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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Loved the first story up until the last 10 or so pages. Couldn’t get excited about the second one. DNF.
Excellent writing but not what I came for. It was billed as being Lovecraftian, but that aspect amounted to little more than veiled references to unnamed beings and shadows in rooms. What I was unprepared for and didn’t enjoy at all were the vivid descriptions of all-too-human torture.
While some sections had some interest, there was mostly time where I couldn't quite grasp what was happening - I only made it about 40% through the book before having to give it up because it just wasn't holding my attention.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
The first story is amazing. It’s genuinely engaging, pulls you in and holds on to you. It’s rich and vivid. The second story is good but overly long, and in its lengthiness has several more ebbs than flows, making it a bit of a chore to wade through. Still, it’s well-written and not a bad story, just too long for its story.
challenging
dark
mysterious
Cosmic horror just isn’t my thing…
slow-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent
Unlike most of the reviewers here, I preferred My Heart Struck Sorrow over the first tale. I think the first story bogged me down and did not make me feel compelled to read it, but rather I slogged through it to get to the second story. I am not a true connoisseur of cosmic horror- I'm not even sure what that means. I can only say I felt the story was too tangential and veered off track. The true horror was going down the obsessive rabbit hole but the author seemed to rely more on gore and sex to convey the horror.
My Heart Struck Sorrow was much more compelling to me, most likely due to my love of music. I found myself looking up a lot as I read and was fascinated by the real history of Stagger Lee. I thought the suspense was fitting and could feel the descent into darkness. I too found the ending to be a little abrupt but it leaves it open to the reader to fill in some blanks. Overall I would give that story 4 stars and the first 2.
My Heart Struck Sorrow was much more compelling to me, most likely due to my love of music. I found myself looking up a lot as I read and was fascinated by the real history of Stagger Lee. I thought the suspense was fitting and could feel the descent into darkness. I too found the ending to be a little abrupt but it leaves it open to the reader to fill in some blanks. Overall I would give that story 4 stars and the first 2.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes