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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had a really good premise but most of its execution was middling, muddling the message it could've sent
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book was feeling like 3.5 at the end of the day, but I want to be fairly positive towards it so I bumped it up to a four.
Those looking for a tense, thrilling, and horrific werewolf story should probably look elsewhere and I don't mean that in a negative way. There are parts where the story adopts horror elements, but it's does not exactly always take place in the realm of bestial monsters with fangs and claws. The werewolf portion mainly just serves as a backdrop/extended metaphor for sexual assault, something the author makes clear at the very beginning. I didn't really mind this aspect of the story. It reminded me of an adult horror book I read last year, Such Sharp Teeth, that also used lycanthropy as a metaphor for assault. However, it's use of the transformations were a little bit more central to the plot, where here a lot of the actual werewolf stuff doesn't really make an appearance until the end. I think this works well for the story Howl is, as the mental and social ramifications of Virgil's attack lead the conflict of the book.
While not exactly action packed, Howl engages its readers through following Virgil as he processes his trauma, navigates being the town outcast, and uncovers the mystery of what really attacked him out on the sprawl. The story takes a more grounded approach to a supernatural tale, focusing more on the bigotry and injustice that takes place in a small town that would rather sweep everything under the rug than face it head on. While it takes a rather slow approach, I found myself zipping through the book, curious as to how he would face his trauma and what it would all culminate to.
The end feels cathartic, though the answer to the mystery seems obvious from the beginning despite a last minute red herring. It never tried to muddy the waters since we know a monster attacked Virgil, but perhaps it was better for this particular story to play it straight due to the sensitivity of the material.
It's not exactly a story with a twist at every turn, nor is it a horror story that is particularly scary, at least, not in the paranormal way. It has darkness, it has some shreds of hope and connection here and there. It's a book that'll be known for its rawness, for its pain, but also for showing how to keep moving forward without becoming the monsters we've faced.
Those looking for a tense, thrilling, and horrific werewolf story should probably look elsewhere and I don't mean that in a negative way. There are parts where the story adopts horror elements, but it's does not exactly always take place in the realm of bestial monsters with fangs and claws. The werewolf portion mainly just serves as a backdrop/extended metaphor for sexual assault, something the author makes clear at the very beginning. I didn't really mind this aspect of the story. It reminded me of an adult horror book I read last year, Such Sharp Teeth, that also used lycanthropy as a metaphor for assault. However, it's use of the transformations were a little bit more central to the plot, where here a lot of the actual werewolf stuff doesn't really make an appearance until the end. I think this works well for the story Howl is, as the mental and social ramifications of Virgil's attack lead the conflict of the book.
While not exactly action packed, Howl engages its readers through following Virgil as he processes his trauma, navigates being the town outcast, and uncovers the mystery of what really attacked him out on the sprawl. The story takes a more grounded approach to a supernatural tale, focusing more on the bigotry and injustice that takes place in a small town that would rather sweep everything under the rug than face it head on. While it takes a rather slow approach, I found myself zipping through the book, curious as to how he would face his trauma and what it would all culminate to.
The end feels cathartic, though the answer to the mystery seems obvious from the beginning despite a last minute red herring. It never tried to muddy the waters since we know a monster attacked Virgil, but perhaps it was better for this particular story to play it straight due to the sensitivity of the material.
It's not exactly a story with a twist at every turn, nor is it a horror story that is particularly scary, at least, not in the paranormal way. It has darkness, it has some shreds of hope and connection here and there. It's a book that'll be known for its rawness, for its pain, but also for showing how to keep moving forward without becoming the monsters we've faced.
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read For:
Trauma
Werewolves
Secrets and Lies
Small Town Vibes
High School Setting
I thought the story would be promising, big horror and werewolf vibes from the cover and synopsis. However, nothing much actually happens. This book was dragged out for so long and I’m not sure why.
There were lots of depressing metaphors through out this book. The “monster attack” being one big metaphor for rape and is treated as such through out the book.
I hated almost all the characters and just kinda waited for it to get better but it never did. The setting was done nice at least. Giving the vibe of a judgmental small town with teenagers taking trauma of the new kid and turning it into a joke for them.
POV: First Person
Spice: n/a
Rep: Gay (MC), Queer (SCs), Mental Health
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry
What a wild ride! The constant repetition of a few lines really drives home the trauma of the off-screen attack at the beginning of the book. I did appreciate all the misdirection towards the central mystery, and I loved the drama class scenes.
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
If I hadn't had the audiobook, I wouldn't have finished it, but this was an entertaining read for a sick day. Full of Hutchinson's trademark weirdness and snark though with a bit more self-harm and body horror than I'd expected. A fun read but not one I'm gonna think about much now that it's done.