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kkehoe's review against another edition
4.0
A highly entertaining and refreshing story with an interesting villain/monster.
5hadow_girl's review against another edition
5.0
http://beckisbookblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/the-sorrow-king-by-anderson-prunty/
badmc's review against another edition
3.0
The teenagers in a small American times are killing themselves. What do the suicides have to do with a trio of lonely, sorrowful people in the town - a boy, his father, and the girl?
This is a very introvert book: you meet 3 people, get to know the insides of their head, and follow them through their indifference, depression, and languish. Scary imagery is less scary than the numbness of the town and its inhabitants - I found it scarier than the sorrow itself. Sadness is still a feeling, after all. Anhedony is scarier.
The book felt heavy, and I struggled to wade through the middle of it. Once it picks up, the ending comes about quite abruptly, and I was left wanting more - more of the story, more of the characters.
This is a very introvert book: you meet 3 people, get to know the insides of their head, and follow them through their indifference, depression, and languish. Scary imagery is less scary than the numbness of the town and its inhabitants - I found it scarier than the sorrow itself. Sadness is still a feeling, after all. Anhedony is scarier.
The book felt heavy, and I struggled to wade through the middle of it. Once it picks up, the ending comes about quite abruptly, and I was left wanting more - more of the story, more of the characters.
thelisafraser's review against another edition
3.0
I won this on Goodreads Giveaways.
I liked this book, and I thought the idea was unique, but I found it difficult to relate to the main character. It was only after the Obscura was mentioned that I began to really enjoy the novel; prior to that, I had been reading a chapter and then putting it down for a while.
I thought the story of the Jackthief was great. The suicides were interesting, because of what the teenagers saw and felt prior to death. It did remind me, as one reviewer has already mentioned, of A Nightmare On Elm Street - but this is definitely not a rip-off of that series.
At times the writing style reminded me of Stephen King, in a good way. The whole thing was quite spooky, and it is definitely more suitable for older readers, but it isn't over the top in gore or sex scenes.
One of the things I really loved about this novel was the ending. It ended with a rather bleak outlook, and I like that. Not all stories have a happy ending. Very pleased with how the author chose to finish it.
Overall, a good read - definitely something to pick up when you have the chance, and I will be recommending it to friends of mine who enjoy horror novels.
I liked this book, and I thought the idea was unique, but I found it difficult to relate to the main character. It was only after the Obscura was mentioned that I began to really enjoy the novel; prior to that, I had been reading a chapter and then putting it down for a while.
I thought the story of the Jackthief was great. The suicides were interesting, because of what the teenagers saw and felt prior to death. It did remind me, as one reviewer has already mentioned, of A Nightmare On Elm Street - but this is definitely not a rip-off of that series.
At times the writing style reminded me of Stephen King, in a good way. The whole thing was quite spooky, and it is definitely more suitable for older readers, but it isn't over the top in gore or sex scenes.
One of the things I really loved about this novel was the ending. It ended with a rather bleak outlook, and I like that. Not all stories have a happy ending. Very pleased with how the author chose to finish it.
Overall, a good read - definitely something to pick up when you have the chance, and I will be recommending it to friends of mine who enjoy horror novels.
charshorrorcorner's review
4.0
I enjoyed this dark tale, though I didn't care much for the narration.
I will read more of this author's work in the future, but through actual reading, not audiobook.
I will read more of this author's work in the future, but through actual reading, not audiobook.
exorcismofemilyreed's review against another edition
4.0
"His world had become a very strange place."
Grindhouse Books had a sale sometime last month (I think), and that was the first time I came across The Sorrow King. I saw that cover & immediately put it in my cart.
This book is grim as hell, and it's such an entertaining read. It opens so well, and it sets the tone for the rest of the story. It's a very unsettling story, and there were definitely a couple good creepy parts. The Sorrow King feels like fever dream in a lot of ways, and it's easy to get hooked on the story. If you enjoy dream horror, this is a good one to pick up.
I wish the book would have focused on the romance a bit less, but I understand why it was there. I found the family dynamic to be more interesting, and probably would have enjoyed more time there. Grief plays a major role in this book, and I thought that it was done well. It was easy to connect with the characters.
The Sorrow King was my introduction to Andersen Prunty. I know his other books are different, and I'm looking forward to reading more!
Grindhouse Books had a sale sometime last month (I think), and that was the first time I came across The Sorrow King. I saw that cover & immediately put it in my cart.
