Take a photo of a barcode or cover
the_grimm_reader 's review for:
The Loop
by Jeremy Robert Johnson
Short review: This was a fun horror/sci-fi read.
I’d read that it was Stranger Things meets World War Z—okay, I guess I can see that. I hate using shows as comparisons, but I did notice elements of a few that I enjoyed. That said, this book wasn’t Stranger Things or World War Z. Honestly, the biotech creature/virus in this story reminded me more of the blue interstellar virus from The Expanse—not in how it was visually described, but in its eerie, evolving nature. And speaking of visuals, I loved them. My imagination was firing on all cylinders, trying to picture what the author was describing, which made for a really fun reading experience.
Two other works that came to mind while reading were The Crazies and 30 Days of Night—both of which I love—so I consider this book a win in that regard. Interestingly, many of the things other reviewers disliked are what I actually enjoyed. It’s gross. It’s packed with gore and body horror. The author has a real knack for it, and I was here for it. If you’re not a fan of extreme horror in film, you might not enjoy it in book form either, which I totally get. But personally, I kept thinking how great it would be to see these scenes brought to life on screen.
Our primary protagonist, Lucy, is an interesting teenage heroine. She’s flawed, not the typical choice for a final girl (was she even a final girl?—not sure about that designation). Her arc is wild, and yeah, she has a little plot armor, but whatever—it’s expected, and it kept things exciting.
For reviewers who gave up halfway, I think you missed out. Maybe this hybrid genre just isn’t your thing. But I liked it. Wild read—wild ride. Had fun.
I’d read that it was Stranger Things meets World War Z—okay, I guess I can see that. I hate using shows as comparisons, but I did notice elements of a few that I enjoyed. That said, this book wasn’t Stranger Things or World War Z. Honestly, the biotech creature/virus in this story reminded me more of the blue interstellar virus from The Expanse—not in how it was visually described, but in its eerie, evolving nature. And speaking of visuals, I loved them. My imagination was firing on all cylinders, trying to picture what the author was describing, which made for a really fun reading experience.
Two other works that came to mind while reading were The Crazies and 30 Days of Night—both of which I love—so I consider this book a win in that regard. Interestingly, many of the things other reviewers disliked are what I actually enjoyed. It’s gross. It’s packed with gore and body horror. The author has a real knack for it, and I was here for it. If you’re not a fan of extreme horror in film, you might not enjoy it in book form either, which I totally get. But personally, I kept thinking how great it would be to see these scenes brought to life on screen.
Our primary protagonist, Lucy, is an interesting teenage heroine. She’s flawed, not the typical choice for a final girl (was she even a final girl?—not sure about that designation). Her arc is wild, and yeah, she has a little plot armor, but whatever—it’s expected, and it kept things exciting.
For reviewers who gave up halfway, I think you missed out. Maybe this hybrid genre just isn’t your thing. But I liked it. Wild read—wild ride. Had fun.