Reviews

Cadaverous by Jay Bower

rogergeis's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

heidij79's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

silenttwg's review against another edition

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

3.5

What would you sacrifice for the ultimate talent? Gaige learns the answers to that question when he strikes up a deal with a demon.

Aw, we've all heard the salacious tales of metal bands being connected with satanism, even some that have come out and embraced the rumors so I enjoyed that concept here. I enjoyed how he managed to fulfill his side of the bargain, the hunts.

The blog concept didn't work with the writing for me. I feel like either the story needed to commit fully to the style of a journal/blog or it needed to commit fully to a story but it feels somewhere in the middle. 

The afterword, which must be read for the full effect, was a solid ending to the story and entertained me. It cleared up some of the issues I had with the inconsistencies throughout the book while also bringing up more questions. It was fun.

queenofgotham's review against another edition

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

4.5

mafaichney's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

vintagebooksandmusic's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

Where to begin? Man! Just finished Cadaverous by Jay Bower, and I cannot say enough good things about this book.  So damn good. I was given an audible code in exchange for an honest review, but I had already purchased a paperback, so the freebie was an added bonus. 

First let me say, I am a big fan of Bower’s work and his writing style. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by him, and this was no exception. This one was a screaming five stars for me. I am a huge music fan and metal head, and I love to read anything Faustian - this book had it all. I was hooked immediately. 

How far would you go for fame and fortune? Would you sell your soul? Hurt people you care about? Maybe even kill? This book is a twist on an old tale, but told in a sadistic, dark metal way. I absolutely devoured it. The cover is sick in the most excellent way, and the narrator Joe Hempel absolutely slays. His performance is fantastic, as always. Hempel has become a favorite audio narrator for me, so I’m always stoked to see his name on a title.  

So yeah, snatch this one up, give it a read or a listen, and listen to some shredding 80s metal while you’re at it.  

stefanie_duncan's review against another edition

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

3.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

drakaina16's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. 
How far would you go to get what you want? Gaige Penrod is willing to go really, really far in this book about a deal with a demon for fame. I've definitely read other books with this concept, but Jay Bower manages to keep the story pretty fresh, and it's a lot of fun. I'm a metalhead myself and I loved all of the band references and the way the author was able to capture the feeling of being at a live show. 
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