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lotharith's review against another edition
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
karamelka_kar19's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Torture
susssu's review against another edition
5.0
I can't not rate this five stars, not when it's so wonderfully fucked up and great in creating this amazing bleakness, this half-mad man in a world that's everything I expect it to be in the not so distant future.
It's always dangerous for me to read books set in post-apocalyptic times, because they always mess with my head, but it's Klune so of course I had to read it. I say this in most of my Klune reviews but I just never cease to be amazed at his versatility. All his books, wether stand-alones or series, are so different from each other while still retaining that something, that quality that just makes it so enjoyable.
This book was different from other thing's I've read from Klune, not only in that it's so dark, but also because it has so little dialogue in comparison. It conveys Cavalo's voice so clearly and convincingly it's spooky. What I don't get is how people have tagged this as a romace above, for example, dystopian scifi. Did we read the same book? I expect Crisped + Sere might fit that description a little better, but the romance was more an afterthought in this one than the focus of the plot. In my not so humble opinion.
I have to say though, I'm not sure wheter or not I can read Crisped as soon as I get it. I think I'll have to brace myself first, because I can just smell the tears that will be in my future. Just let it not be Bad Dog. Or SIRS. Or Lucas. Or Cavalo. Just kill Patrick and the rest of his loonies, right? Why not make this a fairy tale, eh? Please?
It's always dangerous for me to read books set in post-apocalyptic times, because they always mess with my head, but it's Klune so of course I had to read it. I say this in most of my Klune reviews but I just never cease to be amazed at his versatility. All his books, wether stand-alones or series, are so different from each other while still retaining that something, that quality that just makes it so enjoyable.
This book was different from other thing's I've read from Klune, not only in that it's so dark, but also because it has so little dialogue in comparison. It conveys Cavalo's voice so clearly and convincingly it's spooky. What I don't get is how people have tagged this as a romace above, for example, dystopian scifi. Did we read the same book? I expect Crisped + Sere might fit that description a little better, but the romance was more an afterthought in this one than the focus of the plot. In my not so humble opinion.
I have to say though, I'm not sure wheter or not I can read Crisped as soon as I get it. I think I'll have to brace myself first, because I can just smell the tears that will be in my future. Just let it not be Bad Dog. Or SIRS. Or Lucas. Or Cavalo. Just kill Patrick and the rest of his loonies, right? Why not make this a fairy tale, eh? Please?
josy's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! That was certainly something else!
This is not your typical romance. In fact, this book reads like a nightmare you can't wake up from no matter how hard you try. Where you are trapped in a brutal, harsh, violent world and not succumbing to past and future pain is your only goal - barely surviving, certainly not living, but staying ahead of the ghosts that haunt you.
The world-building for this post-apocalyptic setting is incredible and the writing is different from what I am used to. I often felt lost in the hallucinations Cavalo experiences but I'm guessing that was the author's intent and it certainly emphasized how messed up and lost Cavalo really is.
I can't really relate to the characters because what they have experienced and the world they are living in is hard for me to grasp. TJ Klune isn't sugarcoating anything in this book. He gives us all the gory details with no way to hide. But this makes the few tender moments ('the ballad of bad dog') all the more powerful and beautiful - like a blossoming, colorful flower amidst a world filled with dark and gray.
Without trying to get too deep here but I have a feeling TJ Klune put a lot of thought into even the smallest details playing a role in this book.
I was really scared to pick this book up because of all the feelings it would evoke. I wasn't disappointed in that regard but it hasn't been as overwhelming as I feared. I'm not sure I will be able to say the same about the next book, though. Especially after TJ's warning that "... there is a war coming. And war always has casualties."
This is not your typical romance. In fact, this book reads like a nightmare you can't wake up from no matter how hard you try. Where you are trapped in a brutal, harsh, violent world and not succumbing to past and future pain is your only goal - barely surviving, certainly not living, but staying ahead of the ghosts that haunt you.
The world-building for this post-apocalyptic setting is incredible and the writing is different from what I am used to. I often felt lost in the hallucinations Cavalo experiences but I'm guessing that was the author's intent and it certainly emphasized how messed up and lost Cavalo really is.
