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A review by hyraeth
Thirteen Storeys by Jonathan Sims
dark
mysterious
medium-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? N/A
4.0
If this isn't your first time reading Jonny's work, having each chapter dedicated to a character's POV might sound familiar - a bit like the statements in The Magnus Archives.
The structure worked well for me, with the prolog giving a hint of mystery and each subsequent chapter showing a different puzzle piece. The more you read the more you can start seeing the bigger picture.
Each character has their story and their issues intertwined with a horror 'trope', which kept the book interesting throughout as it wasn't 400 pages of the same thing over and over again.
Something to keep in mind if your memory sucks as much as mine and you're not reading everything in one go: there are a lot of characters, and even though they are mentioned in multiple chapters, sometimes I struggled to remember who exactly they were.
The structure worked well for me, with the prolog giving a hint of mystery and each subsequent chapter showing a different puzzle piece. The more you read the more you can start seeing the bigger picture.
Each character has their story and their issues intertwined with a horror 'trope', which kept the book interesting throughout as it wasn't 400 pages of the same thing over and over again.
Something to keep in mind if your memory sucks as much as mine and you're not reading everything in one go: there are a lot of characters, and even though they are mentioned in multiple chapters, sometimes I struggled to remember who exactly they were.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism and Vomit