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teresab78's review against another edition
5.0
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
TJ Klune promised this series would be a romance but that we would have to work for it: it would be dark and a slow burn; he wasn’t lying. Withered + Sere is bleak and sad and yet there are rays of sunlight that peek through. It is beautiful in its desolation and wholly mesmerizing. It is brilliant.
Woven through the dark is light. Bad Dog is one of those bright spots. Oh how I love Bad Dog! His sincere dogginess saved me from falling into a complete depression as everyone else is f**ked in this post-apocalyptic world. Insanity runs rampant but you can’t help but feel for Cavalo. Death abounds, there are mutated creatures and cannibals. The book transports you to this world and reveals truths in layers.
There is no romance in this first installment of the series. It is getting to know the world and the players in that scene. The only sex is mostly off page M/F, as Cavalo is bi-sexual. This does not detract from the story at all. In fact, it may help bring new readership as this is a far different type of story than Mr. Klune has written before.
This book is not for everyone. It does not leave you feeling hopeful or happy. There is very little happiness to this story. However, it is a striking book that will make you feel other things, and there is TJ’s promise. I, for one, cannot wait until August and the release of Crisped + Sere.
TJ Klune promised this series would be a romance but that we would have to work for it: it would be dark and a slow burn; he wasn’t lying. Withered + Sere is bleak and sad and yet there are rays of sunlight that peek through. It is beautiful in its desolation and wholly mesmerizing. It is brilliant.
Woven through the dark is light. Bad Dog is one of those bright spots. Oh how I love Bad Dog! His sincere dogginess saved me from falling into a complete depression as everyone else is f**ked in this post-apocalyptic world. Insanity runs rampant but you can’t help but feel for Cavalo. Death abounds, there are mutated creatures and cannibals. The book transports you to this world and reveals truths in layers.
There is no romance in this first installment of the series. It is getting to know the world and the players in that scene. The only sex is mostly off page M/F, as Cavalo is bi-sexual. This does not detract from the story at all. In fact, it may help bring new readership as this is a far different type of story than Mr. Klune has written before.
This book is not for everyone. It does not leave you feeling hopeful or happy. There is very little happiness to this story. However, it is a striking book that will make you feel other things, and there is TJ’s promise. I, for one, cannot wait until August and the release of Crisped + Sere.
aftgandreil's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars!
This book was so much more than i thought it would be...maybe it was because this isn’t the type of book i typically read and its much closer to movies i watch instead. but, whatever it was it worked so well for me. i was confused a couple times but for the most part i loved the way the story flowed, how different it all was and how the characters were wrote. and, i’m really looking forward to reading the second book!!
This book was so much more than i thought it would be...maybe it was because this isn’t the type of book i typically read and its much closer to movies i watch instead. but, whatever it was it worked so well for me. i was confused a couple times but for the most part i loved the way the story flowed, how different it all was and how the characters were wrote. and, i’m really looking forward to reading the second book!!
pippin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
madscientistcat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Heartrending story of grief and what it is to be human, both for the world as a whole and for one individual. I think this book might haunt me forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Ableism
ellelainey's review against another edition
5.0
Book – Withered + Sere
Author – T.J. Klune
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 280
Cover – Gorgeous!
POV – 3rd person, 1 MC
Would I read it again – Yes.
Genre – Apocalyptic, Alternative Future/History, a dash of Steampunk and a dash of LGBT
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
WARNING: cannibalism, rape – both mentioned very briefly and not in detail.
This is my first T.J. Klune book and it wasn't what I was expecting. As a post-apocalypse novel, it was truly fantastic. This isn't your usual pandemic/zombie end of the world story. In fact, it doesn't really include either of those aspects. Though, certainly, there is cannibalism and sickness caused by radiation, but those are after-effects of the apocalypse. As a gay romance novel, it's still good. I mean, there's not much romance to speak of, but the relationship that forms between Cavalo and the others in the book – most importantly Bad Dog, SIRS and Luca – are truly phenomenal. You feel the friendship, comradery, the slow burn romance all so brilliantly.
Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything about the actual plot without giving away spoilers. I'll tell you this, though – it begins with a present day-ish world. It's a vague 3rd person POV (in which there are no names, only nameless faces). It's about what happens after the world ends. Duh. You knew that from the blurb. Oh, and there's a super super slow burn romance.