This book is grim as hell, and it's such an entertaining read. It opens so well, and it sets the tone for the rest of the story. It's a very unsettling story, and there were definitely a couple good creepy parts. The Sorrow King feels like fever dream in a lot of ways, and it's easy to get hooked on the story. If you enjoy dream horror, this is a good one to pick up.
I wish the book would have focused on the romance a bit less, but I understand why it was there. I found the family dynamic to be more interesting, and probably would have enjoyed more time there. Grief plays a major role in this book, and I thought that it was done well. It was easy to connect with the characters.
The Sorrow King was my introduction to Andersen Prunty. I know his other books are different, and I'm looking forward to reading more!
booksdogsandjess's review against another edition
3.0
I tried, but maybe this was just not my bag?
If we broke the elements of the story into parts I got most of them, there is a teenage boy who is lonely and a bit depressed, got it, there is a pretty girl with a secret, got it,
there is a surge in teen suicide in the past few weeks, got it,
there is a realm called the Obscura where you can feel power and happiness, but is also connected to cloud formation….
Yes what? I just could not for whatever reason get into the flow of this book and fully ..understand what the Obscura was and the dynamics in play. This book is 211 pages and it took me 2 weeks to finish, I just did not get into it all.
Also there were bugs, I do not do bugs, they creep me the fuck out. There is a character Mary in the Sorrow King who at one point hears a scuttle and turns to see a substantial spider run and hide behind a box. The proper course of action is to not “try to ignore it”, that will not end well. My advice to Mary is a little more like this..
Spiders are not be trusted…ever
There is a story within the story that was cool, The Jackthief. It was very creepy. I like creepy and suspense, rather then out and out gross. Which was my issue with The Sorrow King just a bit too yucky for my tastes.
If we broke the elements of the story into parts I got most of them, there is a teenage boy who is lonely and a bit depressed, got it, there is a pretty girl with a secret, got it,
there is a surge in teen suicide in the past few weeks, got it,
there is a realm called the Obscura where you can feel power and happiness, but is also connected to cloud formation….
Yes what? I just could not for whatever reason get into the flow of this book and fully ..understand what the Obscura was and the dynamics in play. This book is 211 pages and it took me 2 weeks to finish, I just did not get into it all.
Also there were bugs, I do not do bugs, they creep me the fuck out. There is a character Mary in the Sorrow King who at one point hears a scuttle and turns to see a substantial spider run and hide behind a box. The proper course of action is to not “try to ignore it”, that will not end well. My advice to Mary is a little more like this..
Spiders are not be trusted…ever
There is a story within the story that was cool, The Jackthief. It was very creepy. I like creepy and suspense, rather then out and out gross. Which was my issue with The Sorrow King just a bit too yucky for my tastes.
rachelunabridged's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Rape and Self harm
torie's review
4.0
I was first drawn to this book through Goodreads and was pulled in by its awesome title and cover. When I read the synopsis, I was hooked. I went to Amazon and found that Prunty had set his titles to 99 cents until the end of June and it just sealed the deal.
I started reading the book and have to admit, I was mightily discouraged. The protagonist, Steven, just starts off so unendearing and the weird, forced, unrealistic conversations that transpired between he and his father made me cringe. I kept thinking to myself, "No one talks like that. Why? Why? Whyyyy?" And there's a scene in the very beginning with his teacher's outburst that was just so ludicrous and just...bad, that I asked again, "Whyyyy?" Some scenes were just awkward and thrown in to progress the plot and I was wondering when it was going to start getting good. At that time, it was entirely possible to put my kindle down and resume whatever work I was doing without feeling the need to open it again (Sorry, Prunty).
But then it got good. "The Jackthief" story was just so beautifully written and wonderfully told, that I had to read aloud the entire chapter to my boyfriend. The scenes proceeding the initial 40% of the book were well-executed, well-described and well, well done. The fingernail thing was just genius. When I read through it, I put my kindle down and said, "Man, that Prunty!"
However, the ending seemed a little...I don't know, anticlimactic? I loved all the scenes leading up to it and the suicide scenes in the book were genius, but the ending seemed like a page ripped out of Harry Potter (You know which scene I mean, Prunty! And if you don't, message me because it seriously...resembled it...though I'm not accusing you of stealing, but possible getting inspired from it?). I don't know. The ending was disappointing, otherwise I loved the book and would gladly read another book by Prunty.
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