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mfumarolo's review against another edition
4.0
*ARC provided by the publisher at ALA 2017 - thank you! This in no way impacted my opinions of this book.*
I'm not usually one for horror novels, or so I thought. In this book, Benjamin Percy takes readers on a techno-thriller in which demons are among us by way of the Internet. The spooky tale was fast paced and left me guessing (and squirming) over and over.
I'm not usually one for horror novels, or so I thought. In this book, Benjamin Percy takes readers on a techno-thriller in which demons are among us by way of the Internet. The spooky tale was fast paced and left me guessing (and squirming) over and over.
rkiladitis's review against another edition
4.0
A creepy, unputdownable blend of cyberpunk and horror. I loved every word of it, from beginning to end. Percy gives us a world where, even in the comfort of our own homes and computers, we're not safe - Hell is here, and just waiting for the right code to come on through.
casshole3's review against another edition
2.0
the writing is great! i think i was just really put off by the main character and didn’t really love plot
nedhayes's review against another edition
4.0
Great standard horror thriller, with a few twists, by a writer with talent. Longer review coming! #horror
blackwolf294's review against another edition
3.0
This book was actually quite a quick read, despite the busyness of my classwork causing me to take a little longer to finish it than I normally would. This book actually surprised me. I knew going in that it would be a fast-paced read, but while I was reading it, it did not seem so fast-paced that I was struggling to keep up. No, it was the kind of fast-paced that keeps you entangled in the story's grasp.
This book also surprised me because there were a lot more supernatural elements in it than I was really expecting. I will say that the description of this book doesn't do a well enough job encompassing what the story is about. At first, I was afraid that the book would be overtaken by the dark imagery, but to my pleasant surprise, instead of playing into that angle, it is written like a fight between good and evil... or should I say... light and dark. While the dark is quite dark, the author was very clearly vying against that side, and that is honestly what kept me liking the book.
The only thing that disappointed me about this book is the fact that I wish there had been more tech in it. I wanted to hear more about the Dark Net and the hacking aspects of the story, and while those elements certainly played a significant role, I felt that I didn't get to hear enough about it.
The writing itself is very well done. The descriptions were vivid, and I was easily able to discern each individual character's unique voice. It is quite the artistic feat to be able to write so many perspective characters and have each one sound different, but Benjamin Percy does this very well. I loved all the characters and their stories.
And for those that want to know - talking to you, Mom ;) -
Evil is defeated and the light triumphs to rule another day.
Overall, I actually liked this book, and having read the whole thing, I would say that they got it right: this book is a thriller, though a quite unique one compared to others I've read.
This book also surprised me because there were a lot more supernatural elements in it than I was really expecting. I will say that the description of this book doesn't do a well enough job encompassing what the story is about. At first, I was afraid that the book would be overtaken by the dark imagery, but to my pleasant surprise, instead of playing into that angle, it is written like a fight between good and evil... or should I say... light and dark. While the dark is quite dark, the author was very clearly vying against that side, and that is honestly what kept me liking the book.
The only thing that disappointed me about this book is the fact that I wish there had been more tech in it. I wanted to hear more about the Dark Net and the hacking aspects of the story, and while those elements certainly played a significant role, I felt that I didn't get to hear enough about it.
The writing itself is very well done. The descriptions were vivid, and I was easily able to discern each individual character's unique voice. It is quite the artistic feat to be able to write so many perspective characters and have each one sound different, but Benjamin Percy does this very well. I loved all the characters and their stories.
And for those that want to know - talking to you, Mom ;) -
Spoiler
I also liked the ending.Evil is defeated and the light triumphs to rule another day.
Overall, I actually liked this book, and having read the whole thing, I would say that they got it right: this book is a thriller, though a quite unique one compared to others I've read.
marisacarpico's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Picked this up because I love Percy’s comics work, but didn’t love this.
Not sure exactly what didn’t work, but there’s perhaps something too conventional about it. Some scary shit and a decent concept, but nothing ever grabbed me—whether characters or plot.
Also found the ending a bit cheesy if I’m being honest. Feels like the corny setup you get for a series at the end of a first arc in an ongoing comic.
Not sure exactly what didn’t work, but there’s perhaps something too conventional about it. Some scary shit and a decent concept, but nothing ever grabbed me—whether characters or plot.
Also found the ending a bit cheesy if I’m being honest. Feels like the corny setup you get for a series at the end of a first arc in an ongoing comic.
moogen's review against another edition
2.0
This isn't my usual genre but the book was compared to a Stephen King novel - a (very) occasional guilty pleasure - so I gave it a go. It didn't work for me. It felt too frenetic. The ending was pat. The POV was occasionally disorienting. And while the the writing was generally quite good, it sometimes veered so wildly the other way, that it tainted the whole.
heathersbike's review against another edition
** spoiler alert ** I did not realize this book had a fantastic element. I was looking for social commentary (which it still has) but the demons and light thru me off. If I had known going in I think it would have been fine but unfortunately it made it less real and I never fully got into the story. Too bad because it was good.