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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I honestly wanted to give this a one star but I felt harsh, but figured that’s how I’m feeling so I’ll stick with it. There are some good elements to this, but this was a struggle to get through, and I mean a real struggle.
The first half of this book was great. The stories of Wilder’s childhood and his developing relationships with Nat and Harper, and the looming presence of the Dagger Man was a compelling storyline that I genuinely enjoyed. And this author is an incredible wordsmith. A lot of the descriptions gave me such vivid images in my head of characters and locations.
And then it all fell apart.
First off the pacing is all over the place. Some chapters early on are between 60 and 80 pages long, which made even the interesting parts feel like a slog to read. The jumping around in perspectives was clunky, especially when it’s multiple points of view all written by different characters. It was muddled and confusing. And worst of all, I didn’t care about any of the characters.
I feel like what was promised in the synopsis for this book we didn’t actually get until the last 100 or so pages, and that was the reason I picked up the book in the first place. That part didn’t live up to expectations. And then things became so meta I genuinely nearly gave up with 20 pages to go.
I’m so happy to have finished this book and not have to pick it up or think about it again. I came out of this feeling angry, like I’ve wasted time reading this, waiting for something to get better that never did. Some people may enjoy it, and that’s fine, but I’d recommend not wasting your time on it at all.
The first half of this book was great. The stories of Wilder’s childhood and his developing relationships with Nat and Harper, and the looming presence of the Dagger Man was a compelling storyline that I genuinely enjoyed. And this author is an incredible wordsmith. A lot of the descriptions gave me such vivid images in my head of characters and locations.
And then it all fell apart.
First off the pacing is all over the place. Some chapters early on are between 60 and 80 pages long, which made even the interesting parts feel like a slog to read. The jumping around in perspectives was clunky, especially when it’s multiple points of view all written by different characters. It was muddled and confusing. And worst of all, I didn’t care about any of the characters.
I feel like what was promised in the synopsis for this book we didn’t actually get until the last 100 or so pages, and that was the reason I picked up the book in the first place. That part didn’t live up to expectations. And then things became so meta I genuinely nearly gave up with 20 pages to go.
I’m so happy to have finished this book and not have to pick it up or think about it again. I came out of this feeling angry, like I’ve wasted time reading this, waiting for something to get better that never did. Some people may enjoy it, and that’s fine, but I’d recommend not wasting your time on it at all.
What in the hell did I just read?
I think I liked this book?
I count... five books within this book?
My brain hurts. Updating my review once I discuss this with my book club.
<b><u>Update after book club. </b></u>
I don't feel as dumb for not understanding this book, it was a consensus. Too much thrown in and too much going on. Won't recommend this book. But I think I can see why people liked it? I think? I have no clue. I'm still confused. Not even /weirdlit was much of a help..
I think I liked this book?
My brain hurts. Updating my review once I discuss this with my book club.
<b><u>Update after book club. </b></u>
I don't feel as dumb for not understanding this book, it was a consensus. Too much thrown in and too much going on. Won't recommend this book. But I think I can see why people liked it? I think? I have no clue. I'm still confused. Not even /weirdlit was much of a help..
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Still not sure about a rating for this book, I’m still seething
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-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:
No
This is my fourth Ward read (Rawblood, Little Eve, TLHONS) and perhaps my favorite so far! I'm a sucker for horror that plays around with reality and takes a darker approach to fictional characters, writers, and stories. I went into this one not knowing as much and the first third of the book plays things so straight that the final sections were absolutely mind-blowing. Really evocative and smart and weird.