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michaelion's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Damn. I spoke too soon (in my review for Annihilation). I dozed off at least three times reading this. It wasn't exceptionally boring or bad but I believe if something is good enough even if I'm already tired I'll stay alert to enjoy it.
As a joke the first time I saw Lowry's name I thought "What if I google that name and get spoiled that Lowry was secretly the big bad all along?" I didn't google it but I ended up being right??? What the hey hey.
I thought of Control as a manchild, mostly because of his attachment to his mommy but also he didn't seem to get much of anything done. Not a critique of the book I just don't have anyone to talk to about it. Also negative points because characters have names now and I just think that's misogynistic!
I thought of Control as a manchild, mostly because of his attachment to his mommy but also he didn't seem to get much of anything done. Not a critique of the book I just don't have anyone to talk to about it. Also negative points because characters have names now and I just think that's misogynistic!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Death
Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Body horror, and Confinement
Minor: Stalking, Cancer, Death of parent, and Animal death
applesodaperson's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was actually a really good sequel to this series. In true sequel fashion, it created way more questions than it answered. Like the reader still has no idea what Area X is, or what created it. It just seems to make things more twisted and spooky.
The number one thing this book created more questions about was the director/the psychologist from the first book. Her old office was so atmospheric and borderline gross. I swear I could smell the icky, mildew-y carpet smell. And what was going on with the plant and the mouse in the drawers? It also brought her connection to Area X to life, becauseshe knew the lighthouse keeper when she was a child. It is just interesting that this character was given such depth, because in the first book, she is definitely a secondary antagonist, the first being Area X itself. But I guess that just serves to show that the biologist is not necessarily a reliable narrator. This book also gives some insight into the biologist. Because now it is revealed that the biologist that came out of Area X is the double, not the original, and is seemingly not afraid to be open about that. Very spooky. It also brings the question of if the other 2 who came back were doubles (it is implied that they were). And also why didn't a double of the psychology come back?
I also liked the new character of control. He felt pretty realistic and was entertaining. He is basically a nepo baby himbo. But I liked the way he slowly went crazy and started to doubt his perception of the Southern Reach. Only for it to be revealed that he has beenhypnotized to forget certain things by Lowry and his mom. I also liked his strange alliance with Ghost Bird at the end.
My only criticisms were that it wasn't as scary as the first book, and didn't give me that breathless, edge of my seat terror.
I also think that there were a few too many characters. The simplicity of the cast in the first one was definitely a strength.
Overall I liked this book though.
Read borrowed copy from Hannah.
The number one thing this book created more questions about was the director/the psychologist from the first book. Her old office was so atmospheric and borderline gross. I swear I could smell the icky, mildew-y carpet smell. And what was going on with the plant and the mouse in the drawers? It also brought her connection to Area X to life, because
I also liked the new character of control. He felt pretty realistic and was entertaining. He is basically a nepo baby himbo. But I liked the way he slowly went crazy and started to doubt his perception of the Southern Reach. Only for it to be revealed that he has been
My only criticisms were that it wasn't as scary as the first book, and didn't give me that breathless, edge of my seat terror.
I also think that there were a few too many characters. The simplicity of the cast in the first one was definitely a strength.
Overall I liked this book though.
Read borrowed copy from Hannah.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal death
judassilver's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Body horror
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, Gun violence, Grief, and Death
sophieamreacher's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Utterly bizarre, I felt like I was being hypnotised myself. Really interesting plot, characters and concept. The writing was intriguing and kept me feeling disorientated like the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Violence, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Cancer, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Alcohol, Abandonment, Grief, and Gun violence
toastrats's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Body horror
emilywemily6's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book was weird just like the last one, but it was much slower and lots compelling to read. We got relatively few answers for the length of this book, and while it was interesting to take a different perspective on Area X, it was mildly frustrating. I think this writing style is not for me and most of the book said nothing and then big moments were passed over too quickly for me to grasp. It was still intriguing, and kind of a pseudo-character study, but the payoff was not as much as I anticipated when I started reading it. I’ll probably read the next one to get more answers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Cancer
zombiezami's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Stalking, Misogyny, Cancer, Terminal illness, Confinement, and Alcohol
Minor: War, Sexual content, Gun violence, Cursing, and Abandonment
bomenvernietiger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Brave choice to not feature a new expedition into the area at all, and to completely rely on the academic and administrative side of the plot, but it pays off. Because of this, the story sometimes gets a little too slow, but overall the slow-burn works well.
Very colourful prose, sometimes trying a little too much to be clever, occasionally leading to metaphors and expressions that are just a little weird.
Very colourful prose, sometimes trying a little too much to be clever, occasionally leading to metaphors and expressions that are just a little weird.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Gun violence, Mental illness, Child abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Cursing
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
athryn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Much more literary in feel than the previous book, I can see why people don't like this follow up as much. There's seemingly not a whole lot that goes on for a good 3/4 of the book, right up until the end. It's a lot of mystery and pondering of what's actually going on. But I still found it pretty entertaining.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer and Death
calico_camaraderie's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, and Cancer
Minor: Death and Death of parent