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ipushbooks's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dragonlilly's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
2.0
I love tornadoes. This book had some really interesting concepts, and it was indeed an unsettling thriller that grips you at parts. However, I just found myself wanting to speed through some of the more descriptive parts that didnt seem to matter, and I was pretty annoyed by the main character constantly pulling away from people that were trying help her, like Cuthbert. I mean come on, she kind of owes Cuthbert at the end and he was pretty intelligent for figuring everything out and not keeping anything from the narrator. This probably could have been a slightly shorter and less annoying story, but it was good in its creativity.
katelinpro's review
dark
mysterious
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? N/A
2.0
lmcoffman's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- 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? Yes
3.5
mayonessa's review
4.0
Rating: 4.5 stars
*Spoilers Ahead*
In the vastness of corn fields in tornado valley, there hides something mysterious and sinister. In order for this unnamed Midwestern town to survive being ripped limb from limb by sentient tornados, they must provide a sacrifice. And unfortunately for our protagonist, that sacrifice is her.
I am going to be honest before this review and preface this by saying I am very biased about this book. I've been a big fan of James Kennedy and his work since I was a middle schooler, back when I first read The Order of Odd Fish . It became one of my favorite books. In 2015, I kept in touch with Mr. Kennedy because I started writing myself, and I wanted the perspective of a real published author and he had always been very gracious and nice to me as a fan. He then gave me the opportunity to beta-read his first rendition of Bride of the Tornado when I was 16/17 years old in 2015.
I know he had intended the book to be more YA, more so than his middle grade book Odd Fish . And I agreed with him that it was YA, and that I had loved it. It was different than his previous work, but as I was older I agreed that the book was very appropriate for young adult readers. However, his publisher didn't think so and so the book initially fell through. However, I always kept that first version of the book in the back of my mind. Kennedy's work has a tendency to stick with you, even when you don't think it will. For me at least it does.
However, no matter how hard I tried to separate the book from its original draft I couldn't. I kept comparing scenes, and little nuances that Kennedy changed when he re-updated the draft to be more palliative for an older audience. The first iteration of Bride will always have a special place in my heart. If you believe it, it was more unhinged and gruesome in some aspects than this published version of the book. And if you have read this version, you'll understand its not tame in any capacity.
That being said, despite all of my comparisons, Bride of the Tornado still felt like a new original story rather than just re-read. Kennedy embraces the horror genre in a sinister and Lynchian way that creates something almost dream like. The world in which the book is set in is so familiar yet alien. Kennedy's writing style creates a dream-like, eerie atmosphere that makes you question if what you are reading really happens or if its somehow metaphorical. This creates a disorienting reading experience that adds to the horrors that the book presents. The cult aspect of the book is a lot stronger in this version than in the original, which makes the narrative a lot more compelling in my opinion.
The strongest aspect of this story is our main protagonist and her relationships with the other characters. When I was 16, I gave Kennedy the note that I wanted a stronger romance between the Tornado Killer and the Bride. And he definitely did deliver. Their romance is tragic, written in blood and doomed from the start. And Kennedy definitely doesn't pull any punches regarding how much these characters longed for one another. I have always appreciated his way of depicting their attraction to one another without being uncomfortably graphic. His depiction of sexuality is very nuanced and while it is more poetic than literal, it still manages to convey the same messages as a traditional sex scene.
Cecilia and the protag's relationship always held a special place in my heart. I've been reiterating that line from that Dickinson poem since I read it eight years ago. I'm always a sucker for strong sister relationships in books. Cecilia was always my favorite character, and even though I've grown older and her antics seem more childish to me than relatable like they did when I was 16, I still found room to love her. I love her, I really do.
Mrs. Lois was also a really good addition to this version of the book. She did not exist in the original draft and now it's hard to think of this book without her. Establishing her relationship with the protag early on made her later death that much more terrifying. The lore of the Tornado Killer is definitely more fleshed out than it originally was, which is very much appreciated. It allows the book to maintain its mystery while also adhering to a specific unknown doctrine that keeps it grounded. It adds to the layer of the Thriller, that everyone else knows what's going on but you.
