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jimmyjamesnickels's review against another edition
5.0
To properly enjoy telling this review, I'm going to need some epic music accompanying me in the background.
'kay, click the link into a new tab. It's cool.
I'll wait.
Are we ready? Let's begin.
This book was crazy awesome. Was it good? It was SO good. Standing ovation for Courtney Alameda. Way, way, way too many writers and publishers seem to think "YA" is a synonym for "stupid". Especially the supernatural themed stuff, if you're a fan of both YA and the paranormal you'd better grab one of those obnoxious halogen flashlights and a snorkel because it's friggen murky out there. This book was just fantastic. It was fun, a full speed and totally engrossing page turner unafraid to define the world created within the pages.
Shutter is the kind of crazy, silly, wonderful all out fun that makes me feel like adopting my monster truck rally announcer voice:
You want paranormal excitement? WE'VE GOT GHOSTS AND MONSTERS AND ZOMBIES OOH YEAH! You want action? EXPLOOOOSIONS! MOTORCYCLE CHASES! LOTS OF GUNS! Fight scenes! TACTI-COOL CAMERAS! Hand to hand combat! Action sequences that would make Mission Impossible era Tom Cruise proooooud #IDOMYOWNSTUNTS ! Did I mention the VIOLENCE? BLOOD GUTS AND GORE! Violence so X-treme YOU'LL GOUGE YOUR OWN EYES OUUUUUT! But what about romance? We've got FORBIDDEN LOVE! Chaste YA style sexual tension! ANGST THICK ENOUGH TO CHOKE A WOMMMMMBAT! Mansions! Underground lairs! WE'VE GOT DADDY ISSUES! What about the mom? Oh you know we've got a DEAD MOM! XTREMEDEADMOMISSUES! Secret ancient societies! Elite fighting academies! Leather jackets! Unsupervised minors out to save the world! Creepy dead guuuuys with pedo tenancies! ALL THIS AND MORE!
But for real though. It was fun.
Shutter tells the story of Micheline Helsing, a 16 year old with the ability to see ghosts and other paranormal entities through their auras, called a tetrachromat. Which is handy, as this is all set in an alternate version of our world where dead things occasionally run amok and kill lots and lots of people. Micheline is part of an elite fighting group, Helsing Corp, which acts more or less like the zombie/ghost slaying special forces. She does her part to hunt down the baddies using a specially modified camera and because I suck at jacket blurb write ups, I'm just going to leave it there and tell you to read the actual blurb if you want to know more.
Shutter is a story that feels very, very familiar. It's shades of Buffy and Blade and The Matrix and Supernatural and every single "Super special, ultra cool 16 year old and her super cool band of friends out to save the universe" you've ever encountered. But the author is absolutely fearless and unflinching in her ability to build a strong world and real, well rounded characters. I mean, our lead character is named Micheline Helsing and yes, we do mean that Helsing (Van Helsing from Dracula, for the criminally obtuse). We've seen this before, so many times before, the whole "descendants from the Dracula good guys" schtick and usually it's corny as all get out. But Alameda commits completely to the universe she's created in Shutter. The lore feel solid, no idea if the science-y talk behind how the ghost hunting cameras work is legit or not, but damn me if I wasn't nodding sagely at the explanations thinking it all sounded on the up and up. And yes, there are stock tropes here and familiar scenes, but it's never derivative or sloppy. Somehow, even though we recognize all that we're seeing here, it's done in a way that's fresh and inventive.
The story lore and world building in this book were phenomenal. When I was about 150 pages in, I started to feel uneasy because I was pretty sure I'd yet again picked up the first of a new series. Nothing for nothing, but it can be kind of heartbreaking when you start a new book, only to learn that you just committed the next three to five years (or more, with a nod to the Game of Thrones fans) of your life to getting resolution to a story. I actually stopped at the midway point and did some careful, suspicious searching online, fully expecting to see the dreaded "First book in an exciting new series!" label slapped somewhere. On one hand, it's somewhat rare to see a stand alone book in these trilogy plagued times. On the other, if ever a book needed a series, Shutter would be it.
