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victoria80's review
4.0
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This was my first read by Jonathan Janz and I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve been seeing him everywhere on Bookstagram so I choose this one to start with because of the cover, yip that’s what I did!! 🤷🏻♀️
This book was a great read, almost like an old school horror with plenty of gore.
An enjoyable coming of age story with interesting characters and a well developed plot. I could feel a sequel being laid up nicely. Which I’ve heard from Mr Janz is definitely on its way!
A good read for horror story nerds like me 💀
Next Janz for me will be The Sorrows.
Don’t you just love finding a new author, thank you Bookstagram
This was my first read by Jonathan Janz and I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve been seeing him everywhere on Bookstagram so I choose this one to start with because of the cover, yip that’s what I did!! 🤷🏻♀️
This book was a great read, almost like an old school horror with plenty of gore.
An enjoyable coming of age story with interesting characters and a well developed plot. I could feel a sequel being laid up nicely. Which I’ve heard from Mr Janz is definitely on its way!
A good read for horror story nerds like me 💀
Next Janz for me will be The Sorrows.
Don’t you just love finding a new author, thank you Bookstagram
zj5's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure how memorable this book is going to be but it certainly was fun to read. It's a nice "Kids on Bikes" story with fun characters and a compelling, if convoluted, premise. I think maybe there was just too much going on here? The ending worked really well though and the whole thing would make an excellent television series. Looking forward ti reading more Janz in the future.
mel_c_bell's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
I was pretty set on giving this book 5 stars early on. The narrator (I listened to audiobook) nailed each character and def helped set the tone of each scene. Now, the ending solidified the 5 stars. Honestly, I say read this book for the ending.
The ending had me 😭 to 😳
Also, don’t get too attached to any of the characters. For real—straight GoT savage.
For a story that is pretty ‘a boy’s life’ I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, because let’s be real—I’ve never been a 15 year old boy so when the story is centered around one I usually check out. BUT, Janz does such an awesome job of pulling you into the mind of a 15yo boy (and not in a weird way) that you truly experience all the MCs feelings with him; the hurt, frustration, fear, joy, hormones 🤷🏻♀️
Great story and I’m so excited for the sequel because OMFG THAT ENDING!!!
The ending had me 😭 to 😳
Also, don’t get too attached to any of the characters. For real—straight GoT savage.
For a story that is pretty ‘a boy’s life’ I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, because let’s be real—I’ve never been a 15 year old boy so when the story is centered around one I usually check out. BUT, Janz does such an awesome job of pulling you into the mind of a 15yo boy (and not in a weird way) that you truly experience all the MCs feelings with him; the hurt, frustration, fear, joy, hormones 🤷🏻♀️
Great story and I’m so excited for the sequel because OMFG THAT ENDING!!!
ktxx22's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down! Thank you @findingmontauk1 for the recommendation because this book is great gore filled fun! Wendigo’s (which are one North American supernatural creature that scares the poop outta me. My idea of nightmare!) a serial killer, and all sorts of twisty turny action. Highly recommend if you are looking for a fast paced horror novel that really packs a wallop! 5/5 this is a hide your wife, hide your kids, and get the fuck outta dodge book!!
kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
This book read very much like an [a:R.L. Stine|13730|R.L. Stine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1194380070p2/13730.jpg] book to me. If that's what I had been expecting, I would probably have loved this book. That's one of the very few drawbacks of Goodreads for me. I see what friends think of a book and then expect exactly that. Sometimes I forget that we all read differently and end up disappointed. It's almost unfair to authors because I am no longer judging their work, I am weighing it against expectation and opinion.
This was definitely a page-turner, and it was a very suspenseful story, but I rolled my eyes so many times as I read that they were tired each time I put it down. Again, if I was looking for this type of book, my reaction would have been different, but this was so unrealistic. I can suspend disbelief with the rest of them, I mean I'm [a:Stephen King|3389|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg]'s biggest fan (no, not THAT fan!), so obviously I love a good yarn, but I prefer that the events surrounding the unrealistic parts be almost hyper-realistic so that my suspension of disbelief is effortless.
Janz allows the authorities to act in such unrealistic ways that I just couldn't buy it. Local law is unabashedly biased and just plain wrong, not to mention stupid, and make no efforts to disguise this bias, and then we have the higher up authorities that are so much better at seeing the truth, but then share their observations with children. Will, our hero of the tale, is very responsible and capable, but is still a teenager. He simply wouldn't be taken into the confidence of authority that easily.
I will say that the relationships Janz created between Will and his little sister Peach and especially between Will and his friends, were terrific. Kids can love so much deeper and without question. Janz is very good at painting that particular picture. I just wish he had been a little more accurate with the landscape of this tale.
