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natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
Weird, witty and hilariously addictive! The Stranger Times is a Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchett-esque paranormal Fantasy that I had soo much fun reading.
The prose was incredibly engaging with plenty of laugh out banter and the magic system was really intriguing. I loved the little newspaper articles that begin each chapter, an enjoyably immersive element that brought The Stranger Times newspaper (and employees) to life.
The pacing was a bit slow at first but as we get further into the story (alternating between the shadowy dealings of our mysterious villain & protagonist Hannah as she embarks on her new job at The Stranger Times) the action and page-turning mystery really amps up.
But it wasn’t just the action and intrigue that had me soo invested. I also really liked the cast of eccentric but loveable characters, each of whom had their own unique personalities, motivations and secrets that kept me fully invested and eager to know more about them. Especially Manny who, though not in very many scenes, was easily one of my favourite characters (along with Banecroft, Stella, Hannah and Grace.)
Though, I have to say for a book as humorous as this, I was rather impressed with the nuance and emotion that C.K. McDonnell skilfully weaves into the lives of soo many characters. Divorce, death, grief (and even the desperate attempts of a parent trying to save their child) all play a role in propelling the narrative and giving us a deeper understanding of what made each character tick.
I genuinely loved every second and cannot believe it took me soo long the finally read this—it’s AMAZING!
Overall, an incredibly strong series starter that has me super excited to read the rest of the series. If you love misfit-esque, found family dynamics and tons of humour with your mystery —then I highly recommend picking this up.
Also, a huge thank you to Transworld for the finished PB copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, and Cursing
Minor: Gun violence, Murder, Cancer, and Toxic relationship
ophycore's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Racism
Minor: Cancer, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Infidelity
raichou's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Auf Empfehlung einer Freundin habe ich das Buch gelesen und wurde nicht enttäuscht.
Die gesamte Geschichte ist sehr humorvoll geschrieben. Die Charaktere sind alle ein wenig stereotypisch und dramatisch, aber das macht sie auf eine Weise sehr sympathisch.
Die Art wie das Übernatürliche in der Welt vorkommt, ist meine Meinung nach sehr realistisch. Die "normalen" Menschen würden durch drehen, wenn sie merken, dass es noch andere Wesen als sie selbst auf der Erde gibt. Da ist die beste Möglichkeit wirklich versteckt/verdeckt halten.
Alles in allem ein lustiger, sich selbst nicht zu ernst nehmeder Serienstart. Ich bin schon sehr gespannt auf den zweiten Teil und was dort noch alles offenbart wird.
Die gesamte Geschichte ist sehr humorvoll geschrieben. Die Charaktere sind alle ein wenig stereotypisch und dramatisch, aber das macht sie auf eine Weise sehr sympathisch.
Die Art wie das Übernatürliche in der Welt vorkommt, ist meine Meinung nach sehr realistisch. Die "normalen" Menschen würden durch drehen, wenn sie merken, dass es noch andere Wesen als sie selbst auf der Erde gibt. Da ist die beste Möglichkeit wirklich versteckt/verdeckt halten.
Alles in allem ein lustiger, sich selbst nicht zu ernst nehmeder Serienstart. Ich bin schon sehr gespannt auf den zweiten Teil und was dort noch alles offenbart wird.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
lkbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
liseyp's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
This is my new favourite book - not just of 2020. It is absolutely brilliant. Funny characters, dark humour, great plotting and fantastic writing it has been a breath of fresh air to end the year on. I got access to read this via Pigeonhole, but have pre-ordered the hard copy as I know I’ll want to read it again and again.
The story is part fantasy, part mystery. Set in a newspaper which reports on the weird things people believe in (haunted toilets, alien abductions, that kind of thing), the editorial staff are about to discover that there are far weirder things out there.
If you like the humour of Terry Pratchett and Christopher Brookmyre you’ll love this. Heartily recommended.
The story is part fantasy, part mystery. Set in a newspaper which reports on the weird things people believe in (haunted toilets, alien abductions, that kind of thing), the editorial staff are about to discover that there are far weirder things out there.
If you like the humour of Terry Pratchett and Christopher Brookmyre you’ll love this. Heartily recommended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
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