I can't really relate to the characters because what they have experienced and the world they are living in is hard for me to grasp. TJ Klune isn't sugarcoating anything in this book. He gives us all the gory details with no way to hide. But this makes the few tender moments ('the ballad of bad dog') all the more powerful and beautiful - like a blossoming, colorful flower amidst a world filled with dark and gray.
Without trying to get too deep here but I have a feeling TJ Klune put a lot of thought into even the smallest details playing a role in this book.
Spoiler
That Cavalo's home is an old prison for he lives in a self-imposed prison of loneliness and seclusion. The name 'Dead Rabbits' and that Mr. Fluff was a rabbit as well? That SIRS and Bad Dog seem to be more human than any of the actual human characters in this book. And what does THAT say when we consider the fact that Cavalo projects his own thoughts onto Bad Dog?I was really scared to pick this book up because of all the feelings it would evoke. I wasn't disappointed in that regard but it hasn't been as overwhelming as I feared. I'm not sure I will be able to say the same about the next book, though. Especially after TJ's warning that "... there is a war coming. And war always has casualties."
jennjen's review against another edition
5.0
“You follow my lead.”
I follow you, for you are my MasterBossLord.
“You listen for my commands.”
I listen to you for you are my MasterBossLord.
“I will have your back.”
And I will have yours.
“Together.”
Together.
I went in this book not knowing anything about the story and I came out with so much love for the main characters. I fell in love with the bonds between Cavalo, Bad Dog and SIRS!! Their loyalty for each other has no end and is beautiful. And Lucas. Psycho Fucking Bulldog. His relationship with Cavalo is complex and filled with hatred and fear and respect. Knowing how they all are victims to their bees and are slowly losing to their insanity breaks my heart. This striking story is dark, violent and sad but it will make you feel so many things. I freaking loved this story and TJ’s writing is as beautiful as always!!
I follow you, for you are my MasterBossLord.
“You listen for my commands.”
I listen to you for you are my MasterBossLord.
“I will have your back.”
And I will have yours.
“Together.”
Together.
I went in this book not knowing anything about the story and I came out with so much love for the main characters. I fell in love with the bonds between Cavalo, Bad Dog and SIRS!! Their loyalty for each other has no end and is beautiful. And Lucas. Psycho Fucking Bulldog. His relationship with Cavalo is complex and filled with hatred and fear and respect. Knowing how they all are victims to their bees and are slowly losing to their insanity breaks my heart. This striking story is dark, violent and sad but it will make you feel so many things. I freaking loved this story and TJ’s writing is as beautiful as always!!
sarahb_'s review against another edition
4.0
I'm fairly sure at this point that I will love every book T.J. Klune has written and will write. This author has a way of writing so much depth into his characters, even an insane robot and dog. I just can't help but love them and T.J.'s writing style. He always manages to drag me in and keep me under until it's done.
Withered + Sere is dark and twisted. Luckily, I happen to have a thing for dark and twisted books so this was the perfect read for me.
I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series - Crisped + Sere
Withered + Sere is dark and twisted. Luckily, I happen to have a thing for dark and twisted books so this was the perfect read for me.
I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series - Crisped + Sere
claudia_marcela's review against another edition
4.0
He leído pocos libros de T. J. Klune (voy avanzando poco a poco en mi propósito de leérmelos todos) pero en cada uno he encontrado rasgos coloridos y esperanzadores y alegría o directamente diversión desquiciada. Sabemos que el autor tiene destreza de narrador gracias a las tramas tan diversas que puede manejar a la perfección para encantar al lector en cada una. Y aquí estoy frente a un libro que una vez más demuestra el gran narrador y caracterizador de personajes que es... pese a que no haya ningún elemento tan "colorido o divertido" como sus otros libros, porque esta historia es dura, pero no por eso menos conmovedora y digna de leer.
Cavalo es un hombre solitario que sobrevive casi loco y profundamente traumado en un mundo postapocalíptico, cien años después de un desastre nuclear a nivel mundial. Los únicos rastros de cordura que le quedan son gracias a su encantador perro Bad Dog, con el que dialoga en su cabeza, y la rutina que le permite seguir adelante pese a no tener razones para vivir. Tras un encuentro inesperado cuando se introduce en el territorio de los [i]Dead Rabbits[/i] cuando está cazando, su rutina se trastoca definitivamente.
