Scan barcode
monroebays's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, and Suicide
_b_a_l_'s review
4.0
I love period fiction (Jane Eyre is on my speed dial of re-reads) but find non-genre fiction generally hella dull.
This let's you get that awesome historic fix with lashings of delicious supernatural sauce.
He responded in a voice that was made of a forest on fire, in a voice that was made of everyone on earth who ever lived, screaming and dying.
This let's you get that awesome historic fix with lashings of delicious supernatural sauce.
He responded in a voice that was made of a forest on fire, in a voice that was made of everyone on earth who ever lived, screaming and dying.
ellezagna's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury
pygment's review
5.0
I can't believe I didn't write a review for this book. I will admit I might be biased as I've loved almost everything this author has written and I talk her up every chance I get, especially at SF/F cons and hope one day to attend one where she is guest of honor... That aside, this book is a mastery of small stories about people and the interactions that drive them. Yes, there are main characters, however, even the minor ones are fleshed out, rich and reverberate through the story.
The mythology is also well researched and detailed out. I read the book in less than 2 days of reading time, maybe 8 hours, I didn't want to put it down. Thank you again for another smooth and entertaining ride.
The mythology is also well researched and detailed out. I read the book in less than 2 days of reading time, maybe 8 hours, I didn't want to put it down. Thank you again for another smooth and entertaining ride.
tmkutawrites's review
4.0
I'm not really into thriller/horror/southern gothic or whatever exact genre this is. Regardless, I didn't think this was going to be my jam but I LOVED IT! I loved it! So much of a page turner that I missed my train stop and read it while walking to work. The characters, the plot, the setting...fantastic. Priest's research and love really shone through, and I'd easily read several more books set in this universe!
flaviathebibliophile's review
4.0
3.5 stars
A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
I went into reading this book expecting (and hoping) to read a steamy historical romance! But I suppose it’s my own fault for making that assumption based on the summary. All throughout the first chapter, I was still expecting that the book would be like the historical romances I was used to, but by the second chapter, I was no longer sure. The book is written in the first person with alternating perspectives (one chapter dedicated to Alice, and the next chapter to Tomas, and so forth). It was definitely interesting to get the personal viewpoint of both of the main characters, and I also liked that one of the main characters (Tomas) is a POC!
I was very excited about the plot in this book ever since first reading about it many months ago! And I was very happy when after requesting an ARC of this book, I was surprised by receiving it in the mail! When I finally got to reading it a few days ago, I was very happy and looking forward to experience the plot I’d been awaiting for so long.
It turned out being a different plot than what I had expected, however, in many regards. I found Brimstone almost to be written in the Bram Stoker style seen in Dracula, in that the story was told from the perspectives from the main characters, with a lot of self-reflection and contemplation (of which Alice’s was quite annoying a lot of the time). I believe that I would have enjoyed this book more thoroughly if I had gone in with the knowledge that it was written in this style. There was a lot of dialogue which, though it may have been interesting in other circumstances, felt more like filler to me because I wanted the main plot to take off properly.
And I had to wait quite a while. I believe that I was about two thirds into the book before it really took off, and before the two main characters even met! There was also zero romance between the two mains, …so, you can understand my disappointment. As for the main plot itself (which alas, was not romance, but rather a paranormal adventure of sorts) was interesting once it took off, and only very slightly predictable near the end. That being said, I liked that this is one of the rare books out there where the focus is on community and friendship, when it comes to characters…even the main two (yes, I can appreciate that while also being disappointed that I didn’t get the romance I hoped for, haha).
Overall, I believe that this book had a lot of potential to be quite spectacular, but that it fell a little bit short, at least for me. I will still recommend it to readers who enjoy historical horror, however, just with the caution that they should not be expecting what I had expected, when diving in.
A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
I went into reading this book expecting (and hoping) to read a steamy historical romance! But I suppose it’s my own fault for making that assumption based on the summary. All throughout the first chapter, I was still expecting that the book would be like the historical romances I was used to, but by the second chapter, I was no longer sure. The book is written in the first person with alternating perspectives (one chapter dedicated to Alice, and the next chapter to Tomas, and so forth). It was definitely interesting to get the personal viewpoint of both of the main characters, and I also liked that one of the main characters (Tomas) is a POC!