It's silly that once the final showdown of the story takes place, it's more than a year later and the existence of the "children" is still hidden from the majority of the population. There were so many deaths that were not explained away by natural disaster or some other lie, supposedly by the same idiot law officers who messed it all up to begin with. There should have been a heck of a lot more than whispered sightings. Maybe Janz was setting up a sequel.
This was definitely a page-turner, and it was a very suspenseful story, but I rolled my eyes so many times as I read that they were tired each time I put it down. Again, if I was looking for this type of book, my reaction would have been different, but this was so unrealistic. I can suspend disbelief with the rest of them, I mean I'm [a:Stephen King|3389|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg]'s biggest fan (no, not THAT fan!), so obviously I love a good yarn, but I prefer that the events surrounding the unrealistic parts be almost hyper-realistic so that my suspension of disbelief is effortless.
Janz allows the authorities to act in such unrealistic ways that I just couldn't buy it. Local law is unabashedly biased and just plain wrong, not to mention stupid, and make no efforts to disguise this bias, and then we have the higher up authorities that are so much better at seeing the truth, but then share their observations with children. Will, our hero of the tale, is very responsible and capable, but is still a teenager. He simply wouldn't be taken into the confidence of authority that easily.
I will say that the relationships Janz created between Will and his little sister Peach and especially between Will and his friends, were terrific. Kids can love so much deeper and without question. Janz is very good at painting that particular picture. I just wish he had been a little more accurate with the landscape of this tale.
Spoiler
I also find it very hard to believe that in a small town so obviously obsessed with each other's business, no one, I mean NO ONE, would know or suspect that Padgett is Will's father. That just doesn't make sense.It's silly that once the final showdown of the story takes place, it's more than a year later and the existence of the "children" is still hidden from the majority of the population. There were so many deaths that were not explained away by natural disaster or some other lie, supposedly by the same idiot law officers who messed it all up to begin with. There should have been a heck of a lot more than whispered sightings. Maybe Janz was setting up a sequel.
pagesofpins's review against another edition
2.0
The first half of the book could have led up to a four star reading experience: we have characters that are sympathetic and relatable, and a nostalgic small-town Stranger Things feel even though the book is set in present day. I'm all set to root for underdog characters fighting against a serial killer maniac and a wood full of monsters.
Then everything goes to pot: the writing gets so sloppy that the monsters are pounding at the door, but five feet away when the kids open it--and how many times can one guy use the word "sluicing"? Tons of grammar and spelling mistakes, sometimes even punctuation missing. Who edited this? Tons of plot holes and character actions that don't ring true. The end was unconvincing on many levels. Good storytelling is sacrificed for what will most appeal to a frustrated nerd who would rather be a badass bending everyone to his will (but remaining an impeachable hero).
It turns out to be the kind of book in which you can predict the deaths/survival of all the girls based on how much they do or don't stroke the egos of the main character and his buds. I tire of this.
This bloodbath with constant action will appeal to those who love B movie cheesy horror flicks, but I want a little more substance or inventiveness in my horror, and this isn't it.
Then everything goes to pot: the writing gets so sloppy that the monsters are pounding at the door, but five feet away when the kids open it--and how many times can one guy use the word "sluicing"? Tons of grammar and spelling mistakes, sometimes even punctuation missing. Who edited this? Tons of plot holes and character actions that don't ring true. The end was unconvincing on many levels. Good storytelling is sacrificed for what will most appeal to a frustrated nerd who would rather be a badass bending everyone to his will (but remaining an impeachable hero).
It turns out to be the kind of book in which you can predict the deaths/survival of all the girls based on how much they do or don't stroke the egos of the main character and his buds. I tire of this.
This bloodbath with constant action will appeal to those who love B movie cheesy horror flicks, but I want a little more substance or inventiveness in my horror, and this isn't it.
tomesoftrouble's review against another edition
4.0
Another winner from Jonathan Janz! A very gripping read.
jenniferlwatson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bookkat's review against another edition
3.0
I am not sure how I ended up with this title in my Audible account, and I am trying to go back and read those I have not. So I am not fan of the horror genre, although I do like a coming of age story. The story was a bit over the top, but the narrator pulled me in and thru. The main character is Will Burgess, a poor small-town high school kid who is providing much of the care for his little sister, as his mom is largely out of commission due to drug abuse. Add in bullies, irresponsible local police, a serial killer on the loose and 'the children' - super strong, hungry monsters, and it is a lot for one boy to handle. The book starts off strong and engaging, but then when it begins to focus more on the serial killer and the monsters, it loses steam. I did enjoy the ending, although it could easily have been the set-up for a subsequent novel.
shrikekali's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first time reading anything by Jonathan Janz and I was impressed with his ability to create very relatable characters and have them react reasonably in the situations they were put in in this violent supernatural novel. Will, the narrator of the story was also it's emotional core and man was he put through the ringer!
I will be looking for more from him now.
I will be looking for more from him now.