Yet another on my favorites of 2015 list. I can not wait to see what else this author dishes out.
'kay, click the link into a new tab. It's cool.
I'll wait.
Are we ready? Let's begin.
This book was crazy awesome. Was it good? It was SO good. Standing ovation for Courtney Alameda. Way, way, way too many writers and publishers seem to think "YA" is a synonym for "stupid". Especially the supernatural themed stuff, if you're a fan of both YA and the paranormal you'd better grab one of those obnoxious halogen flashlights and a snorkel because it's friggen murky out there. This book was just fantastic. It was fun, a full speed and totally engrossing page turner unafraid to define the world created within the pages.
Shutter is the kind of crazy, silly, wonderful all out fun that makes me feel like adopting my monster truck rally announcer voice:
You want paranormal excitement? WE'VE GOT GHOSTS AND MONSTERS AND ZOMBIES OOH YEAH! You want action? EXPLOOOOSIONS! MOTORCYCLE CHASES! LOTS OF GUNS! Fight scenes! TACTI-COOL CAMERAS! Hand to hand combat! Action sequences that would make Mission Impossible era Tom Cruise proooooud #IDOMYOWNSTUNTS ! Did I mention the VIOLENCE? BLOOD GUTS AND GORE! Violence so X-treme YOU'LL GOUGE YOUR OWN EYES OUUUUUT! But what about romance? We've got FORBIDDEN LOVE! Chaste YA style sexual tension! ANGST THICK ENOUGH TO CHOKE A WOMMMMMBAT! Mansions! Underground lairs! WE'VE GOT DADDY ISSUES! What about the mom? Oh you know we've got a DEAD MOM! XTREMEDEADMOMISSUES! Secret ancient societies! Elite fighting academies! Leather jackets! Unsupervised minors out to save the world! Creepy dead guuuuys with pedo tenancies! ALL THIS AND MORE!
But for real though. It was fun.
Shutter tells the story of Micheline Helsing, a 16 year old with the ability to see ghosts and other paranormal entities through their auras, called a tetrachromat. Which is handy, as this is all set in an alternate version of our world where dead things occasionally run amok and kill lots and lots of people. Micheline is part of an elite fighting group, Helsing Corp, which acts more or less like the zombie/ghost slaying special forces. She does her part to hunt down the baddies using a specially modified camera and because I suck at jacket blurb write ups, I'm just going to leave it there and tell you to read the actual blurb if you want to know more.
Shutter is a story that feels very, very familiar. It's shades of Buffy and Blade and The Matrix and Supernatural and every single "Super special, ultra cool 16 year old and her super cool band of friends out to save the universe" you've ever encountered. But the author is absolutely fearless and unflinching in her ability to build a strong world and real, well rounded characters. I mean, our lead character is named Micheline Helsing and yes, we do mean that Helsing (Van Helsing from Dracula, for the criminally obtuse). We've seen this before, so many times before, the whole "descendants from the Dracula good guys" schtick and usually it's corny as all get out. But Alameda commits completely to the universe she's created in Shutter. The lore feel solid, no idea if the science-y talk behind how the ghost hunting cameras work is legit or not, but damn me if I wasn't nodding sagely at the explanations thinking it all sounded on the up and up. And yes, there are stock tropes here and familiar scenes, but it's never derivative or sloppy. Somehow, even though we recognize all that we're seeing here, it's done in a way that's fresh and inventive.
The story lore and world building in this book were phenomenal. When I was about 150 pages in, I started to feel uneasy because I was pretty sure I'd yet again picked up the first of a new series. Nothing for nothing, but it can be kind of heartbreaking when you start a new book, only to learn that you just committed the next three to five years (or more, with a nod to the Game of Thrones fans) of your life to getting resolution to a story. I actually stopped at the midway point and did some careful, suspicious searching online, fully expecting to see the dreaded "First book in an exciting new series!" label slapped somewhere. On one hand, it's somewhat rare to see a stand alone book in these trilogy plagued times. On the other, if ever a book needed a series, Shutter would be it.
