but I'm pretty sure having verbs both in present and past tense in the same paragraph isn't grammatically sound. It's jarring to the eye when you read the book, that's for sure. It creates a cognitive confusion that took me out of the story completely a few times.
Add to that the head hopping that happened in a few places, when the chapter was clearly titles as being from the point of view of one character, but there would be paragraphs that described how another character felt or what they thought. As far as I know, none of the protagonists are omniscient, or telepathic, so how could they know that?
My second issue is that I didn't care for any of the characters. Yes, they had issues. Yes, the author tried hard to make us understand what moved them and make us empathize. Unfortunately, she failed, at least in my case. Being privy to their inner monologues didn't make me like them more, but made me annoyed with them at times. Especially Garth. The thoughts that went through his head were downright creepy and disturbing at times. He is certified stalker material. No wonder he had no friends or girlfriend.Finally, as I mentioned, the story drags. The pacing is very uneven. The first 50-60% of the book is basically set up, then the events unfold at breakneck speed. Honestly, we didn't' need that much set up. We could have spent more time in the caves to advance the actual story instead of flashbacks into the pasts of our protagonists. A lot of that information wasn't necessary. What little we actually needed could have been woven organically into the narrative. As it was, I almost DNFed the book at about halfway point. I added one extra star for the description of the caves. You can see that the author did her research. That place is fascinating. Now I really want to visit.I guess if you did "mesh" with the characters and didn't mind grammatical errors, this books could be a good read for you.PS: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Well, that was a fast paced and rather terrifying short story. Since I plan on reading the Escape from the Furnace series next year, figured that woulWell, that was a fast paced and rather terrifying short story. Since I plan on reading the Escape from the Furnace series next year, figured that would be a nice introduction.
Not sure about an introduction, but the author can write. Loved thr characters - they were very alive and sympathetic. The atmosphere of permeating horror is also very well done...more
Zombie books are my guilty pleasure, though finding a good book in a sea of mediocre if abundant offerings is usually an epic quest Stars: 3 out of 5.
Zombie books are my guilty pleasure, though finding a good book in a sea of mediocre if abundant offerings is usually an epic quest of its own. This is a middle of the road book, as far as zombie fare goes. It's sufficiently well written that it kept me interested, and the characters weren't so cringe as to want me to gauge my eyes out.
I was attracted to this book by the description - that we would follow this epidemic through the eyes of one of the victims after they were cured. That's not an approach I've seen before in zombie books. Usually authors assume that's once you are a zombie, there is not turning back. So that's something I was really looking forward to exploring.
What happens in a world that got decimated by a zombie-like virus where people became ravenous mindless monsters, but then were cured? I was looking for an exploration of trauma and guilt.
I was looking forward to see how these people would try to reintegrate back into society. How would they behave when reuniting with surviving family? Trying to piece their lives back after the horrors seen and committed? What are the after-effects of this prion virus? Physical, mental, etc.? It seems like the infected aren't walking corpses, yet they don't die unless you shoot them in the head, even when they chewed themselves up to pieces.
Unfortunately, the author chose not to explore that at all. We have a road movie instead, with our characters trying to make it to Pennsylvania through hostile country where Normals are more likely to shoot the former Biters on sight than help them. Why are they going there? That's not explained.
Why did the government just let the cured Biters go without any control or supervision? They know that the cure is not 100% effective and that relapse is possible. Yet they are let loose in a desert with the orders to report to the nearest registration center within 74 hours or they will be shot on sight. Where are those centers? Who knows. How they are going to make it there with 99 dollars and no transportation? Not the government's problem. To say that I have questions is an understatement.
Maybe there will be more explanation in Season 2, but so far this is a an okay-ish zombie story that's better written than most. Plus, it's only 100-some pages long, so it's a quick read....more
This had so much promise! A small town cut off from the rest of the world by a snow storm. Mysterious creatures attacking its inhabitants.DNF at 50 %.
This had so much promise! A small town cut off from the rest of the world by a snow storm. Mysterious creatures attacking its inhabitants. A lone policewoman trying to keep order and make sure as many people survive this as possible... Yup, the description was right up my alley, so I went into this book with a certain amount of excitement.
And the beginning was good. Ellie discovers a body and realizes it's one of the residents. Apparently he froze to death and there are strange markings next to his body. That's creepy. The introduction to the monsters was also creepy and frankly terrifying. Those are the stuff of nightmares, alright. I wouldn't want to see one of them outside my window at night.
But that's about where the positives end for me. The book is way too long for its own good. It drags. The story meanders at a leisury pace when it should be rushing along revving up the suspense. I mean I quit reading right after our first real glimpse of the Tatterskins, and that was at 50% if the book. And I would have tried to stay with the story if the constant distractions were useful to deepen the character relationships or tell us more about the town. But it really doesn't.
My second problem, and the one that ultimately made me call it quits, is the fact that all characters are caricatures of themselves. The bad people are so villainous, they don't even feel like real people, like that one inbred family at the farm. The good ones are good, but one-dimensional. I couldn't tell you what Ellie looks like or what her story is. Yes, there is mentions of her loosing her son, but never in much detail. Other villagers just blend into one indistinctive mass of people.
But what made me throw the towel was how the wife of the second cop was portrayed. I understand that we aren't supposed to empathize with her. I understand that the protagonist doesn't like her. But why did she have to be portrayed as an arrogant screeching harrigan who cares more about her car being totaled and tearing Ellie a new one than the fact that her husband is missing and presumed dead? Unless she is so heartless that she was planning her husband's murder and the monsters just happened to hasten things, this is an extremely unnatural reaction. That was so jarring to me that I closed the book and never looked back.
There is a good story somewhere in there, it's just buried under excessive wordcount and poor characterization.
PS: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
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