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tieflingkisser's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Body horror, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Child death, and Cannibalism
Minor: Addiction, Transphobia, and Alcoholism
klavin_lovell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Now I wouldn't recommend reading the book expecting another Magnus Archives as that's not what it is. It is, however, fantastic.
It can become gruesome so I would recommend practicing caution but if you've listened to the more violent Magnus Archives episodes it should be bearable.
In my opinion the story is fascinating, an intelligent statement about morality and self preservation. The ideologies that may come with one's experiences and backgrounds. It can be a little difficult to follow with every chapter being a different narrative and keeping up with the large main cast can be tricky if you don't have the best memory, like myself.
However the cast is diverse and some characters are very memorable, Jonny has shown his skill with a wide range of characters and themes and I am definitely looking forward to his next project.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Mental illness
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Child death, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
lavendl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, and Police brutality
Minor: Cursing, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Deadnaming, and Genocide
keen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Murder, Body horror, Blood, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Gore, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping and Child death
Minor: Deadnaming, Suicide, Addiction, and Transphobia
ianders's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This format means that there isn't a lot of space for individual character arcs and growth. Yet, Sims expertly weaved a web of different and colorful characters all with their peculiar voice and personality. I thought each was distinctive and interesting in their own way, although some characters definitely made more of an impact than others. I liked the diversity of the cast.
Loyal to himself, Sims tackles hauntings and ghosts through themes of anti-capitalism, classism and human misery at the hands of those who hold power. His style and commentary are very efficient as his stances are loud and clear without being simply preachy or over simplistic: there exist obvious villainy, but no easy solution when the foundations themselves of a system are rotten.
Basically, I thought the book to be extremely validating and relatable in its observations, if bittersweet. The ending was viciously as cathartic as the prologue promised, although perhaps I would have prefered not knowing how it all ended from the start (information freely given in the premise itself, and mthus not a spoiler).
The pacing of the main story is a slow creep towards a great unravelling. The pacing of each individual character's story vary, but this is no action-oriented horror frenzy. A lot of emphasis is put on the claustrophobic atmosphere and the slow exploration of a building that is sick in its core.
I read this on audiobook (because my physical copy has yet to arrive) and I really recommand it. The audiobook is read by a full cast including the author himself with his lovely deep and dramatic voice that a lot will recognize from the podcast The Magnus Archives, which last season is currently airing and which Jonny Sims wrote.
If you are a fan of TMA, Thirteen Storeys is reminiscent of it in the best ways, although perhaps less brutal in its execution.
Somehow, the book also reminded me of episodes from something like the Twilight Zone, if that is something that appeals to you.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Police brutality, Cannibalism, and Confinement
Minor: Transphobia, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, and Death
karinh's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement and Gore
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Deadnaming, Terminal illness, Transphobia, and Xenophobia