Something I had written to James Kennedy about the story back in 2015 still holds to this day:
On the subject of The Bride being nameless, I loved the Emily Dickinson reference. And it sort of seemed like it was a throwaway thing but as I read the book, I understood that a really big theme within the narrative is Identity. It's the fact that her real name is never mentioned (which is very well done and I think adds personality to the book). Not a lot of fiction leaves the protag nameless or never mentions their name. I think names in YA & teen books are very emphasized, because a lot can be said in a name and as teenagers, finding yourself and your own identity is so important but by you not giving her a name it takes a whole entire turn on the theme itself. She is a nobody because she does not have a name and is expected to live vicariously through her destiny and connection to a title and name she never asked for. Her real name is stripped and she is only ever referred to what other people want her to be "Slut" "little sister" "Bride of the Tornado". Never by her actual given name
Again in an early draft of the book, Mr. Z is a lot more actively sinister (he was the one who referred to the protag as a slut in the original, but that was cut out of this version). I feel as a villain he is more a passive participant, while the Brown Eyed Woman is the more active antagonist. I liked that change a lot. And the adults of the town are definitely more sinister in their ignorance. However, I still appreciate how Kennedy handled the themes and symbolism of sexual assault and rape in the book. I felt he did tame some scenes to make them less creepy or graphic regarding the girls going to Mr. Z's house, but he still manages to be respectful in his depiction of what is essentially a symbolic rape of our protagonist.
Also, I still don't care about Cuthbert Monks. Sorry James.
Overall, Bride of the Tornado finds the innate horror of living in the American Midwest and turns the dial to 100. You heard of Southern Gothic, now get ready for Midwestern Gothic. Bride of the Tornado offers a unique take on a cult story that offers gory visuals and romance as well. If you like seeing your protagonist be put through the wringer, but come out victorious after going through the worst summer of her life, this book is for you.
*Spoilers Ahead*
In the vastness of corn fields in tornado valley, there hides something mysterious and sinister. In order for this unnamed Midwestern town to survive being ripped limb from limb by sentient tornados, they must provide a sacrifice. And unfortunately for our protagonist, that sacrifice is her.
I am going to be honest before this review and preface this by saying I am very biased about this book. I've been a big fan of James Kennedy and his work since I was a middle schooler, back when I first read The Order of Odd Fish . It became one of my favorite books. In 2015, I kept in touch with Mr. Kennedy because I started writing myself, and I wanted the perspective of a real published author and he had always been very gracious and nice to me as a fan. He then gave me the opportunity to beta-read his first rendition of Bride of the Tornado when I was 16/17 years old in 2015.
I know he had intended the book to be more YA, more so than his middle grade book Odd Fish . And I agreed with him that it was YA, and that I had loved it. It was different than his previous work, but as I was older I agreed that the book was very appropriate for young adult readers. However, his publisher didn't think so and so the book initially fell through. However, I always kept that first version of the book in the back of my mind. Kennedy's work has a tendency to stick with you, even when you don't think it will. For me at least it does.
However, no matter how hard I tried to separate the book from its original draft I couldn't. I kept comparing scenes, and little nuances that Kennedy changed when he re-updated the draft to be more palliative for an older audience. The first iteration of Bride will always have a special place in my heart. If you believe it, it was more unhinged and gruesome in some aspects than this published version of the book. And if you have read this version, you'll understand its not tame in any capacity.
That being said, despite all of my comparisons, Bride of the Tornado still felt like a new original story rather than just re-read. Kennedy embraces the horror genre in a sinister and Lynchian way that creates something almost dream like. The world in which the book is set in is so familiar yet alien. Kennedy's writing style creates a dream-like, eerie atmosphere that makes you question if what you are reading really happens or if its somehow metaphorical. This creates a disorienting reading experience that adds to the horrors that the book presents. The cult aspect of the book is a lot stronger in this version than in the original, which makes the narrative a lot more compelling in my opinion.
