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mwgerard's review against another edition
4.0
This carefully constructed novel has a messy ending that does not fit with the rest of the book.
Read my full review here -- it is spoiler free: http://mwgerard.com/review-supernatural-enhancements-by-edgar-cantero/
Read my full review here -- it is spoiler free: http://mwgerard.com/review-supernatural-enhancements-by-edgar-cantero/
akenny614's review against another edition
2.0
Stopped reading about 1/4 of the way through. I didn't like the format and the characters were obnoxious.
lizaroo71's review against another edition
4.0
What the hell did I just read? This book is quite an amazing feat of literary creativity. Cantero uses the art of "reality" filming, but in the form of a book. He uses journal entries, telegrams, camera recordings, and audio recordings to lay out the plot. There are even portions told from the point of view behind the camera.
This is really an engaging and different kind of mystery. I will definitely look for more by this author.
This is really an engaging and different kind of mystery. I will definitely look for more by this author.
luisasm's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book, but I need to make some clarifications about why. My favorite stories as a kid were Nancy Drew, Scooby Doo, and any ghost story. This book is all of those things combined in something more adult, plus a haunted house and a secret cult. This is all to say that it might be an acquired taste. Some people really didn't like the ending because it's so outlandish, and honestly they're right. It is completely outlandish. But you know what? I loved it. I bought that outlandishness hook, line and sinker and enjoyed every moment. I felt that the book needed to end in some absolutely insane way or it would be anticlimactic. I loved the clues, the setting, the humor (it's actually funny!), those tastes of fantasy and science fiction, and of course those characters, especially Niamh, a heroine worthy of Nancy Drew and Velma. I also loved those twists at the end which really got me. I thought the epistolary style was creative and didn't mind it at all, but I can easily see that it might not be others' style. Most of all, I recommend reading this book with acceptance, if you can. Just buy into it. It's fun, it's hard to put down, it's somewhat ridiculous, and it's an excellent mystery. Try not to take it too seriously. You might have questions at the end. It's okay. Accept them. Let them be. Enjoy them. It's supposed to be that way.
ericbuscemi's review against another edition
4.0
It would be impossible to write a review about this novel without mentioning the non-traditional format in which it is written, so I'll just get that out of the way first; The author uses diaries, letters, audio and video recording transcripts, and snippets of books and newspaper articles to piece together the narrative. While this may sound gimmicky -- it is gimmicky -- it faded to the background very quickly to me. This surprised me as I thought it would be tough to read something in this format, especially because the novel literally starts in the middle of a sentence. But it genuinely works for this story, so let's move on.
The story that is told is a new-weird/horror/mystery amalgam that hooked me very early and delivered through the end. Despite being set in 1995 Virginia, a gothic mood palpable, and as is often the case, the spooky Axton House almost becomes a character itself. There are very few actual characters other than protagonists A. and his "companion" Niamh, and very little is learned about these characters either, other than the fact they like The X-Files, so anyone seeking a character study can look elsewhere. But the mystery is compelling, as is the cryptography mentioned that A. and Niamh employ to discover what exactly is going on in the recently inherited estate. I won't say more about the plot, but will say that anyone that liked [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|13538873|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|Robin Sloan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345089845s/13538873.jpg|6736543] will almost definitely also like this book, as they share similarities on multiple levels.
The story that is told is a new-weird/horror/mystery amalgam that hooked me very early and delivered through the end. Despite being set in 1995 Virginia, a gothic mood palpable, and as is often the case, the spooky Axton House almost becomes a character itself. There are very few actual characters other than protagonists A. and his "companion" Niamh, and very little is learned about these characters either, other than the fact they like The X-Files, so anyone seeking a character study can look elsewhere. But the mystery is compelling, as is the cryptography mentioned that A. and Niamh employ to discover what exactly is going on in the recently inherited estate. I won't say more about the plot, but will say that anyone that liked [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|13538873|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|Robin Sloan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345089845s/13538873.jpg|6736543] will almost definitely also like this book, as they share similarities on multiple levels.
applegould's review against another edition
4.0
did not understand the ending but you know what fuck yeah!!! lots of fun and spooky and smart
moonpie's review against another edition
4.0
The Supernatural Enhancements is a novel told in epistolary format, which is a style that I know puts some readers off. And sometimes it doesn't work. I think it works well enough here, though, where the story is told through letters, transcripts, a few photos and telegrams, articles, and diary entries. A.'s writing voice is stilted but it works with the Gothic feel of the novel. The exception to the "worked for this novel" rule would be the descriptions of video footage, which I found hard to follow at times. Mostly because: someone's shoes appearing on footage from a handheld camera, that's not riveting stuff for me.
The relationship between A. and Niamh is a bit odd. I could never keep Niamh's age straight -- is she 14? 17? but it seems like she's supposed to be young enough to make the possibility of a romantic relationship kind of weird.
I do wish there had been more ghost stuff, though. And maybe fewer explanations of cryptography, which I ended up skimming most of the time.
(three-and-a-half stars)
The relationship between A. and Niamh is a bit odd. I could never keep Niamh's age straight -- is she 14? 17? but it seems like she's supposed to be young enough to make the possibility of a romantic relationship kind of weird.
I do wish there had been more ghost stuff, though. And maybe fewer explanations of cryptography, which I ended up skimming most of the time.
(three-and-a-half stars)
pirategirl91's review against another edition
3.0
The format of the book makes reading kinda confusing