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ethen_rey's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, and Death
Minor: Trafficking, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, and Child death
nevermoregothic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Bullying, Slavery, Trafficking, Sexism, and Misogyny
magpi3's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking
Moderate: Gun violence, Gore, Animal death, Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual violence and Death of parent
reubengood's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Wow, what an amazing read! The first time I've read a book in one day for quite some time! It was absolutely gripping and I can't wait for Timberdark!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Trafficking
mblanke's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Gore
Moderate: Rape
bookishpriest's review
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
A longer, more detailed review is available at www.bookishpriest.com
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Animal death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Sexual assault
queergoth_reads's review
dark
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed the first half of this book but honestly the second half didn't do much for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement
tori_spring's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Gun violence, Medical content, Gore, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
charlouise's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Whilst set in a zombie apocalypse it really doesn’t feel like it. The zombies present very little threat for the majority of the book, and Peter goes from never having left the island to running about on his own without you ever feeling like he’s in any really danger. And whilst in the end the majority of characters die, it’s never shocking or moving as there’s little time spent on us getting to know them nor like them.
Another petty gripe I had was the inconsistency of the period the book is set in. Cooper and Peter were toddlers when this all started and often lament about how they don’t know what life was like before, yet there’s many similes and metaphors about things we consider everyday but they wouldn’t have the faintest idea about. It just leaves a lot of the book feeling like it itself is a confused contradiction.
I am also am not a fan of how rushed peters and coopers relationship is - they go from barely speaking to exchanging soppy lines about how they like the sound of each other’s name and fantasies of living together almost instantly. I feel often the book leans toward being profound to stop itself from answering the readers and Pete’s questions.
However one thing the book does do really well is making being gay normal. There are no coming out scenes. No I’ll love you anyway. No contemplating their sexuality. Peter and Cooper are treated exactly the same as everyone else, and it is never talked about in a way a straight couple or relationship wouldn’t be.
Overall I’m giving this 2.5/5 stars not because I didn’t enjoy it but because I had no strong enjoyment feels for it. It was very mid for me.
Favourite quotes:
- “Nature was cold and it was harsh and it didn’t give a damn about your being there”
- “The Way the stars aren’t like a flat ceiling overhead at all, but a universe that wraps all the way around us deep beneath the planet.”
Another petty gripe I had was the inconsistency of the period the book is set in. Cooper and Peter were toddlers when this all started and often lament about how they don’t know what life was like before, yet there’s many similes and metaphors about things we consider everyday but they wouldn’t have the faintest idea about. It just leaves a lot of the book feeling like it itself is a confused contradiction.
I am also am not a fan of how rushed peters and coopers relationship is - they go from barely speaking to exchanging soppy lines about how they like the sound of each other’s name and fantasies of living together almost instantly. I feel often the book leans toward being profound to stop itself from answering the readers and Pete’s questions.
However one thing the book does do really well is making being gay normal. There are no coming out scenes. No I’ll love you anyway. No contemplating their sexuality. Peter and Cooper are treated exactly the same as everyone else, and it is never talked about in a way a straight couple or relationship wouldn’t be.
Overall I’m giving this 2.5/5 stars not because I didn’t enjoy it but because I had no strong enjoyment feels for it. It was very mid for me.
Favourite quotes:
- “Nature was cold and it was harsh and it didn’t give a damn about your being there”
- “The Way the stars aren’t like a flat ceiling overhead at all, but a universe that wraps all the way around us deep beneath the planet.”
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Death of parent
loverboy's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent and Murder