The strongest aspect of this story is our main protagonist and her relationships with the other characters. When I was 16, I gave Kennedy the note that I wanted a stronger romance between the Tornado Killer and the Bride. And he definitely did deliver. Their romance is tragic, written in blood and doomed from the start. And Kennedy definitely doesn't pull any punches regarding how much these characters longed for one another. I have always appreciated his way of depicting their attraction to one another without being uncomfortably graphic. His depiction of sexuality is very nuanced and while it is more poetic than literal, it still manages to convey the same messages as a traditional sex scene.
Cecilia and the protag's relationship always held a special place in my heart. I've been reiterating that line from that Dickinson poem since I read it eight years ago. I'm always a sucker for strong sister relationships in books. Cecilia was always my favorite character, and even though I've grown older and her antics seem more childish to me than relatable like they did when I was 16, I still found room to love her. I love her, I really do.
Mrs. Lois was also a really good addition to this version of the book. She did not exist in the original draft and now it's hard to think of this book without her. Establishing her relationship with the protag early on made her later death that much more terrifying. The lore of the Tornado Killer is definitely more fleshed out than it originally was, which is very much appreciated. It allows the book to maintain its mystery while also adhering to a specific unknown doctrine that keeps it grounded. It adds to the layer of the Thriller, that everyone else knows what's going on but you.
Something I had written to James Kennedy about the story back in 2015 still holds to this day:
On the subject of The Bride being nameless, I loved the Emily Dickinson reference. And it sort of seemed like it was a throwaway thing but as I read the book, I understood that a really big theme within the narrative is Identity. It's the fact that her real name is never mentioned (which is very well done and I think adds personality to the book). Not a lot of fiction leaves the protag nameless or never mentions their name. I think names in YA & teen books are very emphasized, because a lot can be said in a name and as teenagers, finding yourself and your own identity is so important but by you not giving her a name it takes a whole entire turn on the theme itself. She is a nobody because she does not have a name and is expected to live vicariously through her destiny and connection to a title and name she never asked for. Her real name is stripped and she is only ever referred to what other people want her to be "Slut" "little sister" "Bride of the Tornado". Never by her actual given name
Again in an early draft of the book, Mr. Z is a lot more actively sinister (he was the one who referred to the protag as a slut in the original, but that was cut out of this version). I feel as a villain he is more a passive participant, while the Brown Eyed Woman is the more active antagonist. I liked that change a lot. And the adults of the town are definitely more sinister in their ignorance. However, I still appreciate how Kennedy handled the themes and symbolism of sexual assault and rape in the book. I felt he did tame some scenes to make them less creepy or graphic regarding the girls going to Mr. Z's house, but he still manages to be respectful in his depiction of what is essentially a symbolic rape of our protagonist.
Also, I still don't care about Cuthbert Monks. Sorry James.
Overall, Bride of the Tornado finds the innate horror of living in the American Midwest and turns the dial to 100. You heard of Southern Gothic, now get ready for Midwestern Gothic. Bride of the Tornado offers a unique take on a cult story that offers gory visuals and romance as well. If you like seeing your protagonist be put through the wringer, but come out victorious after going through the worst summer of her life, this book is for you.
baby_casserole's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.0
I really struggled on how to rate this book. I don't know if the story was objectively good but it kept me enthralled. The slow burn from a little weird to full on batshit was good, by the end I was so wrapped up in the crazy I forgot how normal the story started. Somehow, impossibly, the final act almost became predictable?
In all this book kind of gave me a headache but I feel like I finally understand the lyrics "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together"
One month later update: I still don't know what to think of this book but the thing is I can't stop thinking of this book.
In all this book kind of gave me a headache but I feel like I finally understand the lyrics "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together"
One month later update: I still don't know what to think of this book but the thing is I can't stop thinking of this book.
shellbean's review
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
claudiafp's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75