Scan barcode
lindys's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
I need to read the next in the series
bookhoarder76's review against another edition
2.0
OK I thought this was a YA book? I am not so sure. I got it as a freebie and it looked pretty interesting. It's very well written but the whole thing is just odd. Not horrible but eh so it gets two stars from me.
motherhorror's review against another edition
5.0
I've mentioned it countless times but coming of age horror is a personal favorite. I believe I'll always be one to show special favor to authors who can do them well. I've read several of Burke's books now but had yet to experience a story from a young protagonist's perspective.
In Turtle Boy, Timmy Quinn is eleven years old. He has a best friend. School just got out and Burke does an amazing job capturing the feeling of those long summer days where the possibilities for adventure are wide open.
The dialog scenes between Timmy and his buddy, Pete were some of my favorite moments.
But as these tender stories go in the land of horror fiction, our season of innocence and childhood imagining are cut short by an unexpected visitor.
And what a treat!
The Turtle Boy is some of Kealan's best work in terms of descriptive language. I felt transported to the muddy banks of an abandoned pond where Timmy and Pete first run across the unusual child.
From there, I could feel the long shadows of mystery begin to creep over the sunny landscape of the story and my eyes were flying over the text, manically turning pages so I could find out where Mr. Burke's dark tale would finally end up. The consequence of loving coming of age horror is that there is always that point in which the young characters we have fallen in love with, are faced with unspeakable tragedy or overwhelming, perilous odds, seemingly NOT in their favor...of course I would never spoil a reader's discovery here so I'll only say that this story checked all the right horror boxes--emotional, gripping, haunting and satisfying. I hope Kealan graces us with another coming of age story--this one certainly proves he's quite adept at it.
In Turtle Boy, Timmy Quinn is eleven years old. He has a best friend. School just got out and Burke does an amazing job capturing the feeling of those long summer days where the possibilities for adventure are wide open.
The dialog scenes between Timmy and his buddy, Pete were some of my favorite moments.
But as these tender stories go in the land of horror fiction, our season of innocence and childhood imagining are cut short by an unexpected visitor.
And what a treat!
The Turtle Boy is some of Kealan's best work in terms of descriptive language. I felt transported to the muddy banks of an abandoned pond where Timmy and Pete first run across the unusual child.
From there, I could feel the long shadows of mystery begin to creep over the sunny landscape of the story and my eyes were flying over the text, manically turning pages so I could find out where Mr. Burke's dark tale would finally end up. The consequence of loving coming of age horror is that there is always that point in which the young characters we have fallen in love with, are faced with unspeakable tragedy or overwhelming, perilous odds, seemingly NOT in their favor...of course I would never spoil a reader's discovery here so I'll only say that this story checked all the right horror boxes--emotional, gripping, haunting and satisfying. I hope Kealan graces us with another coming of age story--this one certainly proves he's quite adept at it.
shanehawk's review against another edition
3.0
Reminiscent of Ray Bradbury, but with the flair of contemporary vocabulary and prose.
roxiethebookslayer's review against another edition
5.0
Excited to see where this goes!
Re-read 8/20 for a refresher (plus I received the new paperback edition). I most definitely enjoyed it even more the second time.
Full review to come soon!
Re-read 8/20 for a refresher (plus I received the new paperback edition). I most definitely enjoyed it even more the second time.
Full review to come soon!
stephaniemwytovich's review against another edition
5.0
A great, suspenseful read with gorgeous language and haunting descriptions. I'll be eager to check out the rest of the series!
haykmass24's review against another edition
2.0
I like the author’s writing in this novella along with his other novellas I have read, but I unfortunately just did not like the story. I was mostly bored. I will continue trying more of his novellas, though, because I do enjoy his writing and have enjoyed the other novellas I’ve read so far.
christinamcdaniel's review against another edition
3.0
A fast read. Very creepy I must say. But good. Timmy has this problem, Sorta. But doesn't realize it, And Neither will you until it's revealed in the end.
angielisle's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting concepts, with a strange ending. I like the clean way that Burke writes and will be tracking down the rest of the series to read.
kamisha's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0