Reviews

Withered + Sere by TJ Klune

lydiaraebush's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

alexandratheroux's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Very different vibe from all the other TJ Klune titles Iève read so far. Withered + Sere is a very bleak post-apocalyptic story (first in a duology) following a many grappling with his own insanity trying to survive and care for the few creatures in his life.
Excited for the sequel - ends on a cliffhanger.

wickedwitchofthewords's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I read a lot.
All kinds of books all the times.
I rarely ever have DNFs.
Okay?
So, every once in a while, when I'm tired of all the meh-books; books that are nice and good but aren't Kaboom! Pinecones & epic & awesome!, I pick up one of TJ's books and let go, savor the words, and live a little.
I can't write reviews on his books, never. But I can write books about his books, poetry even (and that's saying something, since I absolutely do not like poetry).

kaitlinjohnson's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

hammy91's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

maki_97's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ashhan's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

anya_doesntmatter's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Tj Klune, has a wicked brilliant sense of humor. He excels at expressing it and writing it. So when Tj, announced his next book would be dark and heavy I admit, I was skeptical. After all, I couldn’t imagine Tj... C’mon Tj?! The man who gave us Bear and Gary, yeah that Tj, pulling off a dark, dystopian novel. He stated he would make us feel suffering, loss, despair and hope. He said we would cry…. Wookie face cry. When I read those words, I was like… nah, not your niche. Again, I didn’t think he could pull it off.

Well folks, let me tell you, he did. As a matter of fact he pulverized it.

Withered + Sere is about a dark violent post apocalyptic dystopian world left behind after humanity self destructed 100 years prior. It kind of reminds me of a cross between Mad Max ( The original Mel Gibson gem) and The Road. The blurb does a fantastic job summing up the story. A lot of reviews here basically tells you the entire story as well, Therefore; I don’t want to rehash any of that. I want to instead convey to you how this story made me feel. My heart seized a couple times. I had to put the book down several times because it’s an emotionally hard headspace to be in. My curiosity always won over so my mini breaks were just that, quick 10 minutes moments to compose myself and carry on. Can’t really read with tears in my eyes and all that. I’m talented but not that talented *smirk*
Tj, set the bar, he had an agenda. Ironically, it’s an agenda he’s accomplished with his other books but I never though of him being successful outside “his genre” The goal: To emotionally tear us apart. He kept his word. He rendered me useless for a couple days and I enjoyed every minute of that disturbing, beautiful ride.
*Arc provided for review*
descriptiondescription

merny88's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Someone said this had 'Fallout' vibes and that's basically all I need out of life.
If the dog dies, I'll be furious. 

dance64's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense slow-paced

3.5