Reviews

The Evening Hour by Carter Sickels

menomica's review

challenging dark reflective sad tense 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

He did not want to be afraid anymore, there was no time for that. No time for feeling helpless. The world was big and uncaring, and he was going into it, like Jonah swimming into the belly of the whale.

Cole you are a looser.

Him having sex with drug addicts in exchange for drugs (while they were high) is one thing. But also how are you a drug dealer and boring as hell?

The fact that everyone actively had more interesting storylines than him but they were not explored because Cole is the protagonist and he’s so morally grey (he’s not, he’s a douchebag searching for self-absolution).

Also the writing. Not bad but not good for action scenes. Cole’s life was in danger at several points but I felt no tonal shift whatsoever. 

Anyway, I don’t think this book was bad, but it was writing checks it couldn’t cash (was supposed to be interesting and intriguing, ended up being boring as all hell. Which is crazy, cause so much was happening in it.)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Abandonment, Violence, Addiction, Dementia, Drug abuse, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Sexual content

Minor: Racial slurs, Homophobia, Child death, and Gun violence

planning2read's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, Homophobia, Grief, Drug use, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Gun violence, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Mental illness

mementomorel's review against another edition

4.0

I don't agree with some of the reviews. Sickles brought me into a different world that was so real, with real people. Someone was complaining about the stereotypes of the Aplachians, I am pretty sure my idea of that area is NOT these characters.

leitmotiffs's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

• If you're looking for something sad and sweet, this is it
• Does a great job at showing how there's a little bit of good and a little bit of bad in everyone
• Heartbreaking portrayal of coal mining in the 21st century

renee_p's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0