Yet another on my favorites of 2015 list. I can not wait to see what else this author dishes out.
steph01924's review against another edition
3.0
This book was good, creepy fun. It didn't blow me away, but it kept me entertained most of the time, and felt like a solid introduction to what I assume is a new series (I'd be shocked if this was a standalone, though pleasantly surprised.). I'd read a second book if one came out.
Observations
- The Helsing group was interesting and fun, and I would've liked to have seen a bit more of it (our protagonists are flying outside of 'the law' most of the time). I don't know much about the Dracula history, so I probably missed some finer 'oh, nice!' moments and deeper mythology, but I didn't feel lost.
- The idea of the camera capturing the ghost energy was different and I enjoyed the concept. But the execution of the action scenes with the mirrors and the tetra-ing and the antimirrors just didn't quite work for me. There was a lot of mumbo-jumbo that I had to read through carefully to follow along with, and it made the action scenes slower and somewhat confusing at times. This is one of those areas that I think a visual media would've worked better (I also wonder, would it look sort of...cheesy, too, if I was watching instead of reading? Flashing a camera at a ghost...intellectually not that scary looking.)
- Those cobbled together corpse-scorpions...OMG, haunt my nightmares much? With all the other freakier monsters roaming around, I kind of wanted more info on them than our run-of-the-mill (albeit powerful) ghost killer. Micheline said she'd never seen something like that before - then how did it come to be?? Is this going to be a thing in a future book, perhaps?
- Shallow alert: I couldn't stand the name 'Micheline'. I haven't had to encounter it much in my life, so this is probably the first book I've read that used it for a main character...and I want it to be the last. I looked up the French pronunciation to be sure I was reading it right, but that didn't make me like it any more. It kept catching my eye in a bad way, since my brain seemed to WANT it to be Michelle. It also kept bringing to mind the brand of Michelin tires, which is not something I ever really want to read about in my fiction books.
Observations
- The Helsing group was interesting and fun, and I would've liked to have seen a bit more of it (our protagonists are flying outside of 'the law' most of the time). I don't know much about the Dracula history, so I probably missed some finer 'oh, nice!' moments and deeper mythology, but I didn't feel lost.
- The idea of the camera capturing the ghost energy was different and I enjoyed the concept. But the execution of the action scenes with the mirrors and the tetra-ing and the antimirrors just didn't quite work for me. There was a lot of mumbo-jumbo that I had to read through carefully to follow along with, and it made the action scenes slower and somewhat confusing at times. This is one of those areas that I think a visual media would've worked better (I also wonder, would it look sort of...cheesy, too, if I was watching instead of reading? Flashing a camera at a ghost...intellectually not that scary looking.)
- Those cobbled together corpse-scorpions...OMG, haunt my nightmares much? With all the other freakier monsters roaming around, I kind of wanted more info on them than our run-of-the-mill (albeit powerful) ghost killer. Micheline said she'd never seen something like that before - then how did it come to be?? Is this going to be a thing in a future book, perhaps?
- Shallow alert: I couldn't stand the name 'Micheline'. I haven't had to encounter it much in my life, so this is probably the first book I've read that used it for a main character...and I want it to be the last. I looked up the French pronunciation to be sure I was reading it right, but that didn't make me like it any more. It kept catching my eye in a bad way, since my brain seemed to WANT it to be Michelle. It also kept bringing to mind the brand of Michelin tires, which is not something I ever really want to read about in my fiction books.
readmoreyall's review against another edition
1.0
I think the horror teen genre just is not for me, but I think there was potential here and some of my students would enjoy it!
foofers1622's review against another edition
5.0
This book was October's pick for my library's YA for Adults book club.
I loved this book! It had a very unique take on ghost hunting and the after life. I loved all the connections with Bram Stoker's Dracula; especially the little details you could miss if you weren't paying attention. I really hope Courtney continues with this story line!
