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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I'd really like to give this book 4.5 stars. It was certainly above 4 stars and by far, the best book I've read this year. At a whopping 824 pages on the Nook, it HAS to be something amazing for someone to finish it. While it is touted as a "vampire" book, the vampires are secondary. I would be much more likely to call this an apocalypse book. Just when I felt like I knew where the story was going, it would change directions, again and again. I kept finding myself wanting to tell Jon about different genius parts of the book, always a sign of something good.
I think a lot of the low star reviews are from people expecting something like Twilight. This is good literature, not a love story.
I think a lot of the low star reviews are from people expecting something like Twilight. This is good literature, not a love story.
I got through 12 discs and then couldn't take it anymore. What is the point of this book? Someone needed to edit this with a hacksaw; as far as I can tell at least 50% of this didn't need to be there to advance the plot OR build the characters.
Honestly, the worldbuilding in the future dystopia sections isn't all that great, either. And the vampires themselves? They're horror movie monsters, lacking the detail and/or novelty required to break away from every other monster script out there. I kept waiting for the hook, since EVERYONE was reading this a little while ago and it's gotten rave reviews, but the hook never came. The instant the narrative jumped forward in time, I was deeply bored and didn't have the patience or energy to sit through another long build-up toward nothing, or worse, the grown-up equivalent of "and then he woke up" at the end of a story.
Honestly, the worldbuilding in the future dystopia sections isn't all that great, either. And the vampires themselves? They're horror movie monsters, lacking the detail and/or novelty required to break away from every other monster script out there. I kept waiting for the hook, since EVERYONE was reading this a little while ago and it's gotten rave reviews, but the hook never came. The instant the narrative jumped forward in time, I was deeply bored and didn't have the patience or energy to sit through another long build-up toward nothing, or worse, the grown-up equivalent of "and then he woke up" at the end of a story.
Apocalyptic World
Great read. This novel has a little bit of everything: horror, dystopia, science fiction, fantasy, etc. Looking forward to reading the next book in the Trilogy.
Great read. This novel has a little bit of everything: horror, dystopia, science fiction, fantasy, etc. Looking forward to reading the next book in the Trilogy.
I was really confused in the beginning, first it was a bit slow and then suddenly everything happened and I realized it had been happening all along, I just didn't know it. When I got my head around it I didn't want to stop reading it and I didn't want it to end. I want more of this!
This book was not worth 766 pages.
Not that it was a bad story, or anything. But most books sag in the middle a bit, and it takes a force of will for me to keep reading something I'm not as interested in as I was when the first lines sucked me in.
However, the sag went on for about 400 pages, in this book. It tells you something when you're stuck in a hospital room for a long weekend with nowhere to go and nothing else to do, and you still don't even crack the halfway point in a book. Even this brick of dead tree.
The first few chapters did intrigue me, but the narrative seemed scattered, with too much attention on people who'd soon be dead. Perhaps it was to create a mystery - just because we're seeing someone's perspective doesn't mean he survives, or that he dies. But, after the fifth shift, I was starting to get motion sick.
It occurred to me, about a third of the way through the book, that I might've liked it presented as a trilogy. But a book that jumps 92 years into the future, only to then present a 60-page flashback, failed to impress me. At the beginning of a book, a flashback can be a great way to make up for in medias res storytelling, and the mystery of what's going on can draw in a reader. But this book let all of that tension hang loose, wasted. Every single little mystery was answered, characters going on monologues just to tell you their life stories.
Overall, it seemed like Cronin was trying really hard to write The Stand with a vampire plague. But he hasn't King's writing chops, nor his experience. He has some lush and vivid language on his side, and there were even a lot of great characterizations. But parts of the story felt abrupt and forced, like even the author couldn't wait to get this over with.
So, if you have a lot of time to kill, you could do worse than this book. But I just wasn't that enamored of the size of the thing. As a trilogy, I'd probably love it. As it was published in one wrist-straining volume, it's not my favorite.
Not that it was a bad story, or anything. But most books sag in the middle a bit, and it takes a force of will for me to keep reading something I'm not as interested in as I was when the first lines sucked me in.
However, the sag went on for about 400 pages, in this book. It tells you something when you're stuck in a hospital room for a long weekend with nowhere to go and nothing else to do, and you still don't even crack the halfway point in a book. Even this brick of dead tree.
The first few chapters did intrigue me, but the narrative seemed scattered, with too much attention on people who'd soon be dead. Perhaps it was to create a mystery - just because we're seeing someone's perspective doesn't mean he survives, or that he dies. But, after the fifth shift, I was starting to get motion sick.
It occurred to me, about a third of the way through the book, that I might've liked it presented as a trilogy. But a book that jumps 92 years into the future, only to then present a 60-page flashback, failed to impress me. At the beginning of a book, a flashback can be a great way to make up for in medias res storytelling, and the mystery of what's going on can draw in a reader. But this book let all of that tension hang loose, wasted. Every single little mystery was answered, characters going on monologues just to tell you their life stories.
Overall, it seemed like Cronin was trying really hard to write The Stand with a vampire plague. But he hasn't King's writing chops, nor his experience. He has some lush and vivid language on his side, and there were even a lot of great characterizations. But parts of the story felt abrupt and forced, like even the author couldn't wait to get this over with.
So, if you have a lot of time to kill, you could do worse than this book. But I just wasn't that enamored of the size of the thing. As a trilogy, I'd probably love it. As it was published in one wrist-straining volume, it's not my favorite.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Would've given five stars if it wasn't for the disappointing ending!
Absolutely loved this book! Couldn't help myself - had to start the second one right away.
Started reading this as a warm up to Cronin, based on the hype over Cronin's latest book. Competently written, some interesting characters, but meh, not really my thing. Not a huge fan of vampire/horror themes. Decided not to pursue it after seeing many other Goodreaders indicate that the story goes downhill (to Level 4?) in the latter parts of the book. Life is too short.
A story that will wrap you up inside a world that may be imaginary, but not terribly far from reality. One of those books you get so caught up with that you don't realize how much time has passed.