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rburnham's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bowes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
drprd's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. not bad, but it feels like stranger things fan fiction...
tharrick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
shoostari's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
louloureadsbooks's review against another edition
Dnf at a car switch over on a rooftop carpark somewhere. I've forgotten where. I listened to this.
It started out really well and went along at a good clip. The action was just as I like it, enough to let you know that Hector clearly knew what he was about without going into soooo much detail it stops being fun and gets in the way of the story.
And then we got Natalie's story. In. Great. Detail.
I didn't know it was possible to be horrified (by what happened to Natalie, from crossing into America all the way to the Project and the others) and bored almost to tears. I was definitely so fed up I started yelling at the audio 'Yes! I get it now, bloody get on with it, I don't care how many times you ate or went into the broken room'.
I was THRILLED when the SUV with the baddies in it tried to run them off the road, it cut Natalie's blow by blow, I'm sorry I mean 'precise' account short. Bliss!
From her tedious accounts ' I cleaned my teeth, I cleaned each tooth 42 times'. She didn't actually say she'd done that, I made that bit up, but she might as well have done it. Everything else was about as riveting as tooth cleaning.
Absolutely tedious.
I liked that she had Tim as the voice she spoke to in her head. I believe this is the same Tim from 14 (which was joyously excellent by the way). And that's all I can find to like about her.
I keep hoping Peter Clines is going to write something along the lines of 14 and The Fold. I don't mind if it's not Threshold Universe. I just loved the grown-up Scooby-Doo/horrible but not tooo awful horror.
Clearly this is not the droid I am looking for.
I'll try his next book when/if it comes along.
It started out really well and went along at a good clip. The action was just as I like it, enough to let you know that Hector clearly knew what he was about without going into soooo much detail it stops being fun and gets in the way of the story.
And then we got Natalie's story. In. Great. Detail.
I didn't know it was possible to be horrified (by what happened to Natalie, from crossing into America all the way to the Project and the others) and bored almost to tears. I was definitely so fed up I started yelling at the audio 'Yes! I get it now, bloody get on with it, I don't care how many times you ate or went into the broken room'.
I was THRILLED when the SUV with the baddies in it tried to run them off the road, it cut Natalie's blow by blow, I'm sorry I mean 'precise' account short. Bliss!
From her tedious accounts ' I cleaned my teeth, I cleaned each tooth 42 times'. She didn't actually say she'd done that, I made that bit up, but she might as well have done it. Everything else was about as riveting as tooth cleaning.
Absolutely tedious.
I liked that she had Tim as the voice she spoke to in her head. I believe this is the same Tim from 14 (which was joyously excellent by the way). And that's all I can find to like about her.
I keep hoping Peter Clines is going to write something along the lines of 14 and The Fold. I don't mind if it's not Threshold Universe. I just loved the grown-up Scooby-Doo/horrible but not tooo awful horror.
Clearly this is not the droid I am looking for.
I'll try his next book when/if it comes along.
humvee's review against another edition
4.0
A fast action adventure romp with science-fiction horror elements. While by no means a knockoff, this story has a strong "Stranger Things" vibe, and you can see similarities between Nat and Eleven. You can tell that this story takes place in Peter Clines' shared universe with his other novels that have kind of a Cthulhu vibe. I agree with Clines, Pedro Pascale would make a great Hector in a Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or HBO television series adaptation!
teachinsci's review against another edition
5.0
A blockbuster adventure/horror-thriller in book form.
Hector is an ex-operative who is drinking himself to oblivion when SHE walks in... she being a tiny 12-year-old (Natalie) who needs help and has a way to get it from Hector. The adventure proceeds mostly from Hector's point of view except when Natalie tells her story and a few other select times. Shadowy operatives, wanton death and destruction, emotionless scientists performing horrific experiments on the helpless.... this book checks all of the boxes of why you should sympathize with the protagonists (and does it well).
Clines moves us through this dark world which is recognizably our own. He includes such details as the horrific travails of South American refugees trying to make it to America and the continuing ugliness of the reception they find. His characters are Hispanic and he has the honesty of writing to show the difference that makes in America. While not the focus of the book, the inclusion of the details is especially important because the are reality for so many. Ignoring them would have made for a less honest, and poorer book overall.
I have read many books by Peter Clines (LOVED his Ex-Heroes series), and always pick up his books given the chance. You should too.
Thank you to the publisher (#BlackstonePublishing) and Netgalley (#Netgalley) for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
#theBrokenRoom #PeterClines
Hector is an ex-operative who is drinking himself to oblivion when SHE walks in... she being a tiny 12-year-old (Natalie) who needs help and has a way to get it from Hector. The adventure proceeds mostly from Hector's point of view except when Natalie tells her story and a few other select times. Shadowy operatives, wanton death and destruction, emotionless scientists performing horrific experiments on the helpless.... this book checks all of the boxes of why you should sympathize with the protagonists (and does it well).
Clines moves us through this dark world which is recognizably our own. He includes such details as the horrific travails of South American refugees trying to make it to America and the continuing ugliness of the reception they find. His characters are Hispanic and he has the honesty of writing to show the difference that makes in America. While not the focus of the book, the inclusion of the details is especially important because the are reality for so many. Ignoring them would have made for a less honest, and poorer book overall.
I have read many books by Peter Clines (LOVED his Ex-Heroes series), and always pick up his books given the chance. You should too.
Thank you to the publisher (#BlackstonePublishing) and Netgalley (#Netgalley) for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
#theBrokenRoom #PeterClines
faviator's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0