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nuzulul_n's review against another edition
dark
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
3.25
I don't really know why this book does not creeps me out 😠i think its due to the slow-build up? Idk or maybe im just not a fan of horror book ðŸ˜
tottles's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Alcohol
blissb's review against another edition
5.0
I cant bring my self to put into words how this book made me feel, but I know that it will haunt me for a long time to come...
meg_teg's review against another edition
5.0
I've always loved the original movie for its brilliant 1989 charm (cheesiness), but was too chicken to read the book. But oh man, the book is gooooooooood :D
I didn't find it super blatantly scary, maybe because I knew the plot going in (or maybe just cuz I'm dead inside lol), but there were details in the book that still gave me chills, and the premise of the story in general is absolutely genius because it is human and relatable and grounded (pun intended lol) in mysteries that could very well exist just beyond our grasp of reality. The book is full of emotion and exploration of the human psyche that both movies couldn't really scratch the surface of. Seeing inside a person's mind as they consciously lose their sanity is a crazy ride.
The momentum of the second half of the book is invigorating. The silent war between mysterious forces of good and evil (mostly evil) using people as their pawns reminded me of Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy -- it gave me the same sense of excited dread.
I didn't find it super blatantly scary, maybe because I knew the plot going in (or maybe just cuz I'm dead inside lol), but there were details in the book that still gave me chills, and the premise of the story in general is absolutely genius because it is human and relatable and grounded (pun intended lol) in mysteries that could very well exist just beyond our grasp of reality. The book is full of emotion and exploration of the human psyche that both movies couldn't really scratch the surface of. Seeing inside a person's mind as they consciously lose their sanity is a crazy ride.
The momentum of the second half of the book is invigorating. The silent war between mysterious forces of good and evil (mostly evil) using people as their pawns reminded me of Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy -- it gave me the same sense of excited dread.
chassidynicole's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
skbledsoe's review against another edition
5.0
A great book that I put off reading forever. It's not a traditional horror, even though it makes clever nods and references to traditional horror like Frankenstein.
The thing that hit me the most, for the first two acts at least, is that it's a story of a guy in a new place with a wife and a kid and a stressful job. And he drinks. Like a lot. Without the supernatural element, it's the story of a man slowly deteriorating as the world around him unravels. His toddler son is hit by a truck and the world completely falls apart. He gets drunk and attacks his father in law and then drinks like a 30 pack of beer. Towards the end of the 2nd act, the writing gets superb, where each chapter moves between Louis's story, to Rachel's, and to Judd's. The way that each point of view is written helps contrasts the others, with Louis' world being haunted by demons and ghouls laughing and taunting him while Rachel fights against unknown forces keeping her away.
There is a supernatural element to it all, and it helps make the story tense and good. Overall, it's a great story dealing with loss, as it keeps coming back to the idea that some things are just supposed to end, and fighting that can lead to dire consequences.
The thing that hit me the most, for the first two acts at least, is that it's a story of a guy in a new place with a wife and a kid and a stressful job. And he drinks. Like a lot. Without the supernatural element, it's the story of a man slowly deteriorating as the world around him unravels. His toddler son is hit by a truck and the world completely falls apart. He gets drunk and attacks his father in law and then drinks like a 30 pack of beer. Towards the end of the 2nd act, the writing gets superb, where each chapter moves between Louis's story, to Rachel's, and to Judd's. The way that each point of view is written helps contrasts the others, with Louis' world being haunted by demons and ghouls laughing and taunting him while Rachel fights against unknown forces keeping her away.
There is a supernatural element to it all, and it helps make the story tense and good. Overall, it's a great story dealing with loss, as it keeps coming back to the idea that some things are just supposed to end, and fighting that can lead to dire consequences.
jiffy145's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
stephen u have done it again. i went nuts and read this in one day which i haven't been able to do in years and it made me feel sick to my stomach more than once. great shit
also i saw all ur references to ur other novels. u madman.
also i saw all ur references to ur other novels. u madman.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Animal death, Child death, and Death