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leweylibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Listen I know I've heard good things about this book and probably know people who would like it, but it was not for me. I was bored out of my mind and almost DNF'd it at least twice. I wanted to like it so badly though because the premise is so freaking cool! Ugh.
I was about 80 pages in and just nothing was really happening, it felt like build up on build up for a bunch of different characters that are starting to overlap. The time period everything is happening is confusing, and I'm still not sure I understand what the big thing that happened even is? I love the premise, but the execution was so weird in the most pretentious way. Writing confusing shit is not cute or fun if people don't understand it. Stop trying to be a big, bad, cool writer who's elevated and throwing out literary devices and shit left and write. Just write something people want to read.
At about 90 pages in, a big thing did happen, and I was like okay, now we're getting somewhere. Aaaand then it would switch characters and we'd be back to getting nowhere. It somehow felt like the ENTIRE book was a lead up to the second book and that's just insane to me. I finished the last 50 pages or so out of spite tbh.
Quotes:
I was about 80 pages in and just nothing was really happening, it felt like build up on build up for a bunch of different characters that are starting to overlap. The time period everything is happening is confusing, and I'm still not sure I understand what the big thing that happened even is? I love the premise, but the execution was so weird in the most pretentious way. Writing confusing shit is not cute or fun if people don't understand it. Stop trying to be a big, bad, cool writer who's elevated and throwing out literary devices and shit left and write. Just write something people want to read.
At about 90 pages in, a big thing did happen, and I was like okay, now we're getting somewhere. Aaaand then it would switch characters and we'd be back to getting nowhere. It somehow felt like the ENTIRE book was a lead up to the second book and that's just insane to me. I finished the last 50 pages or so out of spite tbh.
Quotes:
- (I I could break my neck, ) she remembered thinking as she flew down the stairs, her heart thumping in her chest like a wild animal attacking its cage. She remembered wanting to so badly, relishing every moment that her foot landed on the nosing of each step, the worn souls of her shoes sliding dangerously across the knife's edge of each miniature cliff. She could break her neck and she wouldn't have to burn this horror out of her. She wouldn't have to be a good daughter. She wouldn't have to be anything at all. She could be cracked stone and fine soil. She could be a bed of weeds. (133)
- "We're all blind," he says after swallowing. "Take solace in that. Choice comes first. Meaning comes later." (279)
- The chant is an evolution of an anarchist slogan: "no gods, no. Masters," the original version meaning( I know human above.( It is meant as a call against hierarchy. Ridley assumes that this variation means( i no human above, no human below,( or something like it. A call against hierarchy and discrimination. (327)
- As he walks with the crowd, he understands what he had forgotten: that a march is not just a voice against violence and trauma, but also a reminder that even in a cause that is stacked against them, no one is alone. (327)
- There's something beautiful and devastating about the sight. Ridley feels small against it: the marvels of nature and human beings, intruding on one another; massive systems that existed before he was born and will continue long after he is dead. What can anyone do against them? The voices around him provide an answer. Like ants, perhaps enough human bodies can form a critical mass, becoming a marvel capable of great things, even against obstacles calcified through years of accumulated resource and power. Maybe. More often than not, Ridley has seen this fail to provide any change. But the effort has value for those fleeting moments when success can be snatched for the side of good. (327)
- Even has things change, much stays the same, She thinks. Other tragedies are already queued up for their entrance. (334)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Addiction, Murder, Racism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Police brutality
bosco29's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Confusing and hard to follow.
Time jumps constantly. Character points of view jumps constantly. So many scenes have something going on in the present, past, and future and switched character viewpoints and locations. It's really hard to figure out what is going on.
I love that so many characters of LGBTQIA+, it's like every other character, but it was almost overdone and with how terrible it was to follow the story, it's like the author hoped the inclusion factor would carry the story.
It started out promising and I loved the premise of the secret world of monsters leaking to the public but the book wasn't about that very much.
I can't decide if this would have been better as several books in a longer series so you can actually invest in a single character at some point. In this book, it's basically an introduction to a billion characters in a billion different timeframes. Maybe it'll come together more in a future book? I don't see how I'll actually start to connect with a character though with how much it jumps around.
The audiobook had potential but the narrator pauses in weird places and every ime the narrator breathes in, it's loud and sounds like he's been jump scared, I know that sounds odd but it was incredibly irritating to hear this constant quick, loud intake of breath mid sentence and after every sentence. I am wondering if this is a book thats better physically read instead. Maybe it would be easier to follow too.
I was really excited about this book but it was disappointing. I don't have the Tok but it feels like another book built up by that platform for whatever reason only to be a flop. I expected more supernatural and was disappointed by how very little this book actually even mentions the "monsters"/supernatural.
TW: This book has a heavy focus on Dr*g use/addiction, mental health.
Time jumps constantly. Character points of view jumps constantly. So many scenes have something going on in the present, past, and future and switched character viewpoints and locations. It's really hard to figure out what is going on.
I love that so many characters of LGBTQIA+, it's like every other character, but it was almost overdone and with how terrible it was to follow the story, it's like the author hoped the inclusion factor would carry the story.
It started out promising and I loved the premise of the secret world of monsters leaking to the public but the book wasn't about that very much.
I can't decide if this would have been better as several books in a longer series so you can actually invest in a single character at some point. In this book, it's basically an introduction to a billion characters in a billion different timeframes. Maybe it'll come together more in a future book? I don't see how I'll actually start to connect with a character though with how much it jumps around.
The audiobook had potential but the narrator pauses in weird places and every ime the narrator breathes in, it's loud and sounds like he's been jump scared, I know that sounds odd but it was incredibly irritating to hear this constant quick, loud intake of breath mid sentence and after every sentence. I am wondering if this is a book thats better physically read instead. Maybe it would be easier to follow too.
