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Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

29 reviews

dark emotional 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: Yes

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adventurous dark emotional funny fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Is that possible? To live in this world and not scare yourself to death? To feel turbulence and not imagine the plane going down? To experience hope as a grown-up with the same clarity a child feels terror? How do you not call forth the things that will devour you and give them teeth? 

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Nat Cassidy's When The Wolf Comes Home isn't a werewolf story. The bodies of reality are far more torn up than the actual human bodies within the narrative. Nevertheless, reality-warping doesn't dissuade the amount of visceral violence within the journey of Jess and "kiddo" as they seek a place of serenity and deal with their separate daddy issues. It is a journey that suddenly erupts once the "wolf" appears at Jess's apartment complex, and it is a road trip that continues to get crazier and crazier after revealing the root of that craziness. That root turns out to be "kiddo," and as much as Jess hates to consider it, she then realizes that there could be no way of restricting his unstable superpowers.

It's a book with a plot that isn't different from any science fiction and horror stories from the 1980s, such as Firestarter. Supernatural forces and special agents intermingled in a cat-and-mouse chase across America. However, having this cliche framework doesn't make the story's heart hollow. The book's heart is apparent from the developing relationship between Jess and the "kiddo" as they bond within their predicament. Cookie and Uncle Pepsi also bring heart to the story as they fill Jess's anguished void left by her absent father. These loving relationships help balance out the horrific wake of "kiddo's" abilities.

The scope of "kiddo's" abilities is emphasized by how he brings cartoon weasels and Halloween decorations to life. Nonetheless, one of the most horrifying examples of "kiddo" powers is how he makes sure that Agent Michael Santos never exists when "kiddo" suffers a fear-induced breakdown. It starts with a vision of a thread before it spins off into a complete agony of Agent Santos having his organs and his soul removed from the fabric of reality. That pain is passed on to his wife in the next chapter or in the new reality, just Emmaline, permanently removed from the role of Santos's spouse.

While the ending can be bothersome because we don't know how Jess suddenly absorbs the excess of power from "kiddo". The ending doesn't take away from Cassidy's novel being entertaining and emotionally moving.

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot

This book could have been subtitled Daddy Issues (complimentary)

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” - FDR

This was INSANE and so unlike anything I’ve ever read before. I loved every single second.

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

y'all... I finished this days ago and forgot to update because I was so blown away by this story, especially after the authors note... I want to do this book justice by writing a well thought out review but I need some time to process... I will say this for now... 

If you haven't read this book yet.... What are y'all doing!? Absolutely my TOP favorite horror book I've ever read. It's sitting up there with IT by Stephen King. Yes, it's THAT good, and it's THAT gory! Nat Cassidy is the horror author we have all begged for but don't deserve. Maybe it's because I resonated with it to my absolute core. Idk y'all... Just please go read it! And if you have already devoured The Big Bad Wolf... Tell me, did you love it as much as me!?

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dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

A real ripper of a horror novel. I'm a little burned out on "escorting a kid across the country" type stories but this was a real solid one packed with original imagery and fast pacing. Nat Cassidy continues to be an easy recommendation!

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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