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dancingyoshi's review against another edition
I liked the concept but the writing was a little clunky.
meiravaid's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
ciarawh's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blogan27's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
curiiously's review
2.0
I liked the end of the book far more than I had when I started it. I enjoyed the world and the characters, and it was very funny. I was struggling through part one but found parts 2 and 3 far more enjoyable. The author's writing style was throwing me off massively as I kept having to read and reread the same paragraphs, feeling like I was missing details that weren't there in the first place. At times it was incredibly hard to follow. Despite that it was generally an enjoyable experience and the story was well done and interesting.
acereviews's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
midnightmoon_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Kidnapping, Medical content, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Self harm, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, and Suicide attempt
emilyyjjean's review
4.0
4 1/2
Normally my main problem with books is that the author takes a one book story and somehow manages to split it up into multiple books. This book is the opposite of that. There were a lot of different adventures and side quests, but each one was explained appropriately and everything fit into one novel!
At first I was really unsure about this book. I thought it was going to go on my DNF shelf, because I was having a hard time just reading 50 pages. But I will say that a little after 50 pages the story picked up and it really held my interest.
A lot of things happen, and I mean a lot. It's best to be really focused on what's happening, so you don't miss anything that's going on. One of the questions that I had when I first started reading was: Why is the Living Man so important? I think the question was beautifully answered at the end.
There's humor, drama, dead people, and a whole lot of action. I would definitely recommend this book! But maybe steer away if you're extremely squeamish.
Normally my main problem with books is that the author takes a one book story and somehow manages to split it up into multiple books. This book is the opposite of that. There were a lot of different adventures and side quests, but each one was explained appropriately and everything fit into one novel!
At first I was really unsure about this book. I thought it was going to go on my DNF shelf, because I was having a hard time just reading 50 pages. But I will say that a little after 50 pages the story picked up and it really held my interest.
A lot of things happen, and I mean a lot. It's best to be really focused on what's happening, so you don't miss anything that's going on. One of the questions that I had when I first started reading was: Why is the Living Man so important? I think the question was beautifully answered at the end.
There's humor, drama, dead people, and a whole lot of action. I would definitely recommend this book! But maybe steer away if you're extremely squeamish.
bookdeviant's review
4.0
See more of my reviews on my blog the Book Deviant
Dead Boys is a novel that defies genres, and is so hard to label that I find myself struggling on how to speak of this one. With a book like Dead Boys, it's hard to decide what was on purpose, and what wasn't meant to be, as well as how you're supposed to react to it. That might be hard to understand, but listen to this. I have never found a book that has so casually ripped off a person's penis, and went onto the next scene as if nothing serious had happened.
I'm completely serious right now.
That actually happened in this book, so it's obvious to say that if you're not comfortable with heavy gore, do not read this book. In fact, from what I've heard about Squailia's other novel, Viscera, you wouldn't want to read that one either. However, it isn't framed as if it's "heavy gore", but more like it's an every day event just as normal as brushing your teeth or combing your hair. It gets weird, it gets gross, but it's enthralling. So be prepared for that before going in. I went in looking for that, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed.
As much as this book was interesting to me, I must say that it took me a long time to make it through this book. Partially because I was in a bad slump, but also because the story dragged like hell. It was entertaining, but if nothing was moving the story along, it became stagnant, almost hard to read.
And then there was the mixing of two plots, and it just got confusing. I understood how one plot got in the way of the other, and how they complemented each other, but god make a decision. I loved one plot for it's action and in-depth look into Dead City's politics, and the other one for it's ingenuity, but I just couldn't get comfortable how one plot was solely action and the other was solely traveling.
Final Rating: ★★★½☆☆
Overall?
I loved this book for it's inability to conform, but I hated it for the inability to mix the plotlines well. I do have to admit that the ending of one of the plotlines had me laughing really hard, because, really, that's what this book seemed to be made to do: make you laugh at the grossest of things.
Would I Recommend?
Only to those who can handle it. I feel like the plots are just a hoop to jump through, something to get used to, but it's all worth it for that morbid humor.
Trigger warning for mention of off-page suicide, discussion of suicide, depression, heavy gore, brief description of off-page suicide, abuse mentions, death, lots of death, and lots of gore.
Dead Boys is a novel that defies genres, and is so hard to label that I find myself struggling on how to speak of this one. With a book like Dead Boys, it's hard to decide what was on purpose, and what wasn't meant to be, as well as how you're supposed to react to it. That might be hard to understand, but listen to this. I have never found a book that has so casually ripped off a person's penis, and went onto the next scene as if nothing serious had happened.
I'm completely serious right now.
That actually happened in this book, so it's obvious to say that if you're not comfortable with heavy gore, do not read this book. In fact, from what I've heard about Squailia's other novel, Viscera, you wouldn't want to read that one either. However, it isn't framed as if it's "heavy gore", but more like it's an every day event just as normal as brushing your teeth or combing your hair. It gets weird, it gets gross, but it's enthralling. So be prepared for that before going in. I went in looking for that, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed.
As much as this book was interesting to me, I must say that it took me a long time to make it through this book. Partially because I was in a bad slump, but also because the story dragged like hell. It was entertaining, but if nothing was moving the story along, it became stagnant, almost hard to read.
And then there was the mixing of two plots, and it just got confusing. I understood how one plot got in the way of the other, and how they complemented each other, but god make a decision. I loved one plot for it's action and in-depth look into Dead City's politics, and the other one for it's ingenuity, but I just couldn't get comfortable how one plot was solely action and the other was solely traveling.
Final Rating: ★★★½☆☆
Overall?
I loved this book for it's inability to conform, but I hated it for the inability to mix the plotlines well. I do have to admit that the ending of one of the plotlines had me laughing really hard, because, really, that's what this book seemed to be made to do: make you laugh at the grossest of things.
Would I Recommend?
Only to those who can handle it. I feel like the plots are just a hoop to jump through, something to get used to, but it's all worth it for that morbid humor.
Trigger warning for mention of off-page suicide, discussion of suicide, depression, heavy gore, brief description of off-page suicide, abuse mentions, death, lots of death, and lots of gore.
mikeiswhere's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was very difficult for me to rate. I could easily have gone with 4 stars.
The setting is wonderfully imaginative, and first and foremost this book is about journeys, both physical and emotional, and the growth that we experience on the way. In that capacity, it is a roaring success. The characters, once they are established, experience real development which feels earned.
There are some issues. The initial pacing of this book is very strange. It feels that the early chapters are somewhat of a muddle before the plot really establishes. There is also a lot of learning about new characters in the form of those characters talking about themselves at length. If you like a soliloquy, your good, of not, buckle in.
I would also say that the body horror in this story is pretty manageable, outside of the opening chapter. That passage alone was almost enough to stop me reading. Just know that ot does calm down a bit. I am very glad that I did finish this one.
The setting is wonderfully imaginative, and first and foremost this book is about journeys, both physical and emotional, and the growth that we experience on the way. In that capacity, it is a roaring success. The characters, once they are established, experience real development which feels earned.
There are some issues. The initial pacing of this book is very strange. It feels that the early chapters are somewhat of a muddle before the plot really establishes. There is also a lot of learning about new characters in the form of those characters talking about themselves at length. If you like a soliloquy, your good, of not, buckle in.
I would also say that the body horror in this story is pretty manageable, outside of the opening chapter. That passage alone was almost enough to stop me reading. Just know that ot does calm down a bit. I am very glad that I did finish this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror