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cardaisy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Kind of slow to start, probably just because the first couple of stories weren't really my favourite, though it could also be partly because it takes a while for the overarching mystery to properly establish itself as well. I think chapter 4 (Bad Penny) was when it really hooked me. I really enjoyed the interconnectedness of the stories and how events would overlap or how one character would mention another one in passing. You also start to recognise the narrators as they pop up because they've been mentioned or featured in other stories
It was also really fun having gone into this as a big fan of The Magnus Archives, and to see the parallels between the two. Jonny definitely has a certain style and specific themes that interest him and I really love it. If you are a fan of TMA, you'll almost certainly enjoy this, and I'd recommend the audiobook as well (each chapter also has a different voice actor, which is very fun and fits the book really well as a sort of anthology)
I think the last chapter/climax of the story was maybe a bit heavyhanded, but I also think it maybe needed to be, if that makes any sense at all. Overall I really enjoyed this though, and while I don't think any of these stories are incredibly unique or groundbreaking, I do think that they are all well done. That maybe doesn't sound like a compliment, but I think it can be difficult sometimes to really properly write a specific trope or theme, and Jonny does that for most of the stories in this book
My favourite story was Sleepless (chapter 6), I just think it was really masterfully done storytelling, and the end of this chapter was also a turning point for me putting together my theories for the last chapter/what happened to Tobias Fell. I feel like this chapter just had a really great cohesive story and throughline, and was a great example of a simple story executed really well. The different elements of the story slotted together at the end in a way that felt really satisfying for me. The voice actor also did a fantastic job as well, from her characterization of Alvita, which really does come across as an exhausted and overworked single mother, to the voice she does for the late night host, which is such a nice juxtaposition to the rest of the narration
Besides sleepless, my favourites were:
- Bad Penny (4), genuinely creeped me out at times, and I like the perspective of a horror story told by a child who doesn’t realise they should be afraid of what's going on
- Essential Viewing (8), a fun "haunted house" story from the perspective of a sort of real estate agent/building manager
- Inbox (5), this one is maybe a bit more plot heavy, and helps to orientate the overarching story, but I also just really enjoyed the mystery elements of it
Others that I enjoyed were
- A Foot in the Door (7), this was good, centered around a woman who's trying to do a sort of paranormal investigation of the building. We also get a decent amount of exposition and history about the building
- Old Plumbing (11), I really loved Janek as a character, though this story didn't really do much for me, it was good though
- Round the Clock (10), this explored dynamics of masculinity, bystander-ism, and almost a sort of us vs them mentality and the things you might excuse of a close friend. I liked this one well enough, but I guessed the twist at the beginning (or the general idea of it) and I feel a bit conflicted about it. Very tense at times though, Max comes across as very unstable and violent
- Night Work (1), a decent opener and set the tone for the rest of the book, though maybe not the most interesting or compelling
- The Knock (2), this was interesting, and it was fun to see such a different perspective right after Night Work. This had a Pickman's Model vibe to it, that concept of a haunted painting, and I overall liked it, though it wasn't really one of my favourites
- Point of View (12), I'm a bit uncertain what to say about Damien's story, because it's written as a transcript of a video and is more a story that ties everything else together, rather than a distinct short story like the others. I also don't think that the format translated super well to audio, but I do think it was a good transition into the last chapter
Not my favs
- Smart (3), a commentary on AI and smart home technology, not my favourite trope, but I think people who do enjoy it more would like this. I think this one also has a sort of "Black Mirror" vibe to it (though probably just because a lot of episodes center around technology). This was also the first story where the character has a more direct link to Tobias Fell which was fun
- A Stubborn Stain (9), this just wasn't my favourite. I do actually think the concept is interesting, but there were just too many elements of this that felt too heavyhanded and overt. The parallel of the stain and the decline of his marriage was an obvious plot point from the beginning, which I wasn't opposed to, but then the additional parallel of his work and the pollution caused by the company he works for was just a bit too much. I think if just one of those two themes were explored it would've felt more rounded and cohesive, but there were too many elements going on and they felt rushed and overall the story didn't flow as well as it could've in my opinion
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Classism, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism, Stalking, Blood, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Xenophobia
Minor: Deportation, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Medical content, Slavery, and Suicide
centrifugepolitics's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Cannibalism, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Terminal illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Colonisation and Alcoholism
gracecrandall's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Classism, Violence, Terminal illness, Colonisation, Murder, Gore, Police brutality, Confinement, Blood, Abandonment, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Transphobia, Death of parent, Racism, Deadnaming, Grief, and Deportation
evelphysicist's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A tense and intriguing read. I really enjoyed the style of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Violence, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Slavery, Cannibalism, Deadnaming, and Medical trauma
Minor: Child death, Alcoholism, Grief, and Colonisation
keen's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Murder, Body horror, Blood, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Gore, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping and Child death
Minor: Deadnaming, Suicide, Addiction, and Transphobia
negotiumperambulans's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Terminal illness
ianders's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thirteen Storeys is sort of a novel that is actually a short stories collection: we follow 13 characters all linked by one appartment building, and each experiencing weird and traumatic phenomenons.
