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kristi_starr35's review against another edition
3.0
Creepy. In the acknowledgements, Wasserman thanks Stephen King. I think that's appropriate. Definitely a King-style YA sci-fi/horror novel. It kept me hooked. And I appreciate how Wasserman balanced the more graphic depictions of violence with the subtle ones. Because sometimes one's imagination is much more terrifying.
asimilarkite's review against another edition
3.0
When this book started, I was immediately hooked. "Yup," I thought, "This is a book written exactly for me." SUPER intense opening segment, super super dark, intensely creepy. And I was totally on board until about halfway through, when the big reveal happened.
And then it just...lost me? The explanation (which I will not explain) was just so...meh? And it's kind of what the whole thing was building to? I almost wish that things had just never been explained and I had been left in the dark and the creepy and didn't have to learn about the why of it all.
I do give this book major points for unique POV -- it doesn't really have one main protagonist, which is super unusual and interesting for a YA novel. It jumps around in perspective between about seven main characters, and they are all equally represented and equally interesting.
I just wish that the unexplainable hadn't been explained. I don't think it was necessary.
And then it just...lost me? The explanation (which I will not explain) was just so...meh? And it's kind of what the whole thing was building to? I almost wish that things had just never been explained and I had been left in the dark and the creepy and didn't have to learn about the why of it all.
I do give this book major points for unique POV -- it doesn't really have one main protagonist, which is super unusual and interesting for a YA novel. It jumps around in perspective between about seven main characters, and they are all equally represented and equally interesting.
I just wish that the unexplainable hadn't been explained. I don't think it was necessary.
lollypopkins225's review against another edition
3.0
Not as splatter punk as some other horror fiction I've read. You also get too many characters that we're supposed to care about so we worry for their safety. However maybe less characters focused on would make this book better. I'll still give it props for Grace though. Spooky kids are spooky.
jennifermreads's review against another edition
3.0
Utterly creepy concept: murder and mayhem in quarantined city. Definite hair-raiser.
hlizmarie's review against another edition
3.0
So, a small number of ordinary citizens in small town Oleander suddenly commit murder. No warning, no signs, no explanation. A year later the town is trying to move on when it gets hit by a massive F5 tornado which triggers the town being cut off from the world. And slowly but surely the townspeople go down the rabbit hole of insanity and start doing things that will turn your stomach. Why is this happening? Why are our teenage protagonists the only few not affected? Will anyone get out alive?
Dark doesn't quite begin to cover this nasty tale of psychotic behavior. Not only are the acts committed in the course of the book awful and horrifying displays of humanity but the screwed up lives of each of our teenage protagonists are equally depressing. No one here seemed happy before the insanity seeps in let alone during the nightmarish societal breakdown. There was no happy beginning for our main characters and there isn't exactly a happy ending either. The resolution of why the town destroys itself ends up being somewhat disappointing when compared to how much destruction and hatred is caused. It reminds me a bit of Stephen King's The Dome since the heart of the story is excellent horror but the end seems lackluster. I wouldn't say I enjoyed this exactly since it was a horribly depressing and often sad read but I'm also not sorry I picked it up.
Dark doesn't quite begin to cover this nasty tale of psychotic behavior. Not only are the acts committed in the course of the book awful and horrifying displays of humanity but the screwed up lives of each of our teenage protagonists are equally depressing. No one here seemed happy before the insanity seeps in let alone during the nightmarish societal breakdown. There was no happy beginning for our main characters and there isn't exactly a happy ending either. The resolution of why the town destroys itself ends up being somewhat disappointing when compared to how much destruction and hatred is caused. It reminds me a bit of Stephen King's The Dome since the heart of the story is excellent horror but the end seems lackluster. I wouldn't say I enjoyed this exactly since it was a horribly depressing and often sad read but I'm also not sorry I picked it up.
annaptobias's review against another edition
3.0
That was good, but SO depressing.
I think I did myself a disservice in reading this so close to [b:Horns|6587879|Horns|Joe Hill|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348768657s/6587879.jpg|6781405] since they have similar takes on the nature of evil and its power on men's hearts. I also just finished watching season 3 of A Game of Thrones a day ago, so adding The Waking Dark with its death count doesn't help. Don't get me wrong, I still was very much shocked at the incidents described in this book, but I'm feeling like all this death and violence is leaving me numb? Maybe reading all these gory/hyperviolent literature for Halloween wasn't the smartest idea.
