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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
though the plot was pretty interesting, i liked the characters and felt a sense of dread created by the writing and I really appreciate that. the structure however... i was not a fan (because i didn't gaf about all these storylines) but i completely understand how it moves the narrative along and provides us with information about the strain ;) just felt frustrated bc i wanted to follow a certain storyline lol
I liked it! The writing style is a little simplistic and maybe subpar, yes. It wasn't the most shocking and unpredictable book in the world. It is nothing new, unique or dynamic. But where this book lacks in plotline, it makes up for in sheer creepy suspense. This book had me making faces on the subway, had me putting it down to collect myself - physical responses that are all good signs of excellent storytelling.
I liked the characters, Eph, Setrakian, Fet, Nora and even Zach. They are all well-developed characters that again, aren't unique, but they are relatable and enjoyable. The Master is creepy as hell.
For me, the stinger mouthpiece thing is probably a little overdone at this point in the Vampire game, but hey, at least they weren't sparkly. I won't join the boatloads of people comparing this to Stephen King, but I will say that it was a creepy, enjoyable read with lots of goosebumpy suspense.
I liked the characters, Eph, Setrakian, Fet, Nora and even Zach. They are all well-developed characters that again, aren't unique, but they are relatable and enjoyable. The Master is creepy as hell.
For me, the stinger mouthpiece thing is probably a little overdone at this point in the Vampire game, but hey, at least they weren't sparkly. I won't join the boatloads of people comparing this to Stephen King, but I will say that it was a creepy, enjoyable read with lots of goosebumpy suspense.
I kind of grabbed this book at random from the library's audiobook section, but I am SO glad I did. Going in I only knew it was about vampires, which was enough to get my attention. I really liked all of the character development and the fact that the vampire mythos in this series is so different from the usual. I like how the story unfolded ever so slowly and how totally unrelated characters were brought together, shown in their own perspectives. I couldn't wait to start the next book!
Creepy, even for a vampire story. Not as good as Cronin's The Passage, but still pretty good.
Finished reading The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro. Very very average. Creepy in places. I don't know what else to tell you. It's better than Dracula I guess and it's still about vampires so if you're gonna read Dracula, you could read this instead. Or you could just go and read something decent. That's what I'd do if I were you. 2.5 stars.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The first few chapters (basically everything before the start of the First Night) were tense and held my interest. I tend to enjoy stories that bounce around between perspectives like this. It’s nothing extraordinary, but it’s fun anyways. Past the halfway point, the actual vampires and introduction of the “7 Ancients” plot point lead the book away from the medical and investigative, and the book lost its charm for me.
The divorced dad during an apocalypse trope has been done to death, and Eph adds absolutely nothing new to make him or his family worth caring about. I also don’t believe he could possibly be capable with a sword.
I love/hate imaging the Master running around carrying his own coffin- it’s so ridiculous how that thing moves. Also, not amused that the abused woman is the only one to get infected by worms going up her ass (etc.). I was rooting for her…
The divorced dad during an apocalypse trope has been done to death, and Eph adds absolutely nothing new to make him or his family worth caring about. I also don’t believe he could possibly be capable with a sword.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
I almost never read this book. I absolutely LOATHED the television series and could not imagine that the book could be any good at all if the adaptation was that horrid.
I was wrong, this book was awesome and I am totally looking forward to the rest of the series!
I was wrong, this book was awesome and I am totally looking forward to the rest of the series!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes