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theeclecticreview's review
The premise sounded good, but I could not get past the verbosity.
hellobookbird's review
1.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 20%
I was absolutely hooked by the title + the cover + synopsis. There was no way that I wasn't requesting this because it was going to be a surefire winner with me. When I was approved for the ARC, I was totally pumped.
As another reviewer so eloquently put it: "The cover of this book is incredible but what the hell is inside?" The writing style was absolutely chaotic and a complete mess. I'm sure there was a creative reason for it but unfortunately I wasn't able to follow and enjoy. I struggled to understand what was going on between the flipped perspectives and players. A promising plot that hopefully others will be able to decipher.
DNF @ 20%
I was absolutely hooked by the title + the cover + synopsis. There was no way that I wasn't requesting this because it was going to be a surefire winner with me. When I was approved for the ARC, I was totally pumped.
As another reviewer so eloquently put it: "The cover of this book is incredible but what the hell is inside?" The writing style was absolutely chaotic and a complete mess. I'm sure there was a creative reason for it but unfortunately I wasn't able to follow and enjoy. I struggled to understand what was going on between the flipped perspectives and players. A promising plot that hopefully others will be able to decipher.
mellomorissa's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
cemoses's review
3.0
My review is a 3.5. The book is hard to understand at first. I have read other books like start like this book where the book starts out with several stories In the beginning it is hard to see how this bits and pieces come together. If this this were my only issue with the book I would give it a four.
The book has a lot of potential. This novel has an interesting and different premise. The book had both suspense and humor. I liked some of the characters.
However, the book had some major flaws. The first is the number of murdered children. The novel seems to imply that there are many groups for murdered children across the country with about five members each year. passing through each group. This statistic is way too high. Maybe if it was one meeting location in New York City where all the murdered children from everywhere in the US attended., the novel might be believable..
The other part of the novel that I did not like is that it raised many questions that it did not answer. Some situations the book presents are supposedly very irregular I wanted to see how and if things returned to the books normal. I wanted a better resolution and closure in the book.
In short, I felt this was a book with some very good parts but failed to pull all its different themes effectively together. Also I found some of the premises of the book unbelievable even though it is a fantasy novel.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book has a lot of potential. This novel has an interesting and different premise. The book had both suspense and humor. I liked some of the characters.
However, the book had some major flaws. The first is the number of murdered children. The novel seems to imply that there are many groups for murdered children across the country with about five members each year. passing through each group. This statistic is way too high. Maybe if it was one meeting location in New York City where all the murdered children from everywhere in the US attended., the novel might be believable..
The other part of the novel that I did not like is that it raised many questions that it did not answer. Some situations the book presents are supposedly very irregular I wanted to see how and if things returned to the books normal. I wanted a better resolution and closure in the book.
In short, I felt this was a book with some very good parts but failed to pull all its different themes effectively together. Also I found some of the premises of the book unbelievable even though it is a fantasy novel.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
amandae129's review
4.0
This is definitely a different book than I've read before. It's a mix of magical realism, mystery, literary fiction, and police procedural. The beginning is confusing, but I think that may be the point. If you keep going, it is an interesting ride. I look forward to seeing what this author does in the future.
Out March 20th 2018. Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC.
Out March 20th 2018. Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC.
jessietherose's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, and Violence
littleroseygirl's review
3.0
Mysterious, mystical, and unusual are all words that can be used to describe Sarah Sparrow’s debut novel, A Guide for Murdered Children. Confusing, scattered, and dragging at parts are also words that can be used to describe this novel. I picked up this book as an ARC from NetGalley back in October. I had high hopes, I really did. A story about murdered children who come back to avenge their deaths? Magnificent! Unique! Sure to be incredible! A Guide for Murdered Children did meet my expectations in many ways. But it also missed the mark in others.
My full review can be found here.
I received a free digital advance reader's copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My full review can be found here.
I received a free digital advance reader's copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
rmarcin's review
3.0
I don't know why I picked up this book to read, whether it was on a list or if it was highlighted at the library. In any case, I found the book in my pile to read. The book is about murdered children who return "to life" in the form of tenants in a landlord's body. The "landlord" is also dead, and provide a body for the tenant to use while they embark on achieving their moment of balance. Willow Wylde, an alcoholic, and a cop, senses their presence. He becomes part of a cold case squad, and is assigned to find the killer of a brother and sister who disappeared 20 years earlier. It so happens that Troy and Maya, the abducted children, were the children of friends of his.
This is a very disturbing story of child abductors and torturers. It tries to allow the children to confront their abusers and murderers.
An interesting concept, but it was a little too creepy for me.
#AGuideForMurderedChildren #SarahSparrow
This is a very disturbing story of child abductors and torturers. It tries to allow the children to confront their abusers and murderers.
An interesting concept, but it was a little too creepy for me.
#AGuideForMurderedChildren #SarahSparrow
thelonia's review
4.0
A wild ride involving dead kids, a whole bunch of characters, a couple of murderers, all in a book that you'll know if you like or not within the first few pages. Fortunately, I liked it.
Read the Full Review at Quill & Slate
Read the Full Review at Quill & Slate