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vince_reads's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
While some of the jokes fall flat and feel dated, enough conjure true belly laughs to forgive the missteps. Moore is kind of unhinged. Yet, I devoured this book and appreciated the creativity of it all. It felt like anything could happen in this story, and it would have worked.
Even though no sharks jumped over any Christmas trees, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it if they did.
ireanirean's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
dancerava's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
beentsy's review against another edition
4.0
The perfect anti-Christmas book. Zombies, angels, potheads, Amazon warrior babes. This book had everything I needed this holiday season. ;)
singalana's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I picked this book as “seasonally appropriate” since it takes place during Christmas. There's an author's note before the story starts that this probably isn't a book you should gift to your grandma, and I agree. Also, some of the language is dated, there's animal cruelty and some men "being men" (aka sexist behaviour), so be warned.
I'm not sure about the genre. Despite the name, there isn't much terror unless you count swearing and sex jokes. Maybe magical realism? I don't know how to classify the book.
There's a vast cast of characters who have appeared in other books, but I didn't find it hard to follow the story or the characters. The story starts when a boy sees a man in a Santa costume murdered. He asks an angel to make Santa come back to life. And mayhem ensues.
This book has more swearing, drugs and (tasteless) sex jokes than what I'd expect from a Christmas book. But it was also less funny and less terrifying than I expected. But I have to admit that I liked the ending, hence the rating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
jhouses's review
2.0
Una historia de navidad con Zombis y una princesa guerrera...
No se puede decir más.
No se puede decir más.
mrsfligs's review
3.0
Brief Description: It is Christmas in Pine Cove, California, and a cast of characters (featured in previous Moore books) are facing crises big and small—including covering up an accidental murder, the arrival of a dim-witted angel out to grant a child’s wish, and the rise of formerly dead citizens in the form of zombies. (OK … I guess all the crises are big.) In typical Moore fashion, the humor is up front and center and everything works out OK in the end.
My Thoughts: Better than your average sappy Christmas book (for which I have an intense dislike) yet not one of Moore’s finest efforts, this was a good antidote to the mawkishness of the holiday season. After all, I doubt you’ll find brain-eating zombies in any other holiday-themed book! Still, you either like this kind of stuff or you don’t.
My Thoughts: Better than your average sappy Christmas book (for which I have an intense dislike) yet not one of Moore’s finest efforts, this was a good antidote to the mawkishness of the holiday season. After all, I doubt you’ll find brain-eating zombies in any other holiday-themed book! Still, you either like this kind of stuff or you don’t.
ssshenberger's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
violetturtledove's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I'm honestly not sure if this book is as stupid as the titular angel or brilliantly silly, so it's probably a bit of both. There's nothing very deep about it, the characters leap to convenient conclusions to advance the plot, but I definitely was not bored reading this.. There's plenty of bad taste humour if that's your thing, and a pretty good almost-ending (there's an epilogue chapter which i felt wasn't really needed).