Reviews

Devolution by Max Brooks

pagingdrmudkip's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

Brooks’s is the master of storytelling through accounts, diaries, and interviews. Again he is able to piece together a pretty compelling Sasquatch tale that is also a commentary on technology reliance and climate denial.

Personally, I found the overall story pretty lackluster and not as engaging as I’d hope. This 100% could be solely based on the media I consumed this book. While the audiobook has phenomenal voice acting with a pretty A-list cast, I just wasn’t as immersed as I thought I would be. I might have to go back to a physical copy to see if that is a better format for my attention span, but for now it was in one ear and out the other. I can’t wait for the film adaptation though!

stephaniewren's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Really good creature feature. One scene I literally cried out, “Oh my God!” I never do that that.

beezle4's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

mackinan's review against another edition

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

3.75

hmtayem's review against another edition

4.0

Oddly interesting. Actually really enjoyed this book.

clownmama's review against another edition

2.0

Boring. So boring.

The main character is a pain in the ass, very unlikable. All the action occurs in the last 30% of maybe less of the book, while the preceding took forever to slog through. I found the narrative unsavory, told in flashback of the MC's journal, with equally disjointed appearances from a few others (MC’s brother, some park ranger, end even drier excerpts from another book). Blah.

njdarkish's review against another edition

4.0

Well-written and thoroughly researched, the format of journal entries and interviews worked well together to form a fun narrative of survival of a neighborhood against a deadly group of sasquatches after they are trapped because of a volcanic eruption. Ultimately it only earned 4 stars instead of 5 because I was pretty indifferent about most of the characters so I had trouble rooting for them or feeling sad when there were casualties.
I'm glad Max Brooks is finally back to writing more original horror/survival fiction.

rayann23's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

aerialcataloger's review against another edition

 DNF-ed at 38% for misogny, only one character that wasn't cis/straight/white and she was a Bangladeshi orphan adopted by really cringey white parents who use her trauma to deflect from anyone having uncomfortable conversations, anti-fatness (i.e. they suspect that the one fat character is hoarding food once they get cut off, fat jokes, Kate is the walking embodiment of American diet culture).

semmons99's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0