Scan barcode
graceheartsbooks's review
4.75
So I didn’t know this til I had the book in my hands but this is technically two books in one (or rather two novellas in one). I originally reviewed them together here but to keep it consistent with my Notion, I’ve reviewed Chasing the Light separately (so sorry if it seems wonky). I don’t typically review short stories/bonus content in full length novels but this was the exception.
I found the beginning of this novella slow but came to love it as I read on.
I found the beginning of this novella slow but came to love it as I read on.
I wasn’t sure how to feel about this one at first but I really enjoyed as I got more into the story. I don’t know how but Alexis Hall always manages to make me like characters that I wouldn’t have otherwise been interested in or liked.
(Although I admit I think I may have related a bit too much to Marius. I can be grouchy, very literal minded and I do still sleep with stuffed animals despite now being in my 20s without shame lol)
It was nice to get a glimpse of Marius’ side of his and Edwin’s story and, this may seem like an odd compliment, but I loved his parents. I’ve read about six of Alexis Hall’s books now and so far there haven’t been many of his parental figures that have been kind or genuinely seemed to be so loving/supportive. It was healing in a way❤️
There were two specific thoughts that Alexis proposed in his annotations. One was how Marius/Edwin didn’t necessarily work out because they were so different but because they were so much alike.
The second one was about how even though they’re with different people now, they can still love each other and not let that diminish the relationships they have now. I’m going to be thinking about those musings for a while.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
_isabel_'s review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Disclaimer: so this novella is part of the new edition of "Waiting for the Flood", for which I received an ARC from Netgalley, but since I loved that one so much, I couldn't stand to write this not-so-positive review in the same section of a book that felt so special to me. So separate reviews it is.
So, where to start. The bundle of these novellas, "Waiting for the Flood" and "Chasing the Light", is the perfect example of why at times Alexis Hall's writing works for me perfectely ("Waiting for the Flood" is my favourite of his to date, and made me cry my eyes out) and why in other instances it doesn't work for me at all.
So yep, I really disliked this novella.
I love redemption arc stories, I really do, and I also love asshole characters that hide behind a mask of hurtful words and unlovable attitudes to protect their squishy, vulnerable hearts and hidden pains. Ash, in "Glitterland", is the perfect example: he's an asshole, he's mean, and he's also depressed, afraid, terrified, lost, and wholly relatable for it.
Marius, in some ways, has a bit of that in him too: he lashes out and makes a ton of mistakes, hides behing stupid, hurtful words and a self-distructive façade, but yeah... I don't know, unlike Ash, I didn't relate to him at ALL (despite the fact that (view spoiler)), and I just didn't like him. Not one bit. He's mean, he's entitled, he's insensitive, he's a brat (and not the fun type), he absolutely does not learn from his mistakes and keeps acting up and being an asshole up until the very end, when he suddenly has a change of heart. Yep, nope, not buying it.
Alexis Hall's humour walks a very fine line between being hilarious and heartfelt and snarky in a good way (i.e. "Ten Things That Never Happened", "Glitterland"), and being so mean it stops being funny; this was the case with Marius. He reminded me of Luc, and if you've read my reviews of Hall's stuff since my ill-fated reading of Husband Material, that is not a good thing.
Also, Leo was... bland. So very unlike Alexis Hall's usually incredible and unforgettable love interests. So not even the romance worked for me.
I'm giving this two stars only because of Marius's parents (I LOVED THEM TO BITS) and the Edwin and Adam crumbs (my precious babies).
Redemption arc? Not achieved.
I'm still excited for "For Real" though.
So, where to start. The bundle of these novellas, "Waiting for the Flood" and "Chasing the Light", is the perfect example of why at times Alexis Hall's writing works for me perfectely ("Waiting for the Flood" is my favourite of his to date, and made me cry my eyes out) and why in other instances it doesn't work for me at all.
So yep, I really disliked this novella.
I love redemption arc stories, I really do, and I also love asshole characters that hide behind a mask of hurtful words and unlovable attitudes to protect their squishy, vulnerable hearts and hidden pains. Ash, in "Glitterland", is the perfect example: he's an asshole, he's mean, and he's also depressed, afraid, terrified, lost, and wholly relatable for it.
Marius, in some ways, has a bit of that in him too: he lashes out and makes a ton of mistakes, hides behing stupid, hurtful words and a self-distructive façade, but yeah... I don't know, unlike Ash, I didn't relate to him at ALL (despite the fact that (view spoiler)), and I just didn't like him. Not one bit. He's mean, he's entitled, he's insensitive, he's a brat (and not the fun type), he absolutely does not learn from his mistakes and keeps acting up and being an asshole up until the very end, when he suddenly has a change of heart. Yep, nope, not buying it.
Alexis Hall's humour walks a very fine line between being hilarious and heartfelt and snarky in a good way (i.e. "Ten Things That Never Happened", "Glitterland"), and being so mean it stops being funny; this was the case with Marius. He reminded me of Luc, and if you've read my reviews of Hall's stuff since my ill-fated reading of Husband Material, that is not a good thing.
Also, Leo was... bland. So very unlike Alexis Hall's usually incredible and unforgettable love interests. So not even the romance worked for me.
I'm giving this two stars only because of Marius's parents (I LOVED THEM TO BITS) and the Edwin and Adam crumbs (my precious babies).
Redemption arc? Not achieved.
I'm still excited for "For Real" though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
craftyhilary's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Alexis Hall takes the absent villain, Marius, from Waiting for the Flood and makes him the protagonist of this slightly longer novella. There's a similar style meet-cute, similar whimsical banter, and a love interest who is, like Adam in Waiting for the Flood, a bit vaguely drawn compared to the main character. Plus the usual metaphor stuff. Marius spends the vast majority of the book behaving like a colossal jerk. It turns out he's dealing with something that most reasonable people would find devastating, and yet it seems that he was always a difficult person, so it's hard to attribute all of his terrible behavior to that one thing, which might make it more understandable, if not necessarily forgivable. This was prettily written, but I think it was unwise to draw Marius as such a bad guy and then try to give him a redemption arc. I also had some issues with the love interest's backstory, but I can't address them without spoilers. Overall, I found the book unconvincing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder
noraaa_9999's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! (the story comes with the new edition of "Waiting for the Flood").
This story is promoted as additional Novella about Marius from "Waiting for the Flood" but actually is much longer than the first story XD
I was very curious to get to know the character Marius, and had imagined him completely different from how Edwin described him in Waiting for the Flood. We get to know a very insecure and unhappy Marius, who has stuff to deal with and so far has not opened up to anyone about it, which impacted his relationship to Edwin and his parents. After the chance encounter with Leo, the story is set over just a few days and we see how Marius opens up a bit. The characters are lovable, and even though it still is a short book, you'll go through all the emotions. I definitely recommend to read this one!
This story is promoted as additional Novella about Marius from "Waiting for the Flood" but actually is much longer than the first story XD
I was very curious to get to know the character Marius, and had imagined him completely different from how Edwin described him in Waiting for the Flood. We get to know a very insecure and unhappy Marius, who has stuff to deal with and so far has not opened up to anyone about it, which impacted his relationship to Edwin and his parents. After the chance encounter with Leo, the story is set over just a few days and we see how Marius opens up a bit. The characters are lovable, and even though it still is a short book, you'll go through all the emotions. I definitely recommend to read this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Eating disorder
More...