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precioussantiago's review against another edition
5.0
Man was this book good, disturbing and disgusting this is a coming-of-age story like no other. You won’t actually root for these kids (except for Baker).
In this story we follow Baker a middle school kid navigating his way through adolescence as the new kid in town. He meets Cass and Seb and they form a seemingly harmless bond at first and then things turn really dark.
I would highly recommend this book-it’s really quick to get through and the writing was easy to follow. And boy was that ending suspenseful and disgusting
In this story we follow Baker a middle school kid navigating his way through adolescence as the new kid in town. He meets Cass and Seb and they form a seemingly harmless bond at first and then things turn really dark.
I would highly recommend this book-it’s really quick to get through and the writing was easy to follow. And boy was that ending suspenseful and disgusting
loser127's review against another edition
5.0
Absolute slow-burn. Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Yet another 5-star read by Tim Meyer (and Chad).
First Chad Lutzke book, though.
First Chad Lutzke book, though.
ptrmsschrs's review against another edition
dark
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
3.5
mboyette252's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first introduction to Chad Lutzke and Tim Meyer. I have heard great things about both authors, but never had a chance to read their work. Well, what an experience it was. This was great! It had all the components I was looking for and had me guessing at what was, or going to, happen.
mostlyreadinghorror's review against another edition
5.0
Man was this book good, disturbing and disgusting this is a coming-of-age story like no other. You won’t actually root for these kids (except for Baker).
In this story we follow Baker a middle school kid navigating his way through adolescence as the new kid in town. He meets Cass and Seb and they form a seemingly harmless bond at first and then things turn really dark.
I would highly recommend this book-it’s really quick to get through and the writing was easy to follow. And boy was that ending suspenseful and disgusting
In this story we follow Baker a middle school kid navigating his way through adolescence as the new kid in town. He meets Cass and Seb and they form a seemingly harmless bond at first and then things turn really dark.
I would highly recommend this book-it’s really quick to get through and the writing was easy to follow. And boy was that ending suspenseful and disgusting
reads_vicariously's review against another edition
5.0
First of all, I really resonated with the introduction from Sadie Hartmann (aka Mother Horror). Meyer's The Switch House and Lutzke's Of Foster Homes and Flies were the first books I read from these respective writers, and they had a huge impact on my love for and exploration of the indie horror scene (which literally began just last year and is continuing to thrive). I'm excited to read more from each of these authors and to continue to mine the horror scene.
Now, on to the book itself. I received the Night Worms/Thunderstorm Books exclusive edition in November of last year, but I didn't get around to reading it until a couple weeks ago. I'm late in writing my review, but this is actually the very first book I read in 2021 and I was so happy to start the year with such a good one!
There's so much to love here, from the fleshed out characters, to the immaculate pacing and suspense, to the thrilling, jaw-dropping final act. I already had a soft spot for this type of story because I'm a big fan of (dark) coming-of-age tales, and I'm pleased to report that the Lutzke-Meyer duo knocked it out of the park. Baker Gray is an authentic and fully realized protagonist, whose burgeoning hormones are fully smitten by the older Cass and yet who still questions his own actions even as he sinks down the well of moral dilemma. I may not have been caught up in the same dark web as Baker when I was young, but many of his thoughts and feelings are strikingly relatable. I think this speaks to the success of the writers in capturing the fears and yearnings of an adolescent male whose loss of innocence begins early in the book and continues on to the shocking finale.
In addition to the characters of the book, I also really enjoyed the pacing. You know, just based on the tone and mood early on, that something is going to go horribly wrong as Baker falls head-over-heels for Cass, but the book is patient enough to wait until the end to reveal the its full horror. Plus the increasing infatuation/sexual tension, growing rivalry with Baker's best friend Seb, and escalation of Cass's demands are plenty engaging and help carry the story along at a brisk, worrisome step. Oh and the countdown in the chapters is a nice touch, clearly spelling out that we're heading towards something bad. I loved every single chapter in this book, but that ending is just amazing. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say I'm a sucker for home-invasions-gone-wrong. Also there is a twist that, honestly, I should have seen coming but I was so enraptured by the story that it still caught me by surprise.
There are a couple of references to William Golding's Lord of the Flies, and this seems an appropriate connection. In addition to the cruel realities of human nature and the inevitable loss of innocence, there's also a story here about three teens at odds with the world wanting to create new rules in a home they can call their own. And there's something beautiful and inspiring about that, even if it ends up being a home built on mistrust and duplicity.
This is a horror book where the monsters are all too real. There is deviance, violence, and brokenness, but there's also moments of joy and truth (even if that truth is written in blood). To say more would be to spoil the experience. Go, and read it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.
Now, on to the book itself. I received the Night Worms/Thunderstorm Books exclusive edition in November of last year, but I didn't get around to reading it until a couple weeks ago. I'm late in writing my review, but this is actually the very first book I read in 2021 and I was so happy to start the year with such a good one!
There's so much to love here, from the fleshed out characters, to the immaculate pacing and suspense, to the thrilling, jaw-dropping final act. I already had a soft spot for this type of story because I'm a big fan of (dark) coming-of-age tales, and I'm pleased to report that the Lutzke-Meyer duo knocked it out of the park. Baker Gray is an authentic and fully realized protagonist, whose burgeoning hormones are fully smitten by the older Cass and yet who still questions his own actions even as he sinks down the well of moral dilemma. I may not have been caught up in the same dark web as Baker when I was young, but many of his thoughts and feelings are strikingly relatable. I think this speaks to the success of the writers in capturing the fears and yearnings of an adolescent male whose loss of innocence begins early in the book and continues on to the shocking finale.
In addition to the characters of the book, I also really enjoyed the pacing. You know, just based on the tone and mood early on, that something is going to go horribly wrong as Baker falls head-over-heels for Cass, but the book is patient enough to wait until the end to reveal the its full horror. Plus the increasing infatuation/sexual tension, growing rivalry with Baker's best friend Seb, and escalation of Cass's demands are plenty engaging and help carry the story along at a brisk, worrisome step. Oh and the countdown in the chapters is a nice touch, clearly spelling out that we're heading towards something bad. I loved every single chapter in this book, but that ending is just amazing. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say I'm a sucker for home-invasions-gone-wrong. Also there is a twist that, honestly, I should have seen coming but I was so enraptured by the story that it still caught me by surprise.
There are a couple of references to William Golding's Lord of the Flies, and this seems an appropriate connection. In addition to the cruel realities of human nature and the inevitable loss of innocence, there's also a story here about three teens at odds with the world wanting to create new rules in a home they can call their own. And there's something beautiful and inspiring about that, even if it ends up being a home built on mistrust and duplicity.
This is a horror book where the monsters are all too real. There is deviance, violence, and brokenness, but there's also moments of joy and truth (even if that truth is written in blood). To say more would be to spoil the experience. Go, and read it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.
paulataua's review against another edition
3.0
When his mother moves town yet again, 14-year- old Baker must change schools and make new friends. The friends he makes this time however are going to take him on a road to self-destruction. ‘Wormwood’ is a dark coming of age story set in a world of vigilante justice and bloodshed. Good, but not my favorite Lutzke. It makes cuts in the skin, but they are cuts that don’t leave scars.
lkkirk75's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nelsfilipe's review against another edition
5.0
This has the movie Super Dark Times vibes all over it. Loved it.
voidedlux's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0