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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I really enjoyed WWZ when I read it, and although this wasn’t the book I was expecting and has somewhat of a slow start, there’s a decent creature suspense horror payoff in the latter half of the book. I would rate higher but there seemed to be a lot of missed opportunities for character development or community breakdown, but instead reads more like a young adult novel.
Well not even a month into 2025 and already hit my first DNF.
Devolution by Max Brooks, advertised as horror novel about the human condition; trying to survive the elements, starvation, an exploding volcano and—the apex predator: Bigfoot. In reality an exposition on why ai is bad, why FAANG is bad, how good Halo Top ice cream is and the author’s nose in the air attitude to anything silicone valley.
Honestly taken aback at all the good reviews of this book, I really feel I read a different book than everyone else. Getting into Devolution after spending the last months of 2024 reading Ronald Malfi, Nick Cutter, Christopher Buehlman & Adam Nevill I really could not have been more disappointed in Devolution.
Even when the action finally picks up at about halfway through the book, the writing style and the prose just did nothing for me. Ending each chapter with an interview that is more a spoiler than foreshadowing what comes next, really took away the sense of suspense and the excitement of reading. The action sequences and the eventual Bigfoot attack is nothing to write home about either.
Boring 2D characters, underwhelming action, blatant product placement, incessant author disdain for all things metaverse and lacklustre prose.
1/5 DNF ~60% Barely passable as a horror book
Devolution by Max Brooks, advertised as horror novel about the human condition; trying to survive the elements, starvation, an exploding volcano and—the apex predator: Bigfoot. In reality an exposition on why ai is bad, why FAANG is bad, how good Halo Top ice cream is and the author’s nose in the air attitude to anything silicone valley.
Honestly taken aback at all the good reviews of this book, I really feel I read a different book than everyone else. Getting into Devolution after spending the last months of 2024 reading Ronald Malfi, Nick Cutter, Christopher Buehlman & Adam Nevill I really could not have been more disappointed in Devolution.
Even when the action finally picks up at about halfway through the book, the writing style and the prose just did nothing for me. Ending each chapter with an interview that is more a spoiler than foreshadowing what comes next, really took away the sense of suspense and the excitement of reading. The action sequences and the eventual Bigfoot attack is nothing to write home about either.
Boring 2D characters, underwhelming action, blatant product placement, incessant author disdain for all things metaverse and lacklustre prose.
1/5 DNF ~60% Barely passable as a horror book
Listened to the audiobook, which was amazing with an incredible cast.
I was again surprised by how enjoyable I find Brooks' novel because I do not enjoy this topic as a rule. This was the same for WWZ for me as well. Brooks' narrative style hooks the reader into the personal, the emotion, the story of the individual within a wider imaginative space.
I found myself googling often to see what is real or not because he convinces me I am reading non-fiction ALL. THE. TIME. Yet this story in particular hooked me through the desire to explore the deeper primary instinct to survive and how that manifests uniquely based on our histories.
I enjoyed it and would recommend.
I found myself googling often to see what is real or not because he convinces me I am reading non-fiction ALL. THE. TIME. Yet this story in particular hooked me through the desire to explore the deeper primary instinct to survive and how that manifests uniquely based on our histories.
I enjoyed it and would recommend.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed most of this book - it gets the vibes right and the voice acting was incredible, but damn is the ending dumb. Sorry, everyone should have died. No way this chick became some beastly warrior while starving and fighting for her life, and then brough a child with her? No. Just no.
C - 8, A - 10, W - 7, P - 8, I - 10, L - 5, E - 7
C - 8, A - 10, W - 7, P - 8, I - 10, L - 5, E - 7
Excellent book for these apocalyptic times: volcanic eruptions plus Sasquatch attacks! Loved this creepy thriller by the author of “World War Z.”
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I fell asleep every single time I started reading. The diary format was
adventurous
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-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