This format means that there isn't a lot of space for individual character arcs and growth. Yet, Sims expertly weaved a web of different and colorful characters all with their peculiar voice and personality. I thought each was distinctive and interesting in their own way, although some characters definitely made more of an impact than others. I liked the diversity of the cast.
Loyal to himself, Sims tackles hauntings and ghosts through themes of anti-capitalism, classism and human misery at the hands of those who hold power. His style and commentary are very efficient as his stances are loud and clear without being simply preachy or over simplistic: there exist obvious villainy, but no easy solution when the foundations themselves of a system are rotten.
Basically, I thought the book to be extremely validating and relatable in its observations, if bittersweet. The ending was viciously as cathartic as the prologue promised, although perhaps I would have prefered not knowing how it all ended from the start (information freely given in the premise itself, and mthus not a spoiler).
The pacing of the main story is a slow creep towards a great unravelling. The pacing of each individual character's story vary, but this is no action-oriented horror frenzy. A lot of emphasis is put on the claustrophobic atmosphere and the slow exploration of a building that is sick in its core.
I read this on audiobook (because my physical copy has yet to arrive) and I really recommand it. The audiobook is read by a full cast including the author himself with his lovely deep and dramatic voice that a lot will recognize from the podcast The Magnus Archives, which last season is currently airing and which Jonny Sims wrote.
If you are a fan of TMA, Thirteen Storeys is reminiscent of it in the best ways, although perhaps less brutal in its execution.
Somehow, the book also reminded me of episodes from something like the Twilight Zone, if that is something that appeals to you.
This format means that there isn't a lot of space for individual character arcs and growth. Yet, Sims expertly weaved a web of different and colorful characters all with their peculiar voice and personality. I thought each was distinctive and interesting in their own way, although some characters definitely made more of an impact than others. I liked the diversity of the cast.
Loyal to himself, Sims tackles hauntings and ghosts through themes of anti-capitalism, classism and human misery at the hands of those who hold power. His style and commentary are very efficient as his stances are loud and clear without being simply preachy or over simplistic: there exist obvious villainy, but no easy solution when the foundations themselves of a system are rotten.
Basically, I thought the book to be extremely validating and relatable in its observations, if bittersweet. The ending was viciously as cathartic as the prologue promised, although perhaps I would have prefered not knowing how it all ended from the start (information freely given in the premise itself, and mthus not a spoiler).
The pacing of the main story is a slow creep towards a great unravelling. The pacing of each individual character's story vary, but this is no action-oriented horror frenzy. A lot of emphasis is put on the claustrophobic atmosphere and the slow exploration of a building that is sick in its core.
I read this on audiobook (because my physical copy has yet to arrive) and I really recommand it. The audiobook is read by a full cast including the author himself with his lovely deep and dramatic voice that a lot will recognize from the podcast The Magnus Archives, which last season is currently airing and which Jonny Sims wrote.
If you are a fan of TMA, Thirteen Storeys is reminiscent of it in the best ways, although perhaps less brutal in its execution.
Somehow, the book also reminded me of episodes from something like the Twilight Zone, if that is something that appeals to you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Police brutality, Cannibalism, and Confinement
Minor: Transphobia, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, and Death
karinh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement and Gore
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Deadnaming, Terminal illness, Transphobia, and Xenophobia
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