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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Review to come soon. One of the best books I've read in a while, and I've read many a great book.
I don't know exactly why I'm giving this book three stars, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that the first 150 pages were vastly superior to the last 300. I don't like books that let you down in the end, which has been a recurring issue for me in the last few weeks: books that start off great, I've discovered, sometimes can only go downhill, and do just that. I thought the storyline was interesting, but around page 200 everything just sort of went flat. The only redeeming factors were the writing (Straub never disappoints in that regard) and the climax, in which everything comes packaged together with a (not-so-)neat little bow and left at the reader's feet. It's a decent book, and plenty original, but it can't maintain the suspense and delight that it builds at the opening. Now, if only I could find a copy of Floating Dragon.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would have thought I read a different book judging by the high rating this book got if it was not for all the reviews mentioning Tom and Del. This book was a chore to get through. The main problem with it is just that it is way too long. I don't normally have a problem with long books, but when there is so much unnecessary filler it really wears on you. The story is told from the perspective of an unnamed character who went to school with Tom and Del, the actual main characters of the story. Every time this unnamed guy interjects it distracts from the story and adds absolutely nothing to the book as a whole (except more pages). The ending was nearly unbearable. It drags on and on and on. There were about 5 or 6 places the story could have ended, but nope he just kept going! That was after the story dragged at the beginning in the school and in the middle when they are "learning" magic from a magician who uses actual magic to put on these crazy little theater productions that hardly resemble a magicians show and don't even really use the real magic either. They are literally just little plays that he puts on for 2 kids and a fake audience. It was just awful and I regret reading it.
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
This is one of the best dark magic novels I've ever read. Perfect combination of horror and fantasy. It made me put Grimm's Fairy Tales on the reread pile, too.
wow this book was so hard to follow and the charcters were crap! seriously i don;t even know how i finished this! its really bad.
Unfortunately I'm having to give this one up. It's just not catching me and I've given it 68 pages.
My hopes for this book were too high. It started off pretty good, but the ending became convoluted and anti-climactic. I disagree with the reviews that call this the creepiest book ever, or a classic in horror. Mostly I was glad when it was finally over.