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fastasashark's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
While the prose had some great moments, it sadly didn't have much in the way of suspense or tension. I also didn't find the darker/horror scenes didn't have enough atmosphere to them to have much of an impact or to contrast the pastoral side. I thought one of its main strengths was the nostalgia and relationship between Niles and his grandmother, Ada.
hucklebuck411's review against another edition
4.0
This is a period piece set in a small rural town of the 1930s. While on the surface it may appear as a "bad seed" story about two pre-pubescent teen boys, much like several of Stephen King's novels, it weaves horror with nostalgic memories of what it was like to be young in a final summer before the reality of adulthood intervenes. Horrible things are done, but the reader is left with the impression that something more, perhaps supernatural, has also taken place. It's these sorts of lingering questions that make such stories so memorable.
jamiezaccaria's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a bit to get into it but overall a successfully thrilling horror mystery with great twists.
merriconstance's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jimmypat's review against another edition
4.0
This was a surprisingly good read! While I figured out the first big twist in the story within the first 20 pages or so, some of the follow-up bomb shells were completely off my radar. I especially enjoyed the ending, which could be read very ambiguously; I feel I need to reread some of the descriptions of "the Thing" to really get at who is the narrator. Although, honestly, the ending is probably the same either way....
A slow moving book (but not in a bad way) with a hefty punch at the end.
A slow moving book (but not in a bad way) with a hefty punch at the end.
mark_lm's review against another edition
3.0
I don't read much horror (on purpose anyway), but it was Halloween. This story is pretty well done. It seemed to labor under my familiarity with the evil child genre - including at least one movie. In horror books one must suspend ones disbelief, of course, and the author should help out. While the characters in this novel were wringing their hands over the suspected or real actions of the protagonist, I fear that I might have just kicked his little ass.
chibichaostan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Child death
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Mental illness