Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - Wranglestone

This was a little slow to start but it started running once it got going. The events towards the end were a little jumbled but it was an excellently crafted story. Romance was sweet if a little quick but they are both teenagers which fits. I liked Peter being softer and being able to be soft in a post-apocalyptic world, it’s something most books don’t even consider.

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bookishpriest's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It is always a good recommendation when I'm able to sit down and read a book cover-to-cover in one sitting. This is precisely what happened for me with Wranglestone. The blizzard outside may have contributed to the overall atmosphere, but the pacing of the story and a couple of unexpected twists kept me engaged and turning pages. I do not typically read a great deal of YA material and zombie tropes are hit-or-miss for me. Charlton's take on the latter was refreshing, using the threat of zombies primarily as a part of the setting, prompting interpersonal conflict and engagement between characters. This was a far better use of the idea, in my opinion, than the more obvious jump scares, body horror, or race-for-survival scenarios that might also have been used.

The pacing of the story was pleasantly quick. There was plenty happening that kept my interest and engagement with the plot and characters high and included moments of reflection and thoughtful development. In the last third of the story the pace felt a little rushed at times and I found myself trying to keep track of where and how certain specific events were happening, but the narrative held together well.

The main characters, especially Peter and Cooper, are far from perfect but were easy to love and cheer for throughout the book. Their budding romance is tender, sweet, and refreshingly appropriate for teenage protagonists in a YA novel. It is a lovely, healthy depiction of a gay romance between two young men. I was impressed with the variety of responses that the relationship between Peter and Cooper elicited from their community. Charlton wrote them with more nuance and care than I have seen in other writing of similar type and reading level, though I admit my experience here is limited.

Overall, Wranglestone was a fun, engaging read and I would heartily recommend it to anyone looking for some light suspense/horror with a zombie theme, a wholesome gay teen romance, all wrapped up with a few unexpected twists and turns!

A longer, more detailed review is available at www.bookishpriest.com

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tori_spring's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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paperlo's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

This book started so strong that it had me gripped by the time I was only a few pages in. The relationship between Peter and Cooper from the very start was so charming and so much fun to read, the setting was so atmospheric and the mystery was intriguing.

It moved so quickly that things fell apart just a little for me as the book progressed - although it was still very entertaining and gripping throughout. I read it all in practically one sitting. The plot felt like it had to skim over moments that I would like to have seen, plus Cooper and Peter’s relationship felt as though it went from
the perfect build up to all at once developing much too quickly. All the same, both characters are so charming and their relationship is so lovely that you can’t help but desperately root for them the whole way through. I’ll be thinking about them for a while to come.

The mystery felt somewhat predictable the whole way through, although that never dampened my enjoyment. I wish that some of the moments and plot had been given a little bit more space to breathe and grow.

All the same, it was a fun read. I had a good time!

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seren's review

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adventurous hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

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li_reading's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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oliverlang's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I needed this book to be longer.

I zoomed through this story so fast. I find that a lot of queer stories involve a process of coming out - I loved that there was no coming out involved in this book. A great first book from Darren Charlton and I eagerly await it's sequel! (Hopefully that ones longer, I need more of these types of stories in my life).

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