I was very excited about the plot in this book ever since first reading about it many months ago! And I was very happy when after requesting an ARC of this book, I was surprised by receiving it in the mail! When I finally got to reading it a few days ago, I was very happy and looking forward to experience the plot I’d been awaiting for so long.
It turned out being a different plot than what I had expected, however, in many regards. I found Brimstone almost to be written in the Bram Stoker style seen in Dracula, in that the story was told from the perspectives from the main characters, with a lot of self-reflection and contemplation (of which Alice’s was quite annoying a lot of the time). I believe that I would have enjoyed this book more thoroughly if I had gone in with the knowledge that it was written in this style. There was a lot of dialogue which, though it may have been interesting in other circumstances, felt more like filler to me because I wanted the main plot to take off properly.
And I had to wait quite a while. I believe that I was about two thirds into the book before it really took off, and before the two main characters even met! There was also zero romance between the two mains, …so, you can understand my disappointment. As for the main plot itself (which alas, was not romance, but rather a paranormal adventure of sorts) was interesting once it took off, and only very slightly predictable near the end. That being said, I liked that this is one of the rare books out there where the focus is on community and friendship, when it comes to characters…even the main two (yes, I can appreciate that while also being disappointed that I didn’t get the romance I hoped for, haha).
Overall, I believe that this book had a lot of potential to be quite spectacular, but that it fell a little bit short, at least for me. I will still recommend it to readers who enjoy historical horror, however, just with the caution that they should not be expecting what I had expected, when diving in.
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and War
cwerber's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Review coming soon.
Must sleep now.
Must sleep now.
mermahoney's review
4.0
3.5 stars rounded to 4, deserved since the ending definitely helped make up for some earlier weaknesses.
I liked the premise of the book, with a veteran of WWI and a clairvoyant woman sharing dreams of fire and seeking answers. The setting in 1920 Cassadaga, Florida, a real spiritualist community, was intriguing. I also like the switching back and forth between the perspective of the two main characters, this was done very well. I thought the pacing was a bit languid and didn't convey the urgency that might have been intended, though things definitely picked up when the two MCs met up and the ending really pulled all the threads together and I found it a bit emotional even.
I liked the premise of the book, with a veteran of WWI and a clairvoyant woman sharing dreams of fire and seeking answers. The setting in 1920 Cassadaga, Florida, a real spiritualist community, was intriguing. I also like the switching back and forth between the perspective of the two main characters, this was done very well. I thought the pacing was a bit languid and didn't convey the urgency that might have been intended, though things definitely picked up when the two MCs met up and the ending really pulled all the threads together and I found it a bit emotional even.
shelfquest's review
5.0
Brimstone follows Alice Dartle, a clairvoyant from Virginia, and Tomas Cordero, a suit designer from Ybor City. Alice has moved to the small community of Cassadaga, Florida, a city known for it's mediums and spiritual leanings, to learn more about her abilities. After a series of fires both in Ybor City and Cassadaga, Tomas and Alice come together with the spiritual community to find out who is behind the fires and how it can be stopped.
I was skeptical going into this book because Cherie Priest's books are very hit-or-miss for me: I either love them or hate them. I was happy to discover that I absolutely love this one and once it really got going I couldn't put it down. She does a great job of writing the points-of-view of Alice and Tomas. They consistently alternate chapters without getting any unnecessary overlapping. A few parts of dialogue throughout the book could have been better, but that's really my only complaint about this book. Part magical realism, part historical fiction, part fantasy, this book has a lot going for it.
I was skeptical going into this book because Cherie Priest's books are very hit-or-miss for me: I either love them or hate them. I was happy to discover that I absolutely love this one and once it really got going I couldn't put it down. She does a great job of writing the points-of-view of Alice and Tomas. They consistently alternate chapters without getting any unnecessary overlapping. A few parts of dialogue throughout the book could have been better, but that's really my only complaint about this book. Part magical realism, part historical fiction, part fantasy, this book has a lot going for it.