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bigmads's reviews
351 reviews
Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
This is the second book I’ve read by Thomas Olde Heuvelt, the first being his internationally successful Hex. That story may have put him on the map for horror fans outside of his home country, but Echo serves to highlight his unique voice and incredible storytelling prowess. This book uses older gothic horror conventions in its approach to pacing (something which is very deliberate based on section subtitles) as well as its use to the epistolary format, where large sections take the form of emails and journal entries, but it also updates it with contemporary language, wry humor and levity akin to greats like Shirley Jackson, and a fresh and modern sensibility. As a queer person, inclusive narratives can sometimes feel highlighted in a way that serves to further “other” us, making a spectacle of same-sex love stories for a presumed heterosexual audience. Not Echo. At its core and beyond the horrors, it’s an honest and realistic relationship story about a couple dealing with an incredible tragedy rendered even more terrifying by supernatural forces. This is a book for horror fans new and old, but also has tons of appeal for anyone just looking for a good story about a relationship trying to survive against nearly insurmountable odds.
The Haar by David Sodergren
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5