I loved this book! It had a very unique take on ghost hunting and the after life. I loved all the connections with Bram Stoker's Dracula; especially the little details you could miss if you weren't paying attention. I really hope Courtney continues with this story line!
trid_for_kicks's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good read. There were lots of unexpected plot twists, and the main character was actually smart (I mean, a couple of times, she runs head on into danger when she really shouldn't, but growing up a Helsing, I figure that's bound to happen). She made decisions I would have in her shoes, whereas normally, main characters are oblivious to the obvious and make really stupid choices that make me root for the antagonist. So this was refreshing and awesome.
Also, I loved the world building. A world where Bram Stoker's Dracula actually happened? SO. COOL. Turning it into more of a scifi book than fantasy? THIS IS WHAT I LIVE FOR. I loved the science of it, the tetrachromats, the Obscura, the "royal families" of the original characters in Dracula (Helsing, Stoker, Harker, Seward, to name a few). Alameda built a world that I completely believed, and it was wonderful.
There were a few loose ends at the finish of the book that I wish were tied up. It wasn't so much that she'd need to write a sequel, but there will be questions, like an itch, sitting in the back of my mind. She probably did it on purpose. That said, some of the stuff that she "wrapped up neatly" also kind of annoyed me, for some reason. The solutions she came up with seemed to nice, too perfect.
Last but not least, I loved the angle on the antagonist.
Also, I loved the world building. A world where Bram Stoker's Dracula actually happened? SO. COOL. Turning it into more of a scifi book than fantasy? THIS IS WHAT I LIVE FOR. I loved the science of it, the tetrachromats, the Obscura, the "royal families" of the original characters in Dracula (Helsing, Stoker, Harker, Seward, to name a few). Alameda built a world that I completely believed, and it was wonderful.
There were a few loose ends at the finish of the book that I wish were tied up. It wasn't so much that she'd need to write a sequel, but there will be questions, like an itch, sitting in the back of my mind. She probably did it on purpose.
Spoiler
One thing that I struggled with, however, was the ending relationship between Micheline and her father. I'm aware that she grew up in a very physical family--she was constantly fighting ghosts, her father was constantly fighting ghosts--so I guess there would be less gravity to the fact that her father punched her in the face. But even if that was excusable (and personally, I don't find it so), what about her cameras? He turns into the friggin' Hulk and destroys every piece the one materialistic thing that she loves--even a gift from her dead little brother--and it's supposed to be all better at the end because he offered to buy her new ones? I mean, if her bathroom door wasn't so sturdy, he could have broken it, and Micheline, in the process of his rampage. Abuse is never okay. I don't care if you're a vampire hunter, or whatever, you don't punch your teenage daughter in the face. End rant.Spoiler
Oliver forgets maiming his girlfriend, and he's going to build her new eyes. Everything's fine! Ryder, even though he should be dead five times over, isn't (hurray!), and now he and Micheline are allowed to date, and her dad can't say anything about it! Yay! Also, the guy that she was kind of engaged to (in an unofficial arranged marriage) is totally okay with it!Last but not least, I loved the angle on the antagonist.
Spoiler
I think I guessed for like a second that the "entity" was her mother, but for some reason, it never stuck, making it a surprise when we realize the truth. I loved that the "evil" Micheline had to conquer was someone she loved, someone who she had to defeat physically, violently, and then, finally, tenderly, with her heart bleeding and open. And Luca? I thought he was a side character, and then, suddenly, he steps out of the shadows to be revealed as the true evil mastermind. And nevermind Luca's real identity. Oh em gee. Luca came out of NOWHERE and I was taken by surprise.storm_knight's review against another edition
5.0
this book is good beyond words i just love every second of if micheline helsing is my hero shes amazing this is by far my favorite book of 2015 so far i would reccomend everyone read this i dont even know where to begin to describe how amazing this book is its a work of bloody art
cjdbooks1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
smolartist11's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
pantsreads's review against another edition
4.0
Don't let the cover scare you off—this books is a whole lot of (sometimes scary, sometimes gory) fun!
Read my full review here.
Read my full review here.