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r_o_s_e's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Death, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Excrement
Minor: Gun violence, Animal death, and Vomit
alisonfaith426's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Stalking, Violence, Vomit, and Body horror
Moderate: Car accident and Gun violence
shysheepys's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really, really enjoyed reading this. Getting in the mindset of a teenager, on the verge of losing their friends to college, but seemingly distracted by the possibility of their local plaything coming to life was crazy. Reading the MC's rationalizations about why they did what they did was so interesting, gives a new perspective on how things are handled. Having read Stephen Graham Jones' My Heart Is a Chainsaw first, you can definately tell that it is the same writer (in a good way!) I also appreciated that this was short and sweet.
Only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is a spoiler: I didn't like that Shanna just magically wasn't dead. It does give us the same shock that the MC feels when we realize that she was alive. But why didn't she come out of hiding beforehand? Before she knew her friends were dying, why would she have stayed in the woods? Why would she randomly come out later? That part was off putting in my opinion. How did she even avoid getting killed by the semi??
Only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is a spoiler:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Mental illness
buttondragon's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Not at all what I expected, but I enjoyed it immensely. Stephan Graham Jones really nails the teenage angst and logic, definitely worth a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
diadoodle's review
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Mental illness, Death, and Murder
elle_e_d_light's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
I liked it. It was extremely dark in its humor. This is more of a "Heathers" than a "Mean Girls" in terms of tone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
_thebookishbarista_'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
mgm9816's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fast-paced, spiraling, and paranoid, this was a perfect summer read. Quick and fun!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Mental illness
franknforter's review
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Stalking, Death, Grief, and Mental illness
lovelymisanthrope's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I picked up this novella because I have enjoyed Stephen Graham Jones in the past and I thought this story sounded intriguing.
"Night of the Mannequins" follows Sawyer, a teenaged boy. Him and his friends decide to play a prank at a local movie theater by smuggling a mannequin in, so they can trick the attendant. It is all fun and games until the mannequin seems to come alive...
I adored this story, and it has become my favorite from Stephen Graham Jones. This may be terse in the length, but it packs a powerful punch, and by the time you finish the story, you begin to question your own understanding of what just happened. I have not stopped thinking about this novella since I finished it.
Sawyer's thought process often made me laugh out loud, which is a nice counterbalance to the brutal content in this story.
I will definitely be picking up more from Stephen Graham Jones in the future.
"Night of the Mannequins" follows Sawyer, a teenaged boy. Him and his friends decide to play a prank at a local movie theater by smuggling a mannequin in, so they can trick the attendant. It is all fun and games until the mannequin seems to come alive...
I adored this story, and it has become my favorite from Stephen Graham Jones. This may be terse in the length, but it packs a powerful punch, and by the time you finish the story, you begin to question your own understanding of what just happened. I have not stopped thinking about this novella since I finished it.
Sawyer's thought process often made me laugh out loud, which is a nice counterbalance to the brutal content in this story.
I will definitely be picking up more from Stephen Graham Jones in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Mental illness, Murder, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse