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erinjuliaadams's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
honeycomblibrary's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
greysun69's review against another edition
2.0
2⭐️ I don’t know what I read and I didn’t enjoy myself like I usually do with Eric LaRocca.
inthelunaseas's review against another edition
2.0
Hoooo boy. What a tough book to review. What a tough book to read.
Parts of this book are so incredibly beautiful. The descriptions of grief, of depression being a wraith that clings to one's neck and sucks life and joy and nutrients from an individual. How it speaks to you, insidious and cruel, and refuses to allow you to escape from it.
The descriptions of Crowley, overwhelming his victims and leading them to their doom. The way he began to overpower their minds and force them into obeying his every whim.
And God. How He was presented as something so strange, so alien, and all at once familiar.
These parts I loved.
The rest... Malik. Brett. That entire... section.
Many times I wanted to put the book down. Many times I wanted to leave it as DNF. I truly regret purchasing this book and its splatterpunk aesthetic simply because of that. The rape and torture, purely for rape and torture. The way it's all magically removed from them afterwards, because why have a point to including these graphic scenes?
The beautiful writing in the rest of the book is the sole reason I continued to read it. I would rate these portions 4/5 stars.
The brutal torture is why I'm rating it two stars.
Parts of this book are so incredibly beautiful. The descriptions of grief, of depression being a wraith that clings to one's neck and sucks life and joy and nutrients from an individual. How it speaks to you, insidious and cruel, and refuses to allow you to escape from it.
The descriptions of Crowley, overwhelming his victims and leading them to their doom. The way he began to overpower their minds and force them into obeying his every whim.
And God. How He was presented as something so strange, so alien, and all at once familiar.
These parts I loved.
The rest... Malik. Brett. That entire... section.
Many times I wanted to put the book down. Many times I wanted to leave it as DNF. I truly regret purchasing this book and its splatterpunk aesthetic simply because of that. The rape and torture, purely for rape and torture. The way it's all magically removed from them afterwards, because why have a point to including these graphic scenes?
The beautiful writing in the rest of the book is the sole reason I continued to read it. I would rate these portions 4/5 stars.
The brutal torture is why I'm rating it two stars.
zephyrlestrange's review against another edition
5.0
I am a bit of an indiscriminate five star giver but this does come with a few caveats.
Firstly, I loved the story which is why I was a little let down by the pace of it, it seemed to really rush through to the climax which wasn’t very long either and given the nature of the material I would have looooved for a longer read.
It does read Barker-esque, and it’s no secret that I am obsessed with his work, but the slow burn that’s critical to Barker’s work is lacking and I wish so much for more!
The writer does write well but I did notice an extraordinary amount of “like XYZ” and “as though XYZ” which does lend to extending a point but I feel like it could have done with more actual delving into the characters and plot than descriptive language.
On that note, I wish so much we could have learned more about the wraith, more about Mr Crowley, more about Malik and Brett, more about the love shared between Ghost and their wife, more about Ghosts proclivities, I feel like it would have really added so much depth to an enjoyable book - the characters were fascinating, I just feel greedy for wanting more!
All in all a great read, I just wish there was more of it!
Firstly, I loved the story which is why I was a little let down by the pace of it, it seemed to really rush through to the climax which wasn’t very long either and given the nature of the material I would have looooved for a longer read.
It does read Barker-esque, and it’s no secret that I am obsessed with his work, but the slow burn that’s critical to Barker’s work is lacking and I wish so much for more!
The writer does write well but I did notice an extraordinary amount of “like XYZ” and “as though XYZ” which does lend to extending a point but I feel like it could have done with more actual delving into the characters and plot than descriptive language.
On that note, I wish so much we could have learned more about the wraith, more about Mr Crowley, more about Malik and Brett, more about the love shared between Ghost and their wife, more about Ghosts proclivities, I feel like it would have really added so much depth to an enjoyable book - the characters were fascinating, I just feel greedy for wanting more!
All in all a great read, I just wish there was more of it!
librarymouse's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book didn't make much sense. So much of it was left unexplained and there was a lot of deeply confused religious piety paired with the desire to kill God. Poor execution in the storytelling conflated queerness and disability with monstrosity. At least I'm hoping it's poor execution of content and not intentional. Giving the bad guy AIDS was ... a choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism and Kidnapping
Minor: Excrement, Police brutality, and Islamophobia
margueriteturley's review against another edition
5.0
Just finished this fantastic book full of some lovely prose! Eric Larocca can make the most uncomfortable and gruesome seem beautiful. I fell in love with these characters, and this story was such a page turner!
sarahb_412's review against another edition
Why do mediocre writers always cling to violence against queer people. Not enjoyable. The moment an old naked man comes out I clocked OUT . No reveal could make 100 pages of subpar writing and unnecessary violence worth it. If you value queer stories, skip. this. book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Hate crime and Homophobia