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badatplants's review against another edition
5.0
My first absolute, hand’s down, no-doubt-about it 5-star book in awhile
huffle_puffer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hirvimaki's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very good read. I usually shy away from themes of serial killers or real human evils - I much prefer to have bad guys be bad things (zombies or vampires or trolls or something removed from humanity). N0S4A2 has plenty of fantasy and magic (of a sort) but it does not divorce the violence and depravity from the human element as much as I usually like. That being said, Joe Hill does a great job of showing the creepy and evil without it being gratuitous. Well worth the read, with some great twists and truly well-developed characters.
njdarkish's review against another edition
5.0
For starters, if you pick this up, do yourself a favor and get the audiobook: the narrator is fantastic and adds to the creepiness.
This is one of the best horror novels I've ever read. At least one of my tops of recent memory.
Joe Hill is a solid writer-- I've picked up other books he's previously written and enjoyed them. Horns was decent, Heart-Shaped Box was fun, 20th Century Ghosts had some phenomenal stories, Locke and Key was an enjoyable comic series. With NOS4A2 he's at the height of his powers. The writing is horrifying, and has a nightmarish dream logic that really got under my skin. The characters are fantastic-- villains are motivated by their own warped perspectives on the world, and so are the heroes, for that matter. The magic of the world is well-thought out and compelling to learn more about.
This book has made me go from passively enjoying Hill to being ravenous to pick up his next book, and the one after that.
This is one of the best horror novels I've ever read. At least one of my tops of recent memory.
Joe Hill is a solid writer-- I've picked up other books he's previously written and enjoyed them. Horns was decent, Heart-Shaped Box was fun, 20th Century Ghosts had some phenomenal stories, Locke and Key was an enjoyable comic series. With NOS4A2 he's at the height of his powers. The writing is horrifying, and has a nightmarish dream logic that really got under my skin. The characters are fantastic-- villains are motivated by their own warped perspectives on the world, and so are the heroes, for that matter. The magic of the world is well-thought out and compelling to learn more about.
This book has made me go from passively enjoying Hill to being ravenous to pick up his next book, and the one after that.
kdrumm13's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing
Had me on the edge of my seat the whole time - a great read. Gruesome, suspensful, sometimes cheery all rolled into one book.
Had me on the edge of my seat the whole time - a great read. Gruesome, suspensful, sometimes cheery all rolled into one book.
alleycat93's review against another edition
5.0
Pshycological twist, supernatural, hint of gore, with a badass female protagonist? Sign me up! This was a great read, a little slow in the middle for me but then it picked right back up. First Joe Hill book I've read, looking forward to reading more of his works.
kproctor2's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
curiouslyjade's review against another edition
4.0
Tightly-written, at times terrifying treat. I always knew I hated Christmas music.
amanda1793's review against another edition
4.0
Great first way to experience Hill's novel writing (I have read the Locke and Key graphic novel series).
I will say I'm glad there was a nice "wrap up" I felt that it was missing a little something though.
Kate Mulgrew is absolutely a fantastic narrator for this novel. She does enough creepy voices to fit the needs of this book and I was actually terrified at times.
I will say I'm glad there was a nice "wrap up" I felt that it was missing a little something though.
Kate Mulgrew is absolutely a fantastic narrator for this novel. She does enough creepy voices to fit the needs of this book and I was actually terrified at times.