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shimaira's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Book 1 (The Crows) is one of my all-time fav reads, so I've been waiting to get into this one (book 3).
TL;DR review:
Time to say stand up to your elder and give him the finger. The road to actually getting to stand there and do that though? 😱 good lord I didn't want to stop reading--I needed answers!
Longer, more in-depth review:
On family/cults:
As if the eldritch family wasn't messed up enough, they started to form cults 💀 and nobody is safe. It's deliciously terrifying.
On LGBTQ+:
Same as with Thirteenth: Multiple queer characters 🏳🌈 Wes really gets to "shine" in this book though, wanting to get down with any gender (saying this for a reason...)
With that said...
On Wes:
Yes, that fckface gets his own subsection. Dear gods, how I love to hate his guts. How Rosens managed to write a character that has me so torn with feeling empathy, then not, then empathy again, to wanting to yeet him into a dark abyss and just be DONE with his ass 😤
...he made me laugh on multiple occassions too, oversexual as he is. I mean... If you know, you know 🕸
But, his sexual appetite aside: his face. One thing I really enjoyed was how this further explored his face and how it all works. As someone who is rather faceblind, it was nice to be reminded how Hugo is too and that's why he isn't as bothered/affected by Wes' power. (Having faceblind characters in books: yes please! 🙌 I felt seen 🥰)
On mental health and such:
This book has characters going through *a lot*. Depression in various shapes and forms, not to mention (not) coping mechanisms. Def wanted to hug multiple characters throughout (and maybe or maybe not shove Wes into a pit).
It was all very well written and just <chef's kiss> on how all characters are exactly that: their own character. They each deal with things their own (flawed) way and it's just so well written 😩👌
The grief bits though? Better keep hold of your heart!
I for one went straight into denial and refused to stop reading until I got forced into a different stage.
On the eldritch horrors:
This really feels like the climax of the 3 books, with everything coming to a head and all powers reaching their full potential. All I will say here to avoid spoilers: it is just GLORIOUS (iykyk lol)
On style:
The book is written in third person and switches between several POVs. To repeat my previous statement from The Crows: Rosens has a very engaging writing style that feels natural and pulls you into the world of Pagham on Sea and truly brings the characters to life.
And, as is expected, this book has amazing illustrations too! 🤩
Final notes:
If you've been around for books 1 and 2, there is just no way to skip book 3. Look at my face. Look. Get this book, read it, review it, tell your friends. Why yes, I highly recommend this book, why do you ask? Oh, you just had the idea to go and buy it? I fully support that!
TL;DR review:
Time to say stand up to your elder and give him the finger. The road to actually getting to stand there and do that though? 😱 good lord I didn't want to stop reading--I needed answers!
Longer, more in-depth review:
On family/cults:
As if the eldritch family wasn't messed up enough, they started to form cults 💀 and nobody is safe. It's deliciously terrifying.
On LGBTQ+:
Same as with Thirteenth: Multiple queer characters 🏳🌈 Wes really gets to "shine" in this book though, wanting to get down with any gender (saying this for a reason...)
With that said...
On Wes:
Yes, that fckface gets his own subsection. Dear gods, how I love to hate his guts. How Rosens managed to write a character that has me so torn with feeling empathy, then not, then empathy again, to wanting to yeet him into a dark abyss and just be DONE with his ass 😤
...he made me laugh on multiple occassions too, oversexual as he is. I mean... If you know, you know 🕸
But, his sexual appetite aside: his face. One thing I really enjoyed was how this further explored his face and how it all works. As someone who is rather faceblind, it was nice to be reminded how Hugo is too and that's why he isn't as bothered/affected by Wes' power. (Having faceblind characters in books: yes please! 🙌 I felt seen 🥰)
On mental health and such:
This book has characters going through *a lot*. Depression in various shapes and forms, not to mention (not) coping mechanisms. Def wanted to hug multiple characters throughout (and maybe or maybe not shove Wes into a pit).
It was all very well written and just <chef's kiss> on how all characters are exactly that: their own character. They each deal with things their own (flawed) way and it's just so well written 😩👌
The grief bits though? Better keep hold of your heart!
