Reviews

The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle

julesbarthe10's review

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

This is very much a blend of Girl interrupted and A bird flew over the cuckoos nest. A tale of the downsides and oversites that come with corrupts systems and people in the mental help industries. The stories of multiple patients and how our MMC interacted with them and the truths they made him realize while trying to just mentally survive in an institute that ignores dangers and just seeks to control its patients instead of help them.

goodnewsblues's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think the synopsis really hurt the expectations vs. reality aspect of this book. The devil-monster, instead of roaming the hallways and being a menacing figure, really takes a backseat to interpersonal relations and allegory. This book has horror scenes, but I don’t think I would overall consider it to be horror. What it actually is is a One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest-style social commentary on the mental health facilities in the US, and a look at how we treat the people inside that system. 

I did like this book, I just went into it expecting a very different plot. I would have probably enjoyed this more if I had more realistic idea of what it was going to be. Instead of a tense and creepy monster-stalking-the-dark-hallways kind of book, it’s got interesting characters, a lot of heart and emotion, and the plot kind of takes a backseat to that. 

gemgem18's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

shelbyc's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

peanutvue's review

3.0

the summary hurt the book, I expected more action but it was surprisingly lighthearted considering everything that was happening

pokeypuppy's review

Person dumped in a mental health ward by cops, and drugged before being actually evaluated or diagnosed with anything. I don’t want to read this.

sprainedbrain's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

darkcornerofthelibrary's review

informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.25

lisahoeflinger's review

I'm just bored. Nothing is happening.  There's no tension and I just don't care.

booksinthedark's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

2.0