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probableereading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
a_chickletz's review against another edition
2.0
This was one of my Night Worms books! (If you haven't already signed up for their subscription box, do it.)
This book sounded creepy. Like something akin to a R.L. Stine Babysitters novel. So I set my expectations up a little high.
What I got? ... A lot of confusion, disappointment, and a story that left me feeling like I missed another book in this tale.
The protagonist is an adult (in her late twenties) who makes this weird ritual by listening to a radio trying to find out what happened to Amelia Earheart. ... You know the pilot who vanished in 1920's? ... Yeah. That's what starts this whole thing off: the radio starts letting her hear missing girls, dead girls, the killer on the radio?
By the end of the book, I couldn't comprehend what was going on and I started thinking she was hallucinating and was actually the killer.
There is a killer who is cutting off the heads of people and imapling them on spikes, and goes by the name 'Vlad the Impaler'. ... but the mystery, the killer in general, the point of the book is so... messy that you really stop caring and you are just trying to sort out your mind.
There are also a LOT of red herrings. And I mean, to the point where everyone is a suspect but in a bad way because you can't get a real reign on the plot.
Idk, I just wasn't a fan.
This book sounded creepy. Like something akin to a R.L. Stine Babysitters novel. So I set my expectations up a little high.
What I got? ... A lot of confusion, disappointment, and a story that left me feeling like I missed another book in this tale.
The protagonist is an adult (in her late twenties) who makes this weird ritual by listening to a radio trying to find out what happened to Amelia Earheart. ... You know the pilot who vanished in 1920's? ... Yeah. That's what starts this whole thing off: the radio starts letting her hear missing girls, dead girls, the killer on the radio?
By the end of the book, I couldn't comprehend what was going on and I started thinking she was hallucinating and was actually the killer.
There is a killer who is cutting off the heads of people and imapling them on spikes, and goes by the name 'Vlad the Impaler'. ... but the mystery, the killer in general, the point of the book is so... messy that you really stop caring and you are just trying to sort out your mind.
There are also a LOT of red herrings. And I mean, to the point where everyone is a suspect but in a bad way because you can't get a real reign on the plot.
Idk, I just wasn't a fan.
kyleoverkill's review against another edition
4.0
Was a fun read. I think pacing suffers a bit and there are a lot of ideas being juggled at once. That said all the ideas were interesting i just wanted more. It feels chaotic but as i sat with it for a bit intentional or not i think it come completely adds to the story and the decent one character makes. Others mentioned the ending and i think its a great punch in the gut. It hits hard and fast. Looking forward to more from the author
kaiju_poet's review against another edition
5.0
Antioch by Jess Leonard is a thriller. It has all the elements of a thriller, it has a serial killer, a strong woman who lives alone, the possibility of corruption with red herrings and perhaps a deep dark rabbit hole of conspiracies that swirl around the story like a maelstrom of constant confusion and obfuscation.
The first thing I noticed was that this book read like watching a movie, it had cinematic beats, tropes I have seen in crime movies and ghost movies, but mingled together in a way that reminded me heavily of 2013’s “Gothika”.
The first chapter was good, really good, it introduced ideas and concepts and ideas that seemed minute in the moment but were interesting, allowing the seeds to rest and later fully bloom into something dark and sinister. I almost set the book aside during the second chapter, a slice of life for the protagonist, but I pushed through because of the power of the first chapter. And I was rewarded because the book didn’t slow down from there. I don’t know that I would call it a non-stop thrill ride, but it was constantly engaging and constantly interesting.
There are places where the narrative is harder to follow than others, but by the time you finish will understand how and why things come together the way they do.
Antioch is a puzzle, made of pain, anger, and deception, putting it together is delightful is somewhat unnerving.
The first thing I noticed was that this book read like watching a movie, it had cinematic beats, tropes I have seen in crime movies and ghost movies, but mingled together in a way that reminded me heavily of 2013’s “Gothika”.
The first chapter was good, really good, it introduced ideas and concepts and ideas that seemed minute in the moment but were interesting, allowing the seeds to rest and later fully bloom into something dark and sinister. I almost set the book aside during the second chapter, a slice of life for the protagonist, but I pushed through because of the power of the first chapter. And I was rewarded because the book didn’t slow down from there. I don’t know that I would call it a non-stop thrill ride, but it was constantly engaging and constantly interesting.
There are places where the narrative is harder to follow than others, but by the time you finish will understand how and why things come together the way they do.
Antioch is a puzzle, made of pain, anger, and deception, putting it together is delightful is somewhat unnerving.
enchantressreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity
forced confessionlanternsjourney's review against another edition
5.0
Antioch is one of those books that has you furiously flipping pages to find out what happens at the end and then you immediately seek out who else has read it to talk about it. Bess, the main character, lives in a small town, is unreliable, playing at being a detective, is obsessed with conspiracy theories (particularly about Amelia Earhart) and is a bit of a loner. The entire book I felt her confusion, panic, anxiety, and dread. Sometimes I actually was confused, but not in a bad way. It was the way the author wanted me to feel. However, I panicked even more when I reached the last chapter and I still had no clue how it was going to come together. It kept me guessing to the last pages and even though I still have a few questions, I really liked this insane journey to Antioch.
Update: I originally had this rated as 4 stars, but after thinking about it a while and talking about it, I realize this deserves nothing less than 5 stars. For me, this book was like Shirley Jackson's work. My initial reaction was a little upset, and then the wheels just kept turning in my head, and turning, and turning... and I think that Jessica Leonard was 100% intent on doing that to the reader. I will be reading this one again.
Update: I originally had this rated as 4 stars, but after thinking about it a while and talking about it, I realize this deserves nothing less than 5 stars. For me, this book was like Shirley Jackson's work. My initial reaction was a little upset, and then the wheels just kept turning in my head, and turning, and turning... and I think that Jessica Leonard was 100% intent on doing that to the reader. I will be reading this one again.
torchyblane's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.5
djgroupi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
This book gave me Twilight Zone/Angel Heart vibes. Bess Jackson is the main character of the story. She works at an indie bookshop, is obsessed with Amelia Earhart conspiracy theories and is trying to solve a series of grisly crimes in which women's decapitated heads are being left on pvc pipes around the small town of Antioch. This book had me intrigued, creeped out and constantly turning the pages. However, as the story progressed, I realized we were dealing with an unreliable narrator. The ending left me with more questions than resolutions. But then again, isn't that the point? I will be pondering this mystery for quite some time . . .
jessicalong127's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
introvertreader's review against another edition
2.0
Completely lost me at the end like what happened?
Really try to like it ....
Really try to like it ....