I for one went straight into denial and refused to stop reading until I got forced into a different stage.
On the eldritch horrors:
This really feels like the climax of the 3 books, with everything coming to a head and all powers reaching their full potential. All I will say here to avoid spoilers: it is just GLORIOUS (iykyk lol)
On style:
The book is written in third person and switches between several POVs. To repeat my previous statement from The Crows: Rosens has a very engaging writing style that feels natural and pulls you into the world of Pagham on Sea and truly brings the characters to life.
And, as is expected, this book has amazing illustrations too! 🤩
Final notes:
If you've been around for books 1 and 2, there is just no way to skip book 3. Look at my face. Look. Get this book, read it, review it, tell your friends. Why yes, I highly recommend this book, why do you ask? Oh, you just had the idea to go and buy it? I fully support that!
nodoze's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
yakyuu_yarou's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Of course, I got blood on the memorial scene .
This book was technically a review copy provided to me by the author, but I've also bought it anyway, so there's ... that.
Does TWDAG make sense without the other two books that precede it? No. Not at all. And that's a good thing, 'cause TWDAG is a necessary and delightful third part of the Pagham-on-Sea books. The body horror is as exquisite as ever, the characters are as messy, broken, and lovable as ever (just ... keep in mind that not everyone will love the same characters, and sometimes you just love to hate 'em).
Honestly, as excited as I've been for this book for years now, I initially really wasn't sure how I'd feel about a book centred around Wes of all people - partly because he's one of those I love to hate (and hate to love) but also because I wasn't quite sure how that might be possible without making it a deeply unpleasant experience.
Well, Rosens managed. It isn't pleasant being in Wes's head, not at all, but that's the point - and that doesn't mean it isn't fun or enjoyable. I had a great time! I'd even say I love him more than I hate him now, and that is a fucking accomplishment.
(And, as ever: Ricky. Ricky, my love, my son, my perfect messy lad, fictional light of my life. Him and Fairwood and their non-romantic love for each other warm my little aro heart.)
There are a lot of details I could go into, but that would spoil the point. So: go. Read this book if you want to go a little bit feral. Just a hint of apeshittery, as a treat.
This book was technically a review copy provided to me by the author, but I've also bought it anyway, so there's ... that.
Does TWDAG make sense without the other two books that precede it? No. Not at all. And that's a good thing, 'cause TWDAG is a necessary and delightful third part of the Pagham-on-Sea books. The body horror is as exquisite as ever, the characters are as messy, broken, and lovable as ever (just ... keep in mind that not everyone will love the same characters, and sometimes you just love to hate 'em).
Honestly, as excited as I've been for this book for years now, I initially really wasn't sure how I'd feel about a book centred around Wes of all people - partly because he's one of those I love to hate (and hate to love) but also because I wasn't quite sure how that might be possible without making it a deeply unpleasant experience.
Well, Rosens managed. It isn't pleasant being in Wes's head, not at all, but that's the point - and that doesn't mean it isn't fun or enjoyable. I had a great time! I'd even say I love him more than I hate him now, and that is a fucking accomplishment.
(And, as ever: Ricky. Ricky, my love, my son, my perfect messy lad, fictional light of my life. Him and Fairwood and their non-romantic love for each other warm my little aro heart.)
There are a lot of details I could go into, but that would spoil the point. So: go. Read this book if you want to go a little bit feral. Just a hint of apeshittery, as a treat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Death, Drug use, Grief, Violence, Alcohol, Addiction, Blood, and Body horror
drakaina16's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
I just can't get enough of the Pagham-On-Sea books! The third installment sees the return of Ricky, Katy, Wes, and Carrie, hopeful that they'll be able to prevent the end of the world. I just love these characters. Part of me wishes they were real, and most of me is really, really glad they aren't. But we could still hang out. I'm definitely hoping that this isn't the last book!
I just can't get enough of the Pagham-On-Sea books! The third installment sees the return of Ricky, Katy, Wes, and Carrie, hopeful that they'll be able to prevent the end of the world. I just love these characters. Part of me wishes they were real, and most of me is really, really glad they aren't. But we could still hang out. I'm definitely hoping that this isn't the last book!
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