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megadeathvsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
The style was a bit choppy - I would have liked longer scenes with each character. Overall, though, great book. I normally don't like serial killer books (too real), but this one was a fascinating twist on the genre.
tricapra's review against another edition
3.0
Well written, but I feel like the ending wasn't worth the journey? It just never caught me.
savalaur's review against another edition
2.0
While the premise was promising--serial killer thrills meets time travel intrigue--I never felt like I had enough time to fully connect with the characters. Some of the characterization was great, but I could have done with a narrower scope of people and more focus on the characters I actually began to be invested with.
It kept me interested, but not devouring. More like a light meal that reminds you you're not that hungry than a feast.
It kept me interested, but not devouring. More like a light meal that reminds you you're not that hungry than a feast.
purplepaste's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
billymac1962's review against another edition
5.0
Edit: Wow, my 500th review!
For the longest time as I was reading this, I was wondering at the average rating of the book sitting at 3.47. Pretty low for what was one of the "It" books of a few years ago.
Now that I've finished the book I can check out the lower rating reviews (my experience has shown the lower the rating the higher the risk of spoilers), and what I've found is that most people had issues understanding motive and that the story dragged.
I couldn't disagree more. As far as the story went, I could hardly put the book down. It seems that Ms Beukes has been heavily influenced by the master of storytelling. This reads very much like a Stephen King novel, and I thought the characters were very well described.
As far as the killer's motive goes? I can explain that very well:
He was a sick fuck. How's that?
Okay, you want deeper? He's a misogynist who wants to kill these "shining" girls because they are above the norm of society and it gets his rocks off to visit them when they're young girls and link them with tokens, all the while knowing something they don't: that he will butcher them (and already has in his past).
Better?
Now, be warned that the whole time travel thing isn't going to be explained to you. So don't worry about it. Accept it as a magical plot device and move on.
This was a very cool book with a fantastic premise and executed brilliantly. I think it deserves 5 stars for keeping me so hooked, and that's exactly what I'm going to give it. I will look forward to Broken Monsters.
For the longest time as I was reading this, I was wondering at the average rating of the book sitting at 3.47. Pretty low for what was one of the "It" books of a few years ago.
Now that I've finished the book I can check out the lower rating reviews (my experience has shown the lower the rating the higher the risk of spoilers), and what I've found is that most people had issues understanding motive and that the story dragged.
I couldn't disagree more. As far as the story went, I could hardly put the book down. It seems that Ms Beukes has been heavily influenced by the master of storytelling. This reads very much like a Stephen King novel, and I thought the characters were very well described.
As far as the killer's motive goes? I can explain that very well:
Spoiler
He was a sick fuck. How's that?
Okay, you want deeper? He's a misogynist who wants to kill these "shining" girls because they are above the norm of society and it gets his rocks off to visit them when they're young girls and link them with tokens, all the while knowing something they don't: that he will butcher them (and already has in his past).
Better?
Now, be warned that the whole time travel thing isn't going to be explained to you. So don't worry about it. Accept it as a magical plot device and move on.
This was a very cool book with a fantastic premise and executed brilliantly. I think it deserves 5 stars for keeping me so hooked, and that's exactly what I'm going to give it. I will look forward to Broken Monsters.
kriavidar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
_cherish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
I liked the show a lot more than the book.
sandygx260's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a reader that needs to know why certain things work, even in a fantastical setting. I need rules. In The Shining Girls, author Buekes never explains about the House, the novel's true main malevolent character. She makes no attempt.
This time I accepted the lack, due to the amazing characters and overall bizarre quality of this riveting novel. The novel is strewn with gruesome deaths, some in grotesque detail, that made me squirm. Animals are tormented and killed, which usually is a complete deal breaker for me as a reader. But Beukes uses these incidents to show the evil in the killer Curtis Harper. He was evil as a child... did the House recognize his evil and welcome him? Did he feed the House or did it feed him?
Did Harper's evil create the House?
Buekes lets the reader determine the outcome. She's a tough love writer, leaving the reader to draw many conclusions. If a reader doesn't want to do the heavy lifting, they won't enjoy this novel.
Me, ha, I sat there crying and shivering as I read the ending, always the hallmark of a great read. The Shining Girls isn't for everyone, but it hit my reading sweet spot.
This time I accepted the lack, due to the amazing characters and overall bizarre quality of this riveting novel. The novel is strewn with gruesome deaths, some in grotesque detail, that made me squirm. Animals are tormented and killed, which usually is a complete deal breaker for me as a reader. But Beukes uses these incidents to show the evil in the killer Curtis Harper. He was evil as a child... did the House recognize his evil and welcome him? Did he feed the House or did it feed him?
Did Harper's evil create the House?
Buekes lets the reader determine the outcome. She's a tough love writer, leaving the reader to draw many conclusions. If a reader doesn't want to do the heavy lifting, they won't enjoy this novel.
Me, ha, I sat there crying and shivering as I read the ending, always the hallmark of a great read. The Shining Girls isn't for everyone, but it hit my reading sweet spot.
kleddy13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
I loved the structure and the originality of the plot, and the authors writing style. I predicted the ending half way through the book which is slightly disappointing in a thriller. I would rather an ending that I could have never predicted than one that makes me happy for the protagonist. I also only felt really emotionally attached to two characters, Tokyo the dog and the abortion activist who had a very short chapter. All around I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it, but it’s not perfect (what book ever is!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail