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aliciaking3's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Trafficking
Moderate: Animal death and Alcoholism
mackle13's review
2.0
So, we read this as a group read because we didn't realize, at the start, that it was the end of a trilogy. Now, I have actually read [b:Threshold|81062|Threshold|Caitlín R. Kiernan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385276307s/81062.jpg|929484] on my own a few years back, but I've ever read [b:Low Red Moon|554168|Low Red Moon|Caitlín R. Kiernan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309202087s/554168.jpg|78263] and some reviews say this is a more direct sequel to LRM.
I say that by way of explaining that I felt like I was missing some things. That there was information about the Children of the Cuckoo and the Hounds and the Bailiff that I was meant to already know which I didn't.
That said, I felt like I was able to follow the story well enough, but I did wonder if maybe it'd have some more depth, for me, if I had read the prior story.
***
Now that that's out of the way - to the story itself...
Mostly it just didn't work for me. Now, as I said, I'm not sure how much of that is because of the above, but I think some of it was just the story itself. We spend a lot of time with two different stories - that of Emmie and Soldier - and we know that they're going to come together, and they do piece by piece, but by the time they finally do come together there's only about 100 pages left to go, and it just felt like they spent far too long to get where we were going.
And then, when we finally got there, I can't say I was at all happy with the resolution - if you can even call it that, because if felt unresolved.
I wanted more from it. I wanted)
I also really wanted Soldier to end up back with Deacon, and for the three of them to have some sort of dysfunctional unit.
I was sort of glad she got her childhood back - but considering she's still with the Hounds and Bailiff is still out there and all, it didn't really feel like any kind of real resolution, let alone happy ending. (Not that it has to have a *happy* ending, but with her staying there I feel like nothing's going to change.)
I dunno...
After all that time with the set-up, and then it feels sort of unresolved at the end - especially for the finale of a trilogy.
***
The only other comment I really had is that both Emmie and Soldier both have a really annoying habit of not letting other people talk - especially when other people are trying to explain something or tell them something. "Shut up, I don't want to hear it" or "this isn't even real" or whatever.
They did that thing where they're looking for answers and want to know "the truth", but then never want to let people fucking talk and actually tell them anything.
It was really fucking annoying.
***
I did think it was interesting, in a way, the way they were sort of similar, personality wise.
And I get that Emmie is, but I've never heard an 8-year-old curse so damn much.
I'm no slacker when it comes to cussing, but I did get tired of "fuck this, fuck that, and fuck every other fucking thing" every other fucking sentence.
I say that by way of explaining that I felt like I was missing some things. That there was information about the Children of the Cuckoo and the Hounds and the Bailiff that I was meant to already know which I didn't.
That said, I felt like I was able to follow the story well enough, but I did wonder if maybe it'd have some more depth, for me, if I had read the prior story.
***
Now that that's out of the way - to the story itself...
Mostly it just didn't work for me. Now, as I said, I'm not sure how much of that is because of the above, but I think some of it was just the story itself. We spend a lot of time with two different stories - that of Emmie and Soldier - and we know that they're going to come together, and they do piece by piece, but by the time they finally do come together there's only about 100 pages left to go, and it just felt like they spent far too long to get where we were going.
And then, when we finally got there, I can't say I was at all happy with the resolution - if you can even call it that, because if felt unresolved.
I wanted more from it. I wanted
Spoiler
Bailiff to get some comeuppance (but I also sort ofSpoiler
knew he wouldn't because I'm fairly certain the short story collection I read had Dancy take him out. And the vampires. And the ghuls. But I'd have to reread it to be sure.I also really wanted Soldier to end up back with Deacon, and for the three of them to have some sort of dysfunctional unit.
I was sort of glad she got her childhood back - but considering she's still with the Hounds and Bailiff is still out there and all, it didn't really feel like any kind of real resolution, let alone happy ending. (Not that it has to have a *happy* ending, but with her staying there I feel like nothing's going to change.)
I dunno...
After all that time with the set-up, and then it feels sort of unresolved at the end - especially for the finale of a trilogy.
***
The only other comment I really had is that both Emmie and Soldier both have a really annoying habit of not letting other people talk - especially when other people are trying to explain something or tell them something. "Shut up, I don't want to hear it" or "this isn't even real" or whatever.
They did that thing where they're looking for answers and want to know "the truth", but then never want to let people fucking talk and actually tell them anything.
It was really fucking annoying.
***
I did think it was interesting, in a way, the way they were sort of similar, personality wise.
And I get that Emmie is
Spoiler
part ghul, and that's meant to explain some of her weirdnessI'm no slacker when it comes to cussing, but I did get tired of "fuck this, fuck that, and fuck every other fucking thing" every other fucking sentence.
archergal's review
3.0
I'm really of two minds about this book. I liked the writing quite a bit. It's a Lovecraftian homage of sorts, but a deftly done one. I don't think you need to know the references to enjoy the story. Well done there.
OTOH, I'm not sure I really followed what was happening that well. That's probably due more to how I read a book in little dribs & drabs instead of in long, concentrated reading sessions. It didn't help that one of the main characters was pretty unlikable. We do see a bit how she got that way. But I didn't love her sections. I guess anti heroes aren't my favorite type of character.
But on the whole, I liked the book well enough that I plan to check out more of the author's work.
OTOH, I'm not sure I really followed what was happening that well. That's probably due more to how I read a book in little dribs & drabs instead of in long, concentrated reading sessions. It didn't help that one of the main characters was pretty unlikable. We do see a bit how she got that way. But I didn't love her sections. I guess anti heroes aren't my favorite type of character.
But on the whole, I liked the book well enough that I plan to check out more of the author's work.
sjgomzi's review
5.0
A brilliant and action packed finale to her Deacon Silvey trilogy. This book gets better and better every time I read it. Kind of like a Kiernan’s greatest hits collection. The ghouls , Madame Terpsichore, The Bailiff, the underground labyrinth beneath Rhode Island’s Swan Point cemetery, The Children Of The Cuckoo, Lovecraft’s Yellow House at 135 Benefit St, time manipulation, mini universes captured inside snow globes… all kinds of cool shit! Kiernan’s imagination and brilliant prose are on full display here. Can be read as a stand-alone, but my recommendation is to start with Threshold and then read Low Red Moon before tackling this. You will get so much more out of it. All three books are very different, and are all fantastic.
abetterjulie's review
3.0
This book was a meal that was slippery and savory, but then expanded in your gut, so that you had to slow down and chew. I became attached to all of the characters, even the "bad" ones. She took a long time to tell what could have been a much shorter story, but I didn't mind because the writing is twisty and sharp and the characters are Dark Crystal muppets...at least in my mind.
nilchance's review
3.0
I enjoyed the act of reading this, but underwhelmed by the end state of having read this. It's like hearing your aunt tell a wonderful tale full of adventure, and then she says "so that happened," and gets up to pour herself another drink.
And you say, "no wait, what happened?"
And she says, "exactly," and wiggles her fingers spookily so she can exit the room before you ask any more questions.
And you say, "no wait, what happened?"
And she says, "exactly," and wiggles her fingers spookily so she can exit the room before you ask any more questions.
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