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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Uhm....what did I just read?? I was expecting a Friday night lights feel with some mystery....what I got was a slight football background, with mystery, some weird/creepy/scary Stephen King type crap and a whole lot of crazy. I don't even know how to process everything. I need a minute...
Trigger Warning: Homophobic language, suicide, sexual assault
Trigger Warning: Homophobic language, suicide, sexual assault
The horror aspects of this book were enjoyable. There was a creeping sense of dread throughout the story, teased with the various moments of visceral horror. I thoroughly enjoyed that (though I could've done with a few more instances of gore, but that's just me).
The drug use was.... eh. I could've lived without it. I recognize that drug use can be a problem in the queer community, but this seemed to play into poor stereotypes that I could've done without.
That said, I did like the commentary on how so many people will live in the closet and the ways in which people find their pleasures where they can. The ending of the book was simultaneously heartbreaking and infuriating.
Another point in its favor -- the multiple viewpoints. I don't typically care for a story that shifts perspectives each chapter. But this one worked really well. It allowed the author to feed us more information about the murder and the happenings of the town, keeping us intrigued by the mystery throughout the book. Good use of that tool there.
Overall this was a good read. I'm glad I pushed through the initial off-putting stereotype of Joel to see the rest of the story through.
The drug use was.... eh. I could've lived without it. I recognize that drug use can be a problem in the queer community, but this seemed to play into poor stereotypes that I could've done without.
That said, I did like the commentary on how so many people will live in the closet and the ways in which people find their pleasures where they can. The ending of the book was simultaneously heartbreaking and infuriating.
Another point in its favor -- the multiple viewpoints. I don't typically care for a story that shifts perspectives each chapter. But this one worked really well. It allowed the author to feed us more information about the murder and the happenings of the town, keeping us intrigued by the mystery throughout the book. Good use of that tool there.
Overall this was a good read. I'm glad I pushed through the initial off-putting stereotype of Joel to see the rest of the story through.
I am pretty certain I am still not sure what the hell I just read! On the plus side, this isn’t the book that you are ever going to confuse with another book! I went in thinking I was going to be reading a “simple” maddening story about homophobia and racism in a small Texas town where football seems to rule all, was so much more...bizarre! Was it a demon? Some kind of curse? Hell if I know!! I have a lot of unanswered questions, but to say this book is entertaining and original is still not giving it enough credit. There were moments where I started to zone out a bit or it would have been a solid five star but still a well done job!
This started out as your average missing person/murder mystery in a small Southern American town, rife with racism and homophobia and insane Football fans.
But the ending? I did NOT expect this to take a turn where it went, and it RULED. It was gross hedonism, chaos, anarchy, carnage! It was incredible.
Also a great but dark and yet wildly enjoyable read to kick off Pride month, to be honest.
Five stars because the ending was just so wild and unexpected that I was delighted and gripped by it. The entire book is good but I was prepared for just the regular genre read which it greatly surpassed, and even shifted into a whole other genre on its way out, in a great way.
But the ending? I did NOT expect this to take a turn where it went, and it RULED. It was gross hedonism, chaos, anarchy, carnage! It was incredible.
Also a great but dark and yet wildly enjoyable read to kick off Pride month, to be honest.
Five stars because the ending was just so wild and unexpected that I was delighted and gripped by it. The entire book is good but I was prepared for just the regular genre read which it greatly surpassed, and even shifted into a whole other genre on its way out, in a great way.
More like 3.5 stars, rounded up.
I don't even know how to rate this book. I'd heard a lot of buzz around it and was expecting a little more explicit horror, but I still enjoyed it
I don't even know how to rate this book. I'd heard a lot of buzz around it and was expecting a little more explicit horror, but I still enjoyed it
Ok let’s talk about this... this is Friday Night Lights meets Eyes Wide Shut meets The Twilight Zone. But there’s also a murder mystery at the center of it? Show of hands if this works for anyone...
3.5 stars. Wanted more monsters/creepy stuff, less guns. Also i couldn't keep the characters straight
Pretty disappointed in this one. It sounded like something with a unique and intriguing plot, despite some common themes: small town, high school football, rejected person who comes home for redemption and runs into a former flame. It was definitely unique (monsters, graphic sexual situations), but I don't think it was at all well written or well executed. In all fairness, I listened to the audiobook and that was one of the worst I've ever heard (sorry to the narrator!!). Maybe that clouded my judgment.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A