Reviews

Howling Dark by Christopher Ruocchio

xkal754's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

mckygage's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.5

mightyjor's review against another edition

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4.0

4/5 stars

The book is 2/3s boring and meandering, then 1/3 brilliant, shocking, horrifying, and like nothing I've read before. I feel similar in reading this as I did the First Law trilogy, where there was just so much of nothing happening that I couldn't help but feel it could have been far shorter, but ultimately was great when you realize where the story is going. A lot of the book is the characters kind of waiting around for things to happen. It's boring and I don't really like it.

However, I freaking love where this book ends. Around 70% of the way in, things start to get somewhat interesting. By 90% in, the book did some things that truly, truly shocked me. Like, I think I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life kind of shocking. I'm nervous to say that since I think people exaggerating how good the book is is it's biggest issue, but I know where they're coming from now. It does leave some pretty huge unanswered questions, but I have no doubt we'll get answers in the next few books.

So anyway, obviously I'm a bit conflicted in this review as I spend about 15 hours reading and considering just not finishing it. Maybe I'd like it more on a reread, but that's a hard feeling to forget for so prolonged a time. But the end is so good and the more I think about it the more I love it.

lunarstrudel's review

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Dnf @ 9%, couldn't deal with the racism and misogyny. Might be a great story but not where I want to spend my mental energy.

heyitsmejohn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

jamstxr's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

3.75

Would have received higher rating if not for the slow dragging middle parts.

rkoller94's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of the best sci-fi reads I've had in a long time. This was insane.

lowflyinggoose's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

matholse's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

drinkcocacola's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0