Es gracias a ese prisionero/posterior compañero, un "psicópata" en palabras de sus compañeros, que logramos conocer a las personas de un pueblo cercano (del que el protagonista se aisla voluntariamente), otros personajes que aseguran ser miembros de un recién formado gobierno, y a los tan temidos [i]Dead Rabbits[/i] (un grupo de caníbales). Y conforme avanza la trama, vamos descubriendo porqué Cavalo se niega a formar parte de la "sociedad" y rehuye el contacto humano (su pasado es oscuro y trágico y garantiza romperte el corazón).
No todo es tristeza y tragedia, los diálogos de Bad Dog con Cavalo, o sus discusiones con SIRS (un robot que nos presentan en la segunda mitad) son enternecedoras o directamente graciosas y dan ligereza a los sucesos que transcurren. Incluso hay una pizca de atracción entre dos personajes, que si bien no es romance per sé, le da un toque esperanzador al futuro de nuestro prota... Aunque el cliffhanger del final no presagia nada bueno.
Incluye ilustraciones que le dan un plus a la historia.
El nivel de inglés para leer este libro no es muy avanzado. Alguien con nivel básico puede leerlo perfectamente.
Lo Mejor
La historia es ágil e interesante.
Lo Peor
Al final solo le faltó que aparecieran las letras "Continuará..." como en los finales de temporada cardíacos.
Citas
Here. Here I am. Here you are. I will not leave you. I belong to you, and you belong to me. I will help you through the storm.
We are nothing without the names we are given. It’s how we know who we are.
Cavalo felt something spark in the wasteland of his soul. The deadlands of his mind. It was a small thing, a dim thing. But it was there, and there was nothing the man could do to stop it.
It has taken losing my mind to find my soul.
Cavalo es un hombre solitario que sobrevive casi loco y profundamente traumado en un mundo postapocalíptico, cien años después de un desastre nuclear a nivel mundial. Los únicos rastros de cordura que le quedan son gracias a su encantador perro Bad Dog, con el que dialoga en su cabeza, y la rutina que le permite seguir adelante pese a no tener razones para vivir. Tras un encuentro inesperado cuando se introduce en el territorio de los [i]Dead Rabbits[/i] cuando está cazando, su rutina se trastoca definitivamente.
Es gracias a ese prisionero/posterior compañero, un "psicópata" en palabras de sus compañeros, que logramos conocer a las personas de un pueblo cercano (del que el protagonista se aisla voluntariamente), otros personajes que aseguran ser miembros de un recién formado gobierno, y a los tan temidos [i]Dead Rabbits[/i] (un grupo de caníbales). Y conforme avanza la trama, vamos descubriendo porqué Cavalo se niega a formar parte de la "sociedad" y rehuye el contacto humano (su pasado es oscuro y trágico y garantiza romperte el corazón).
No todo es tristeza y tragedia, los diálogos de Bad Dog con Cavalo, o sus discusiones con SIRS (un robot que nos presentan en la segunda mitad) son enternecedoras o directamente graciosas y dan ligereza a los sucesos que transcurren. Incluso hay una pizca de atracción entre dos personajes, que si bien no es romance per sé, le da un toque esperanzador al futuro de nuestro prota... Aunque el cliffhanger del final no presagia nada bueno.
Incluye ilustraciones que le dan un plus a la historia.
El nivel de inglés para leer este libro no es muy avanzado. Alguien con nivel básico puede leerlo perfectamente.
Lo Mejor
La historia es ágil e interesante.
Lo Peor
Al final solo le faltó que aparecieran las letras "Continuará..." como en los finales de temporada cardíacos.
Citas
Here. Here I am. Here you are. I will not leave you. I belong to you, and you belong to me. I will help you through the storm.
We are nothing without the names we are given. It’s how we know who we are.
Cavalo felt something spark in the wasteland of his soul. The deadlands of his mind. It was a small thing, a dim thing. But it was there, and there was nothing the man could do to stop it.
It has taken losing my mind to find my soul.
jcc_22's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yoda_bor's review against another edition
5.0
Malgré les apparences, il n’y a pas d’erreur dans le titre de ce livre qui est tiré d’un poème d’Edgar Allan Poe qui colle parfaitement à l’ambiance du récit.