I was really excited about this book but it was disappointing. I don't have the Tok but it feels like another book built up by that platform for whatever reason only to be a flop. I expected more supernatural and was disappointed by how very little this book actually even mentions the "monsters"/supernatural.
TW: This book has a heavy focus on Dr*g use/addiction, mental health.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Death, Suicide, and Drug use
caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Suicide attempt, Grief, Suicide, Violence, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, and Death
spootilious's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Read: August 16, 2023
Title: No Gods, No Monsters
Title: No Gods, No Monsters
Series: The Convergence Saga #1
Author: Cadwell Turnbull
Genre: Fantasy Horror
Rating: 2/5
Review:
Author: Cadwell Turnbull
Genre: Fantasy Horror
Rating: 2/5
Review:
I don’t really have a lot to say about this one. I didn’t… NOT like it, but there isn’t much I specifically liked either.
What I can say is that the writing style is beautiful. It is obvious that Turnbull is very talented. However, the storyline and the characters have this sort of vagueness that keeps anything from truly standing out.
From what I can tell, most people complain at how the story jumps around and the points of view shift so strangely. I can understand their point. I suppose I’ve read enough novels written this way that it wasn’t too bad for me. Though I will say with just a small shuffle of one or two chapters Turnbull could have kept the mystery while still making the shifts less jarring for the reader. In my opinion he didn’t quite manage what he was going for.
I will also say that physically reading the book makes it more understandable than listening to the audiobook which is what I first attempted. Dion Graham is one of the sexiest narrators I’ve come across but there was nothing he could do with this one to make it easier to understand.
Overall, not a bad book but not a great one in my opinion. Bit overhyped but love the writing style 😊
Quotes:
N/A
TW: Rape, Murder, Gore, Vore, Body Horror, Mass shooting, General Violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Body horror, Cannibalism, Violence, Transphobia, Gore, Blood, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Rape, and Torture
gracecrandall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Addiction, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, and Bullying
Moderate: Antisemitism
bi_n_large's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Police brutality, and Gun violence
Moderate: Drug use, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Minor: Child abuse
mossybean's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
As much as I loved some of the characters and the magic, I just came out of this book thinking: so what does that all mean? I feel like I was left out of the loop, I wasn’t told enough about the important parts, so I didn’t care about them, and the less important parts just got thrown by the wayside towards the end. I wanted it all to come together but it didn’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Police brutality
elle_e_d_light's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The writing was great, but the book as a whole left me confused. I started confused. I continued to get more confused. I ended confused. So, the 3 stars are mostly for the writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Body horror, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Alcoholism
Minor: Domestic abuse
moonpotter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Blood, Gun violence, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
azrah786's review against another edition
4.25
**I received an ARC from Titan Books in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence/mass shootings, blood, gore, body horror, injury, death, death of parent/loved one, animal death, murder, suicide, police brutality, hate crime, drug abuse/addiction, alcohol, confinement, cannibalism, child abuse, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, grief, transphobia, racism, xenophobia
--
No Gods, No Monsters is the addictive beginning to a new supernatural/paranormal urban fantasy series. In this story filled with both magic and science, an event denoted as The Fracture sees monsters and creatures from myths and legends being chased out of the shadows and living openly amongst humans as a means of protection from some “other” threat.
Turnbull deftly blends the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and thriller together, and his prose perfectly encapsulates the eerie and dark vibe of the story throughout.
The combination of short chapters and a storyline laced with mystery makes this such a page turner. There are secret organisations and seers, shifters and gods but the sharp, underlying commentary on marginalised communities, human nature and the disbelief and blind ignorance people chase during times of change make this so much more than fiction.
There is an extensive cast of diverse and intriguing characters to follow which at times gets a little confusing. However, the multi pov narration also makes the book feel like an anthology of stories that are all subtly interconnected, with a greater overarching storyline connecting them all more fully happening in the background.
We also have a unnamed narrator to follow that pops up within these individual stories and honestly just wanting to figure out who this mysterious figure observing all of the character is, is just one of the unputdownable elements of the book.
A perfect read for spooky season but also one that can be enjoyed all year round.
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
CW: violence, gun violence/mass shootings, blood, gore, body horror, injury, death, death of parent/loved one, animal death, murder, suicide, police brutality, hate crime, drug abuse/addiction, alcohol, confinement, cannibalism, child abuse, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, grief, transphobia, racism, xenophobia
--
No Gods, No Monsters is the addictive beginning to a new supernatural/paranormal urban fantasy series. In this story filled with both magic and science, an event denoted as The Fracture sees monsters and creatures from myths and legends being chased out of the shadows and living openly amongst humans as a means of protection from some “other” threat.
Turnbull deftly blends the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and thriller together, and his prose perfectly encapsulates the eerie and dark vibe of the story throughout.
The combination of short chapters and a storyline laced with mystery makes this such a page turner. There are secret organisations and seers, shifters and gods but the sharp, underlying commentary on marginalised communities, human nature and the disbelief and blind ignorance people chase during times of change make this so much more than fiction.
There is an extensive cast of diverse and intriguing characters to follow which at times gets a little confusing. However, the multi pov narration also makes the book feel like an anthology of stories that are all subtly interconnected, with a greater overarching storyline connecting them all more fully happening in the background.
We also have a unnamed narrator to follow that pops up within these individual stories and honestly just wanting to figure out who this mysterious figure observing all of the character is, is just one of the unputdownable elements of the book.
A perfect read for spooky season but also one that can be enjoyed all year round.
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Blood, Gore, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Suicide, Hate crime, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Confinement, Child abuse, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Animal death, Transphobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Xenophobia