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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
This one was tough. On one hand when the story finally kicks off it’s an interesting thriller filled with action, but it takes 40% of the book to finally get there. I managed to stick it out to the kickoff point, only to be met with the characters who were clearly placed to be killed off (read: little character building) to be killed off and for the main three characters to stay alive with the exception of a fake out death scene that annoyed me enough to finally put down the book. There is a nagging plot thread that wanted me to continue to read the book, but I just can’t force myself to read it any longer after forcing myself for the first half.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For me, this was a very satisfying story. I feel like many books have a great beginning and maybe middle and then fall apart at the end. This story stayed true for me from beginning to end. I did feel that the writing told more than showed and maybe could have been edited a bit more - however, I could not put this book down and thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in this world. This book will stay on my shelf and not be going to the donation box.
With an average of 4 stars, I can usually expect a pretty good read. However, I found this had an odd rhythm and was difficult to get into. The idea was good, there were some interesting characters and an atmospheric setting, but yet I still felt removed from it all. Potential that just didn't quite hit the spot for me, but plenty of others have loved it, so if you are at all intrigued by the synopsis, give it a go.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I went into this expecting one thing & got entirely another. The story was very good, I’m still not sure how I feel about it (in no way is this a bad thing) give a listen or a read & you’ll see what I mean. Highly recommend!
I thoroughly love this author and this book. Jonathan Edward Durham is such an amazing, gentle person, and we must all love and cherish him as the gift he is to us.
Anyway, the book is also amazing. Imagine if the anthropomorphized and joyous animals of the Redwall series were real, an author came in and wrecked their world to make a profit off their lives and culture, and then as an act of revenge many years later, those animals set an annual trap to rollout their own homegrown Hunger Games. Then you've scratched the surface of what this book has to offer.
More importantly, this book has a lot to say about how ignorantly destructive humans tend to be to the natural world that we have been given charge of. This book, without being preachy, calls us to action to take more seriously caring for the planet we have been given, the animals that live here with us, and respecting nature as it is and not asking more of it. The final message is that violence begets violence, selfishness shapes revenge, revenge is a cycle, and unless we work hard to break these cycles, the violence and selfishness will continue. Durham's message is expertly woven through the meat (that's a bad metaphor to use) of this story, and I found it to be convicting, personally.
*SPOILERS*
Additionally, each of the depictions of the three main animal killers is heartbreaking. I cried when each's story, consequences, and ultimate outcome playout because though they are the antagonists of the story (they're not the villains; I'd leave that label for the man who abducted them), they are only such because of what was taken from them. It is powerful, thought-provoking, and unique characterization, and I loved it to pieces.
*SPOILER*
There is a slight plot contrivance that I keep thinking about in that the main character grew up with a survivalist father in a forest in the woods. The trauma of such an upbringing is explored, but eventually it feels like it was a backstory that justified why the main character knew how to survive.
If you are looking for your next Hunger Games fix, I would say this book will serve you well but will invite you in on a conversation that everyone needs to have. If you grew up with any sort of childhood series akin to the Redwall series, you will feel right at home... and then have that home uprooted in a wonderfully, exhilarating, uncomfortable way. This book is worth reading and rereading, and I hope it finds a place amongst your shelves.
Anyway, the book is also amazing. Imagine if the anthropomorphized and joyous animals of the Redwall series were real, an author came in and wrecked their world to make a profit off their lives and culture, and then as an act of revenge many years later, those animals set an annual trap to rollout their own homegrown Hunger Games. Then you've scratched the surface of what this book has to offer.
More importantly, this book has a lot to say about how ignorantly destructive humans tend to be to the natural world that we have been given charge of. This book, without being preachy, calls us to action to take more seriously caring for the planet we have been given, the animals that live here with us, and respecting nature as it is and not asking more of it. The final message is that violence begets violence, selfishness shapes revenge, revenge is a cycle, and unless we work hard to break these cycles, the violence and selfishness will continue. Durham's message is expertly woven through the meat (that's a bad metaphor to use) of this story, and I found it to be convicting, personally.
*SPOILERS*
Additionally, each of the depictions of the three main animal killers is heartbreaking. I cried when each's story, consequences, and ultimate outcome playout because though they are the antagonists of the story (they're not the villains; I'd leave that label for the man who abducted them), they are only such because of what was taken from them. It is powerful, thought-provoking, and unique characterization, and I loved it to pieces.
*SPOILER*
There is a slight plot contrivance that I keep thinking about in that the main character grew up with a survivalist father in a forest in the woods. The trauma of such an upbringing is explored, but eventually it feels like it was a backstory that justified why the main character knew how to survive.
If you are looking for your next Hunger Games fix, I would say this book will serve you well but will invite you in on a conversation that everyone needs to have. If you grew up with any sort of childhood series akin to the Redwall series, you will feel right at home... and then have that home uprooted in a wonderfully, exhilarating, uncomfortable way. This book is worth reading and rereading, and I hope it finds a place amongst your shelves.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m not crying…. You’re crying.
Watership down meets the hunger games (maybe also a little alice in wonderland) is the best way I can describe this.
And I absolutely loved the writing. There was so much heart in this and the messages were so well done. If you want a story that is commentary on colonization, but done in a super interesting but heart breaking way, then this is for you.
It was a decent balance of horror and amazing lyrical prose. Lovable characters, characters you really felt for, even if you didn’t agree with their actions.
I think mostly you should go in not knowing much though. The description on the back of the book is all you need to know… just let the magic of the story do the rest.
My heart hurts in so many ways. This definitely got an emotional response I wasn’t expecting.
The only reason it’s 4 stars is because the action moments could be a lil cheesy at times and made me want to skim.
But not too much and I all in all adore this story. It was a pleasant surprise that I will be thinking about for a while.
A mix of Wind in the Willows and The Most Dangerous Game. This was a powerfully written and often poetic bit of horror/suspense.
ould you imagine if your favorite fantasy book characters came to life?
I’ve been sitting here for the past 45 minutes wondering how to explain this book to you & honestly I still don’t know what to say so I’m just going to say what comes to mind & hope in the end that it will make sense! I don’t think I have ever read anything like this book! This is a wonderful story that draws you in from the beginning & once you start getting farther in & start to pull back the layers you're done you won’t be able to put it down! There are a lot of layers & even something in the background that you aren’t 100 percent sure what it is but you know it's there! Just wow! It’s gripping, dark,suspenseful, haunting, sad & so much more! I really don’t know how to put it into words without giving much away! The author has truly crafted an amazing wonderful book! You’ll jut have to read it & see for yourself!
I’ve been sitting here for the past 45 minutes wondering how to explain this book to you & honestly I still don’t know what to say so I’m just going to say what comes to mind & hope in the end that it will make sense! I don’t think I have ever read anything like this book! This is a wonderful story that draws you in from the beginning & once you start getting farther in & start to pull back the layers you're done you won’t be able to put it down! There are a lot of layers & even something in the background that you aren’t 100 percent sure what it is but you know it's there! Just wow! It’s gripping, dark,suspenseful, haunting, sad & so much more! I really don’t know how to put it into words without giving much away! The author has truly crafted an amazing wonderful book! You’ll jut have to read it & see for yourself!