I think I did myself a disservice in reading this so close to [b:Horns|6587879|Horns|Joe Hill|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348768657s/6587879.jpg|6781405] since they have similar takes on the nature of evil and its power on men's hearts. I also just finished watching season 3 of A Game of Thrones a day ago, so adding The Waking Dark with its death count doesn't help. Don't get me wrong, I still was very much shocked at the incidents described in this book, but I'm feeling like all this death and violence is leaving me numb? Maybe reading all these gory/hyperviolent literature for Halloween wasn't the smartest idea.
nancykz's review against another edition
3.0
I gotta say, I was surprised at the amount of violence, sex, drugs, booze, and swearing in this book. I didn't mind it, I was just surprised. In a world overrun by helicopter parents who are constantly trying to protect their babies, I'm shocked this is out there.
A solid 3.5 stars. There were many, many things I loved. First, a standalone novel in these days of series. Praise Jesus Wasserman didn't try to stretch it out. Second, there are no zombies, werewolves, vampires or mean girls. Well, there are mean girls but they are not the focus. Like the Fox Chronicles, this novel focuses on a speculative look at ethical questions and it does that fairly well.
Five children are part of Oleander, Kansas' Killing Day - a day when five people commit murders. Four of them commit suicide following their kills, one isn't successful at her attempt. After a year of moving on (the killer who survived her suicide attempt is off in an institution) a tornado hits and the town has some weird shit to deal with again, this time a reversion to times past, an armed quarantine and a complete disconnection from the outside world. The four witnesses and one killer (who escapes during the tornado, don't ask me how) are faced with the decline of their town and the questions only they seem to be asking, primarily, "What the f'ck is going on here?"
While trying to survive they are also dealing with their own demons, both related to The Killing Day and deeper, more personal demons, in a town where every man is out for himself.
There were some plot holes and a few times when the pacing made me want to skip ahead - that's what made me put it down the first time I tried reading it. This time I got through it and am glad I did.
Surprise kills reminiscent of The Following, breaking of all kinds of rules (a baby is killed pretty quickly and gruesomely), and some pretty gritty sexual situations make for a grownup read for the YA set than can handle it. Which may not be all or even most of the younger ones.
A solid 3.5 stars. There were many, many things I loved. First, a standalone novel in these days of series. Praise Jesus Wasserman didn't try to stretch it out. Second, there are no zombies, werewolves, vampires or mean girls. Well, there are mean girls but they are not the focus. Like the Fox Chronicles, this novel focuses on a speculative look at ethical questions and it does that fairly well.
Five children are part of Oleander, Kansas' Killing Day - a day when five people commit murders. Four of them commit suicide following their kills, one isn't successful at her attempt. After a year of moving on (the killer who survived her suicide attempt is off in an institution) a tornado hits and the town has some weird shit to deal with again, this time a reversion to times past, an armed quarantine and a complete disconnection from the outside world. The four witnesses and one killer (who escapes during the tornado, don't ask me how) are faced with the decline of their town and the questions only they seem to be asking, primarily, "What the f'ck is going on here?"
While trying to survive they are also dealing with their own demons, both related to The Killing Day and deeper, more personal demons, in a town where every man is out for himself.
There were some plot holes and a few times when the pacing made me want to skip ahead - that's what made me put it down the first time I tried reading it. This time I got through it and am glad I did.
Surprise kills reminiscent of The Following, breaking of all kinds of rules (a baby is killed pretty quickly and gruesomely), and some pretty gritty sexual situations make for a grownup read for the YA set than can handle it. Which may not be all or even most of the younger ones.
molly_dettmann's review against another edition
2.0
Gritty, surreal, confusing, and horrific all describe this book perfectly. Great read for anyone who loves horror, groan-worthy explanations for mysterious events, and gross out scenes of violence and terror. I couldn't even during most of this book (bye bye baby within the first 20 pages). I became slightly invested in the mystery halfway through, but the "twist" was kind of a lame, and I was more interested a few of the back stories, which mainly just scratched the surface of character development.
octagonal's review against another edition
3.0
This book was super creepy. Super creepiness is not exactly my genre? But it was good! It just made me want to hide in a corner, which is probably the point!
mandyist's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmm, kind of wish I knew this was a YA novel before I read it. I was looking for a truly terrifying horror novel and got teenagers. Now don't get me wrong, I adore YA fiction but it's not what I wanted here.