Anything else I can say? Well, there are a few instances where we're told about events that will be later reflected upon or happen in the future. It's not often enough to get annoying, but it's just enough to let you know stuff is going to happen and you had better be prepared for it.
As for everything else, the writing was great, the world was fantastically build and with a lot of attention to detail, the characters were all relatable in their own way and somewhat familiar. This may not have been the author's intention, but I definitely saw a little of Sherlock Holmes in the analysis of potential fight moves (the Robert Downey Jnr one, of course). And, there was a distinct hint of crazy about SIRS that totally reminded me of Ben from Treasure Planet. None of that is bad. These characters were still unique, the advance thought process of the fight scenes still rang true to the character. All of this is good stuff. A little bit of something familiar or recognisable in a novel like this is never a bad thing.
When it comes to romance, there is no explicit on page sex. Ever. There are two brief mentions of MF sex and no MM at all. This works! Trust me. The first physical MM stuff happens at the 84% mark and it's appropriate.
Overall, this is an incredible storytelling novel about what would happen if and when the world ends for whatever reason. It's about survival instincts, looking inside yourself, insanity and fighting for what you believe in. It's about bees, Dead Rabbits, SIRS and a Bad Dog. And, no, I'm not crazy.
Read it. You won't be disappointed.
Author – T.J. Klune
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 280
Cover – Gorgeous!
POV – 3rd person, 1 MC
Would I read it again – Yes.
Genre – Apocalyptic, Alternative Future/History, a dash of Steampunk and a dash of LGBT
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
WARNING: cannibalism, rape – both mentioned very briefly and not in detail.
This is my first T.J. Klune book and it wasn't what I was expecting. As a post-apocalypse novel, it was truly fantastic. This isn't your usual pandemic/zombie end of the world story. In fact, it doesn't really include either of those aspects. Though, certainly, there is cannibalism and sickness caused by radiation, but those are after-effects of the apocalypse. As a gay romance novel, it's still good. I mean, there's not much romance to speak of, but the relationship that forms between Cavalo and the others in the book – most importantly Bad Dog, SIRS and Luca – are truly phenomenal. You feel the friendship, comradery, the slow burn romance all so brilliantly.
Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything about the actual plot without giving away spoilers. I'll tell you this, though – it begins with a present day-ish world. It's a vague 3rd person POV (in which there are no names, only nameless faces). It's about what happens after the world ends. Duh. You knew that from the blurb. Oh, and there's a super super slow burn romance.
Anything else I can say? Well, there are a few instances where we're told about events that will be later reflected upon or happen in the future. It's not often enough to get annoying, but it's just enough to let you know stuff is going to happen and you had better be prepared for it.
As for everything else, the writing was great, the world was fantastically build and with a lot of attention to detail, the characters were all relatable in their own way and somewhat familiar. This may not have been the author's intention, but I definitely saw a little of Sherlock Holmes in the analysis of potential fight moves (the Robert Downey Jnr one, of course). And, there was a distinct hint of crazy about SIRS that totally reminded me of Ben from Treasure Planet. None of that is bad. These characters were still unique, the advance thought process of the fight scenes still rang true to the character. All of this is good stuff. A little bit of something familiar or recognisable in a novel like this is never a bad thing.
When it comes to romance, there is no explicit on page sex. Ever. There are two brief mentions of MF sex and no MM at all. This works! Trust me. The first physical MM stuff happens at the 84% mark and it's appropriate.
Overall, this is an incredible storytelling novel about what would happen if and when the world ends for whatever reason. It's about survival instincts, looking inside yourself, insanity and fighting for what you believe in. It's about bees, Dead Rabbits, SIRS and a Bad Dog. And, no, I'm not crazy.
Read it. You won't be disappointed.
liza5326's review against another edition
5.0
There are some books you can't put in any category. This is one of them. TJ Klune is a literary genius and takes you into this world where you don't know which way is up and what is real. I felt like Cavalo at some points, with the bees telling me insane things that I knew couldn't be true. Then he rips the rug out from under you with that ending. Oh . . . My . . . God . . . Perfection and frustration!! This book is NOT for the feint of heart. If you love The Walking Dead and post-apocalyptic mind-fucks, this is for you!
nkatz00's review against another edition
3.0
You definitely have to be in a certain mood to read this book. It's interesting and dark and a bit depressing.
rsmo666's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
beata's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
loishojmark's review against another edition
5.0
Oh I don't know what to say. This is.. just this is.