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lisabeejenkins's review against another edition
4.0
No wonder Stephen King raved about this book...it is VERY Stephen King: subject matter, style, macabre-level. Liked it very much but recommend with reservations. Leaves off on a cliffhanger-y note - I would have been more annoyed if it wasn't so damned LONG, I was definitely ready to leave that world - and will definitely pick up the next.
erickibler4's review against another edition
2.0
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
Hey Cronin. Stephen King much?
Seriously, you could read this book aloud at a party and make a drinking game of calling out all the Stephen King parallels. Super-virus leading to apocalypse? Check. Metaphysical struggle between good and evil? Check. Legion of vampires led by older vampire named Barlow? (Sorry, Babcock in this book). Check. 100 year old black woman who acts as a spirit guide? Check. (Well, actually, there are TWO such "Mother Abigails" in this book). Shadowy government program that lets an awful cat out of the bag? Check.
There's even a sequence near the end where the heroes hide out in an empty, snowed-in Colorado hotel. The description leaves no doubt that we're supposed to be reminded of the Overlook Hotel from "The Shining". That's an obvious homage to King, but after ripping off the entire chunks of his oeuvre, it doesn't seem too kind.
For a little vacation from Stephen King-isms, there's a detour into Richard Adams-land, as the heroes arrive at a community of overly happy folks that are being used as a human-breeding farm for the vamps. You know, like the similar scenario used in "Watership Down".
Cronin has written a restless novel. He never spends enough time in one locale or with one character to get the reader locked in. So much is thrown at the wall that nothing sticks. Characters are given extensive back-stories and then seemingly thrown way. It's a mess, to be honest. Maybe an editor with a strong hand could have made this book stronger.
I hope I find this review in a couple years and reread it before deciding to read the next book in the series.. I may want to save myself the trouble.
Hey Cronin. Stephen King much?
Seriously, you could read this book aloud at a party and make a drinking game of calling out all the Stephen King parallels. Super-virus leading to apocalypse? Check. Metaphysical struggle between good and evil? Check. Legion of vampires led by older vampire named Barlow? (Sorry, Babcock in this book). Check. 100 year old black woman who acts as a spirit guide? Check. (Well, actually, there are TWO such "Mother Abigails" in this book). Shadowy government program that lets an awful cat out of the bag? Check.
There's even a sequence near the end where the heroes hide out in an empty, snowed-in Colorado hotel. The description leaves no doubt that we're supposed to be reminded of the Overlook Hotel from "The Shining". That's an obvious homage to King, but after ripping off the entire chunks of his oeuvre, it doesn't seem too kind.
For a little vacation from Stephen King-isms, there's a detour into Richard Adams-land, as the heroes arrive at a community of overly happy folks that are being used as a human-breeding farm for the vamps. You know, like the similar scenario used in "Watership Down".
Cronin has written a restless novel. He never spends enough time in one locale or with one character to get the reader locked in. So much is thrown at the wall that nothing sticks. Characters are given extensive back-stories and then seemingly thrown way. It's a mess, to be honest. Maybe an editor with a strong hand could have made this book stronger.
I hope I find this review in a couple years and reread it before deciding to read the next book in the series.. I may want to save myself the trouble.
ljripple's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
larissawy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
lakmus's review against another edition
Gave up on page 360.
It was pretty good for the first two or three parts - and then we jumped a 100 years ahead and it basically became the Hunger Games. May be it gets better again, but I read the last chapter and I am honestly not mentally prepared to read the whole series, and neither I am to finish this hefty volume.
Gonna keep it for a long plane trip or something.
It was pretty good for the first two or three parts - and then we jumped a 100 years ahead and it basically became the Hunger Games. May be it gets better again, but I read the last chapter and I am honestly not mentally prepared to read the whole series, and neither I am to finish this hefty volume.
Gonna keep it for a long plane trip or something.
davechua's review against another edition
3.0
Act 1 is beautifully written but the rest seems to be standard post-apocalyptic fare, and reads like it was written by someone else. Plot involve a virus that creates violent beings that the book terms as vampires, riding on the current bloodsucker craze.
jobird's review against another edition
5.0
WOW... That was EPIC!!!
Book of the year for me. Amazing!!! I feel like I can't put complete sentences together about this one.
This book is an epic journey. It is written with great emotion and unfolds with mystery. It is about survival and discovery. Told through multiple POV, I at first thought this would be annoying but I actually loved it. You are able to see the whole story from every angle. It was a roller coaster of a journey for me. The Length of it was a worry when I started it and at times I did struggle, It became a love hate relationship. But in the end Love one. I didn't want it to end. I carried it around like a security blanket for the whole week it took me to read it. Now that I have finished it I feel a little lost. I loved picking it up and unraveling a little bit more of the story.
The characters that have been created are so complete and well rounded. I just couldn't get enough of them. I am excited and looking forward to continue on with the story in The Twelve. It is on my christmas list.
I have the feeling that this book is not for everyone. I think that you will either love it or hate it. The length might get to some people and maybe it drags a bit in certain places. But I loved it. What an Adventure!!
Book of the year for me. Amazing!!! I feel like I can't put complete sentences together about this one.
This book is an epic journey. It is written with great emotion and unfolds with mystery. It is about survival and discovery. Told through multiple POV, I at first thought this would be annoying but I actually loved it. You are able to see the whole story from every angle. It was a roller coaster of a journey for me. The Length of it was a worry when I started it and at times I did struggle, It became a love hate relationship. But in the end Love one. I didn't want it to end. I carried it around like a security blanket for the whole week it took me to read it. Now that I have finished it I feel a little lost. I loved picking it up and unraveling a little bit more of the story.
The characters that have been created are so complete and well rounded. I just couldn't get enough of them. I am excited and looking forward to continue on with the story in The Twelve. It is on my christmas list.
I have the feeling that this book is not for everyone. I think that you will either love it or hate it. The length might get to some people and maybe it drags a bit in certain places. But I loved it. What an Adventure!!