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justlily's review against another edition
4.0
This was incredibly engrossing and also incredibly gross. Recently my best friend and I have been comparing stories of times books have made us gag. I can wholeheartedly confirm that this book gets added to the list. I definitely HURP *hand over mouth*ed a few times throughout.
That being said! It was SUCH a better read than the 5th Wave! And that's something since usually dystopia is more my thing. But this is totally different and much better. From the writing, to the plot, the characterization, everything.
Good stuff. Good, good stuff.
That being said! It was SUCH a better read than the 5th Wave! And that's something since usually dystopia is more my thing. But this is totally different and much better. From the writing, to the plot, the characterization, everything.
Good stuff. Good, good stuff.
audreychamaine's review against another edition
4.0
Three manuscript notebooks describe horrors witnessed by a twelve year-old monstrumologist's assistant in late nineteen-century New England. Orphaned Will Henry works for Dr. Warthrop, a driven, half-mad scientist who studies what the rest of us would call monsters. Late one night, a frightened grave-robber brings the corpse of a nightmare he discovered during his dark work, leading to a story of the discovery of and fight against an ancient man-eater, the Anthropophagi--a creature with no head and a mouth in its chest, believed by most to be a mere myth. Horror ensues as the doctor and his assistant become both hunter and prey.
I was surprised that the story revolved around this single monster from ancient literary sources, one that most people don't even know nowadays. Yancey does not shy away from grizzly scenes and bloody violence. At times, the story dragged to me, but I think it was due to the gothic literary genre in which he is working, so I found it forgivable. This is a dark adventure that probes the depths of human evil and morality.
I was surprised that the story revolved around this single monster from ancient literary sources, one that most people don't even know nowadays. Yancey does not shy away from grizzly scenes and bloody violence. At times, the story dragged to me, but I think it was due to the gothic literary genre in which he is working, so I found it forgivable. This is a dark adventure that probes the depths of human evil and morality.
shinygreenbeetle's review
4.0
This isn't exactly what I was looking for, but overall I enjoyed it. I've been looking for a good creepy book for a while now and have yet to find one. This is more gory than creepy. I would have given it 3 or 3.5 stars because there were a lot of things I just didn't really like about this book, but somehow I still really really enjoyed it and want to read the sequel.
liketheday's review against another edition
3.0
Our narrator is William James Henry, an orphan in the care of the eponymous doctor, Pellinore Warthrop. He, like his father before him, is Warthrop's assistant, helping him in endeavors small (the purchase of raspberry scones) and large (the autopsy of giant scary monsters). One night, a grave robber comes by all, "I was totally not robbing a grave, I don't know what you're talking about, but with that as a given, I found this dead giant scary monster in this grave I was robbing."
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silverhawk3799's review
4.0
Well written, descriptive and engaging. I enjoyed the book, but have to say that I don't see how this could be considered appropriate for young adults. It's not about the book containing violence, it's more about how well that violence is described. I've seen crime scenes that would easily fit what the author depicted. I just don't feel that is appropriate for the targeted age. Though I guess overall, media referring this group is becoming more overtly violent.
kostaparadise's review
3.0
I read this book for my family book club. It’s not something I would have ever picked up myself, but I found it enjoyable beginning to end. It was imaginative, suspenseful, and in some ways, introspective. I found myself reflecting on the ferocity of the anthropophagi, how they eat human flesh without any care of the life it had lived. I was disturbed to realize how we, as humans, are not much different when it comes to eating creatures we deem lowlier than us.
kuma_95's review against another edition
3.0
Un libro con una premisa interesante que va volviéndose previsible a medida que avanzan las páginas.
Los personajes tienden a ser bastante simples. El más interesante sale de mitad a final del libro y es casi peor que el monstruo.
Del monstruo puedo decir muchas cosas, es interesante pero a la vez me da la sensación que solo usa el hecho de ser una sociedad matriarcal para mostrar que son fieras e inferiores...
Llega un punto en que no te preocupas por ningún personaje ni por su destino ya que te lo desvelan con mucha antelación y más sabiendo que un Will adulto es el narrador. Y eso a veces juega en contra del libro ya que se supone que relata su yo de 12 años y pone palabras en su boca que no las diria un niño de 12. Que puedo entender que es el Will adulto pero igualmente saca de la inmersión que pueda darte el libro.
Y miedo lo que es miedo yo no lo he sentido hay más bien mucho gore, asco pero no miedo como tal y lo he echado en falta.
Tengo que plantarme si quiero leer los siguientes libros de la trilogía porque ahora mismo lo dudo.
Los personajes tienden a ser bastante simples. El más interesante sale de mitad a final del libro y es casi peor que el monstruo.
Del monstruo puedo decir muchas cosas, es interesante pero a la vez me da la sensación que solo usa el hecho de ser una sociedad matriarcal para mostrar que son fieras e inferiores...
Llega un punto en que no te preocupas por ningún personaje ni por su destino ya que te lo desvelan con mucha antelación y más sabiendo que un Will adulto es el narrador. Y eso a veces juega en contra del libro ya que se supone que relata su yo de 12 años y pone palabras en su boca que no las diria un niño de 12. Que puedo entender que es el Will adulto pero igualmente saca de la inmersión que pueda darte el libro.
Y miedo lo que es miedo yo no lo he sentido hay más bien mucho gore, asco pero no miedo como tal y lo he echado en falta.
Tengo que plantarme si quiero leer los siguientes libros de la trilogía porque ahora mismo lo dudo.
melmosby's review
3.0
I picked up this book a while ago and just now read it. I saw "monsters are real" on the back cover and I purchased it.
Will Henry is an amazing character. Dr. Warthrope is eccentric and the way he talks to Will Henry made me laugh - although I don't think it was supposed to be humorous.
As for being a horror book, I wasn't scared. I was afraid for Will Henry at times, but never did I need to have all the lights on.
There is gore and more gore, so if your are anti- gore. This isn't for you.
I may not read the rest of the series.
Will Henry is an amazing character. Dr. Warthrope is eccentric and the way he talks to Will Henry made me laugh - although I don't think it was supposed to be humorous.
As for being a horror book, I wasn't scared. I was afraid for Will Henry at times, but never did I need to have all the lights on.
There is gore and more gore, so if your are anti- gore. This isn't for you.
I may not read the rest of the series.
etc00's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0