Les cieux, ils étaient de cendre et graves ; les feuilles, elles étaient crispées et mornes – les feuilles, elles étaient périssables et mornes. C’était nuit en le solitaire Octobre de ma plus immémoriale année.
L’action prend place dans le futur, dans un monde ravagé par ce qui a sans doute été un cataclysme nucléaire et dans lequel les rares occupants survivent du mieux qu’ils peuvent.
Regroupés dans des petites villes, ils évitent pourtant une zone, celle où les radiations font toujours muter les animaux et où les occupants sont des Dead Rabbits, des êtres violents, cruels et mêmes cannibales.
C’est là que Cavalo, qui vit en solitaire dans l’Institut Correctionnel Nord de l’Idaho, va faire un prisonnier, Lucas. Un jeune homme muet qui pourrait pourtant bien se montrer crucial pour le futur et sur qui tous ceux qui cherchent du pouvoir vont tenter de mettre la main.
C’est la rencontre de deux humains blessés, de deux êtres dont les abeilles brouillent les pensées et qui ont du mal à réfléchir autrement qu’en psychopathes.
C’est aussi le début d’une reconnaissance et de l’ouverture du monde de Cavalo, lui qui ne vivait jusque là qu’avec Bad Dog, son chien qui ne parle qu’à lui, et SIRS, un robot qui rêve de devenir humain et dont les protocoles de sécurité sont devenus défaillants depuis bien longtemps.
C’est un roman noir, très sombre, avec la mort qui guette à chaque page mais un tout petit brin d’espoir qui brille et un humour qui n’est jamais loin.
C’est un premier tome que j’ai adoré découvrir, que ce soit pour l’écriture particulièrement ciselée de l’auteur, dont je lisais une oeuvre pour la première fois, qui a su me séduire, que pour l’univers mis en place et les personnages présentés.
Les cieux, ils étaient de cendre et graves ; les feuilles, elles étaient crispées et mornes – les feuilles, elles étaient périssables et mornes. C’était nuit en le solitaire Octobre de ma plus immémoriale année.
L’action prend place dans le futur, dans un monde ravagé par ce qui a sans doute été un cataclysme nucléaire et dans lequel les rares occupants survivent du mieux qu’ils peuvent.
Regroupés dans des petites villes, ils évitent pourtant une zone, celle où les radiations font toujours muter les animaux et où les occupants sont des Dead Rabbits, des êtres violents, cruels et mêmes cannibales.
C’est là que Cavalo, qui vit en solitaire dans l’Institut Correctionnel Nord de l’Idaho, va faire un prisonnier, Lucas. Un jeune homme muet qui pourrait pourtant bien se montrer crucial pour le futur et sur qui tous ceux qui cherchent du pouvoir vont tenter de mettre la main.
C’est la rencontre de deux humains blessés, de deux êtres dont les abeilles brouillent les pensées et qui ont du mal à réfléchir autrement qu’en psychopathes.
C’est aussi le début d’une reconnaissance et de l’ouverture du monde de Cavalo, lui qui ne vivait jusque là qu’avec Bad Dog, son chien qui ne parle qu’à lui, et SIRS, un robot qui rêve de devenir humain et dont les protocoles de sécurité sont devenus défaillants depuis bien longtemps.
C’est un roman noir, très sombre, avec la mort qui guette à chaque page mais un tout petit brin d’espoir qui brille et un humour qui n’est jamais loin.
C’est un premier tome que j’ai adoré découvrir, que ce soit pour l’écriture particulièrement ciselée de l’auteur, dont je lisais une oeuvre pour la première fois, qui a su me séduire, que pour l’univers mis en place et les personnages présentés.
dragonsgotenks's review against another edition
4.0
Post apocalyptic is my all time favorite genre and TJ is one of my favorite writers so I was very excited to read this. It's so well done, very bleak and haunting in a way I would expect the world to be after the events in the story. As usual TJ's ability to draw me in with his characters is unmatched as I found myself deeply invested in not only the people but also an unstable robot and a very good Bad Dog. Honestly I can't believe there is only one more book to the series.
(Be sure to check TW for this one and be aware that it's a much darker vibe than his more recent work.)
(Be sure to check TW for this one and be aware that it's a much darker vibe than his more recent work.)