Reviews

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

kodameansfriend's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

4.25

anredman's review against another edition

5.0

4.5

nickel_is_neat's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

While book 1 was even better, this follow up also hits all the right beats of social commentary and high stakes while still managing some surprises. 

kevinwhall's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

spacebras's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

  really solid follow-up to My Heart Is a Chainsaw and with more blood this time (woohoo!)

The audio book was narrated by a full cast which helped and hurt the book at some points (too many people to follow), and I still got mugged down when Jones descried action sequences like in Chainsaw.

But the story was thrilling, the twists and plot were engaging which is a step up from Chainsaw.

I think the main thesis of Don't Fear the Reaper is about why are we drawn to horror. Perversion? Pleasure? Control? And in control, is it over others, over your own situation? And I think Jones does a really great job is showing the power of horror when it is in the hands of victims and those who have faced impossible odds already. 


My biggest issue is (very small spoiler) -

WHY DID THEY LET THIS LITERAL ACTUAL MURDERER IN POLICE CUSTODY KEEP HIS HOOK HAND THAT CAN KILL PEOPLE. SURELY THERE IS A LESS STABBY PROSETHTIC OUT THERE 

 

libraryofalibrarian's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

5.0

saintboleyn's review against another edition

paused @ 54%

daniel_ov's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

hauntedtesty's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

readyourbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0