Reviews

Out of Salem by Hal Schrieve

Only show reviews with written explanations

cseanread's review against another edition

2.0

DNF but not because it's a bad book! I just have come to realize that I am definitely no longer the target demographic for YA novels, lol. Too much angst for my blood (but man, I would've loved this in my teens/early 20s).

This is a great novel with a fantastic amount of diverse representation and emphasis on found families and community. I got about halfway before I decided to give up reading it, so I feel pretty good in saying that I would recommend this to fans of YA looking for more diverse casts.

noemiegb's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring

Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

positivelybooked's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

It was good. It took me forever to get through, though. I think it kind of started putting me in a slump.

insidealot's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

softgalaxy's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This book had a great strong start, especially with the different POVS. But after a while, it lost me.

I don’t really know what this book was about? I only finished it because I thought there might be some meaning to it, but it just ended like, bam!

What was the point of this book? I really don’t know. To explore bodily autonomy through fantasy racism and xenophobia? There were no explanations to how Z ended up being undead. There was no conclusion or explanation to Aysel’s powers towards the end.

Was it the power of friendship? Maybe? Was it to do with marginalised communities coming together? Kind of? If it was to do with community, it really didn’t make its point.

Whenever a plot started, it seemed to fizzle away. It never got resolved. What happened to rest of the werewolves? What about Mrs Dunnigan? What about Mr Weber? Some weird choices.

The characters also suddenly changed in certain sections. Like Tommy, he suddenly got involved. There was a moment where Z gets angry at Aysel for having a home? Like that felt out of character.

This book just left me confused and unsatisfied.

Content Warnings

caedocyon's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I was so! stressed!! out!!! for most of this book. Love when the fascism is no longer creeping but fully self-actualized. Spoiler: it ends on an optimistic note.

dracobatreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

overall this book was a pretty decent read. i really enjoyed how inclusive this book was, lots of representation and lots of good topics covered (some covered better than others ngl).

the story overall had lots of down parts, it took a while to pick up and get very interesting. there were parts i really enjoyed, and some parts that i didn’t. the world itself and the details about magic, the creatures within the world etc was sometimes confusing at times to follow, i thought it could’ve been more descriptive, i also thought the writing could’ve been more descriptive too but i did like how straight forward it was since the pov was from different kid’s perspectives.

i couldn’t tell right off the bat this was based in the 90s, and i felt this this book didn’t really have to be based in the 90s, it didn’t really add to the plot besdies the whole out of date terminology the kids were using, but that is just a personal choice. i did like the overall symbolism throughout the book being used too.

again, overall a very decent read and a book i maybe would come back to read again. the ending was very open ended and i would love to see more of how they are doing after the fact. it kinda ended abruptly.