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urthwild_darknessbeckons's review
3.0
It is worthwhile pursuing this trilogy. Gary McMahon's books deserve to be read. I felt an instant connection with the estate the book was set on having had a brief, experimental year living in similar surroundings. (I did not have to live there, but I choose to knowing my family would never visit unaccompanied by an elite security force, so I could get some PEACE).
The ending disappointed me and I found one character in particular surplus to requirements in both this book and the 3rd in which he makes a brief appearance.
If you are going to force a character to roam about your series of books, at least give them something decent to do.
The ending disappointed me and I found one character in particular surplus to requirements in both this book and the 3rd in which he makes a brief appearance.
If you are going to force a character to roam about your series of books, at least give them something decent to do.
scarletcarnival's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not entirely sure what I think about Concrete Grove. It's dismal, to be sure. It's disconcerting as well. Somehow between the dark fantastic and the horrific realism of the slums, there is a conjunction that develops into McMahon's Grove. It's uncomfortable, to say the least. It's terrifying if you realize much of the hyperrealism of the story involve episodes that happen in real life already.
Concrete Grove is brutal. In many ways, it's more brutal in what it doesn't actually say but only intimates in scenes that setup the imagination and then quickly moves on in time to a moment past the horror. However, I have to wonder how much of this book is about trying to elicit horrific images and how much is about any kind of plot at all. Yes, there is a resolution to this story. The only problem is that I'm not entirely sure I understand the story in the first place. It feels loose and malformed, much like some of the dark creatures of the Grove that don't really have all that much screen time, so to speak.
This novel is definitely a quick read. I started it this morning, I've worked barely half of my 10-hour shift at this point, and I'm already finished. It's not rocket science and there is certainly no depth of philosophy here. And, to be frank, I only found a single quote in the whole book that even stood out.
On the other hand, to be fair, I might have to pick up the other two books in the trilogy. There is definitely something about the Grove that is intriguing—if only for the same reasons you can't stop watching the train wreck.
Concrete Grove is brutal. In many ways, it's more brutal in what it doesn't actually say but only intimates in scenes that setup the imagination and then quickly moves on in time to a moment past the horror. However, I have to wonder how much of this book is about trying to elicit horrific images and how much is about any kind of plot at all. Yes, there is a resolution to this story. The only problem is that I'm not entirely sure I understand the story in the first place. It feels loose and malformed, much like some of the dark creatures of the Grove that don't really have all that much screen time, so to speak.
This novel is definitely a quick read. I started it this morning, I've worked barely half of my 10-hour shift at this point, and I'm already finished. It's not rocket science and there is certainly no depth of philosophy here. And, to be frank, I only found a single quote in the whole book that even stood out.
On the other hand, to be fair, I might have to pick up the other two books in the trilogy. There is definitely something about the Grove that is intriguing—if only for the same reasons you can't stop watching the train wreck.
charshorrorcorner's review
4.0
The book opens with this quote: "One of the widespread beliefs is that hummingbirds, in some way, are messengers between worlds. As such they help shamans keep nature and spirit in balance"
Great. Hummingbirds. What's so scary about that you say? Plenty about that is scary, which is why you should read this book.
The Concrete Grove is described as what we here in the U.S. would call the projects. It's an urban area, filled with drug dealers, gang members and violence. At the center of these circularly laid out projects stands the needle.There are things living in the needle.Our 14 year old protagonist, Hailey, is drawn there, to them, for reasons unknown. It turns out that the needle is a sort of gateway, and what is coming through may or may not be pleasant, depending on the viewer. The Slitten are a force to be dealt with. Will 14 year old Hailey make it through? You will have to read this book to find out.
This book is populated with bleak, hopeless characters trapped in a bleak, grey environment. We have a woman, Hailey's mother, fighting to keep their financial heads above water. We have Tom, caring for his obese, paralyzed wife, (who got that way during a rendezvous with her lover.) At the same time we have Banjo, the drug addict and Monte Bright the local loan shark and instrument of mayhem. We won't even talk about Mr. Boater. These characters came alive to me, with all of their flaws and troubles. To me, that's an amazing piece of writing.
I was not aware at the time I bought this book that it was the beginning of a series. It looks as each book focuses on a different set of characters. I picked up the remaining two books in the series and I am looking forward to checking them out.
Recommended for fans of urban horror and for fans of science fiction type stories with heavy hints of horror!
Great. Hummingbirds. What's so scary about that you say? Plenty about that is scary, which is why you should read this book.
The Concrete Grove is described as what we here in the U.S. would call the projects. It's an urban area, filled with drug dealers, gang members and violence. At the center of these circularly laid out projects stands the needle.There are things living in the needle.Our 14 year old protagonist, Hailey, is drawn there, to them, for reasons unknown. It turns out that the needle is a sort of gateway, and what is coming through may or may not be pleasant, depending on the viewer. The Slitten are a force to be dealt with. Will 14 year old Hailey make it through? You will have to read this book to find out.
This book is populated with bleak, hopeless characters trapped in a bleak, grey environment. We have a woman, Hailey's mother, fighting to keep their financial heads above water. We have Tom, caring for his obese, paralyzed wife, (who got that way during a rendezvous with her lover.) At the same time we have Banjo, the drug addict and Monte Bright the local loan shark and instrument of mayhem. We won't even talk about Mr. Boater. These characters came alive to me, with all of their flaws and troubles. To me, that's an amazing piece of writing.
I was not aware at the time I bought this book that it was the beginning of a series. It looks as each book focuses on a different set of characters. I picked up the remaining two books in the series and I am looking forward to checking them out.
Recommended for fans of urban horror and for fans of science fiction type stories with heavy hints of horror!
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