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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’ve been a fan of Guillermo del Toro since The Devil’s Backbone and Cronos. Only someone who loves monsters as he does could have breathed such life into the left-hand of darkness that was Hellboy. Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water confirmed him as a true auteur of the lost and broken.
His partnership with Chuck Hogan dates back to their co-authoring of The Strain vampire novels, later turned into an above-average tv show. Here, that partnership brings us what I can best describe as an episode of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock crossed with Stranger Things.
Tackling a triple timeline, we are introduced to enigmatic Hugo Blackwood, a man out of his time like Dr Who, ably matched by spitfire FBI agent Odessa.
Their monster hunting escapades are by turns horrific and breath-taking, with the Hollow Ones depicted as grotesque Lovecraftian leeches, basking in the ecstasy of murder, death and destruction as they jump from one possession to another. If you’ve seen the Denzel Washington movie ‘Fallen’ you’ll know the deal.
Del Toro and Hogan leave a few questions unanswered, presumably for either a sequel or a new franchise – certainly (with the right casting) I can see this working well on the small screen.
Perfect for fans of urban fantasy and detective fiction.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
So I have mixed feelings about this one. There were many things I liked about it, such as the occult stuff which was very interesting, I can always go in for a bit of that. I loved the character of Odessa, strong and curious, someone I’d like to read more of, and found the secretiveness of Blackwood really intriguing. The general plot was great and at times I was really wrapped up in the story but occasionally I found the writing a bit stilted. I also felt the odd bit of violence seemed a bit gratuitous, without giving too much away, the baby for example.
Overall I will carry on reading the series (I assume it is the start of a serious) as now the world and characters have been set I think there’s a lot to develop here.
Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall I will carry on reading the series (I assume it is the start of a serious) as now the world and characters have been set I think there’s a lot to develop here.
Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.