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tigger89's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
I picked this up for the spooky horror monsters, but wound up loving it for the characters. They're such a pair of unlikely friends, a detail that isn't lost on them in-universe. I did have some concerns as I was reading about how lopsided the friendship seemed to be, along with some of Nick's attitudes towards Johnny, but I never should have doubted the author. She knew exactly where she was going with all of that, every single word and implication of it intentional, and it was fantastically done.
The story itself is set in an alternate timeline, early-mid 2000s, and takes the characters across the world from Canada to the Middle East, dodging the authorities and inter-dimensional horrors alike. Something I really enjoyed was that it was told from the perspective of the sidekick. Typically you get the story from the perspective of the hero, so the unique perspective put a new spin on the genre. I would've liked to learn more about the magic system, but maybe that's coming in the sequels.
Now, the thing I didn't like. Minor spoilers ahead, for an event in the first half of the story.I really don't like the trope where an innocent animal/person is hurt or killed just to demonstrate that the villain means business or to motivate the hero. It makes me feel bad. And, unfortunately, this book uses that trope. I was not a fan, and actually almost DNFed the book after that happened. I think that I will continue the series, as the rest of it was fantastic(though I wonder where it's going from here, as the story seemed to wrap up perfectly). I just won't be letting myself get attached to anything that seems too vulnerable.
The story itself is set in an alternate timeline, early-mid 2000s, and takes the characters across the world from Canada to the Middle East, dodging the authorities and inter-dimensional horrors alike. Something I really enjoyed was that it was told from the perspective of the sidekick. Typically you get the story from the perspective of the hero, so the unique perspective put a new spin on the genre. I would've liked to learn more about the magic system, but maybe that's coming in the sequels.
Now, the thing I didn't like. Minor spoilers ahead, for an event in the first half of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Islamophobia and Racism
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