I am mid-range on this one. This is a book written to make you angry, to make you react, to make you want to take up arms. And in that, it is frightenI am mid-range on this one. This is a book written to make you angry, to make you react, to make you want to take up arms. And in that, it is frighteningly effective.
I had never heard of William R. Forstchen, but I am willing to read almost anything once. A coworker lent me this novel, knowing my vast range of book love, letting me know that grammatically, it needed work, but to give it a chance. I have to agree that as far as polish goes, this has none at all. It is an obviously indie-published novel that never saw the light of a professional editor's office.
This is NOT a character-driven book; it is all action, fear, and rage. The characters are not well-developed, but they do play on racist and phobic fears of the American people vs the jihadists.
The biggest issue with this book is that Americans' overall reaction would, unfortunately, NOT be so far from what is predicted here. While active shooter drills have gotten better, and the school my son attends is a guardian school armed for this type of scenario, this is still a nightmare for any parent/teacher/student.
The decision made by the president in the end, we saw some of that with Covid and as a reaction to rioting in larger towns when riot baiters escalated violence and damage outside of frustrated people with a just cause.
The biggest mistake many people make is EVER painting an enemy as stupid. Leaders do not become leaders who plot for years extensively without some grasp and understanding of their target. The Russia/Crimea/Ukraine scenario showed just how social media can be used against an enemy. Showcasing that here was a good call.
This book is worth reading to get a better understanding of horrors coming true on a large-scale terrorist attack on schools and highways.
This is not an easy book to read. It is very gruesome and traumatic. It is meant to be triggering. There is much gun violence and the sexual assault of a minor.
Not many authors would want to go there.
Overall, the book itself is about a 3 star. ...more
5 years later, I enjoyed this one even more than the first time. Maybe it's because I have read the follow-on series, and my fulfillment was better fi5 years later, I enjoyed this one even more than the first time. Maybe it's because I have read the follow-on series, and my fulfillment was better filled with that one.
Persephone is hands down my all-time favorite character of this whole series, and she was woefully short in lines. I missed the witty humor and her quotable awesomeness that was held in other books. I was so happy for those short moments though.
This time around, the romance and understanding with Blue were more apparent. However, I still want more of Blue and the ladies.
The narrative on this one was excellent, but I have a lot of questions, such as how anyone can devote years of their life to a trial, how a trial can The narrative on this one was excellent, but I have a lot of questions, such as how anyone can devote years of their life to a trial, how a trial can take this many consecutive years to conclude, and how many trials are happening in Tokyo at the same time.
I also hope never to need to go on trial there. In a way it is a bit like being in jail for years while a case is built against/for you.
Worth a read. He's a serial rapist at the very least.
I highly recommend the audio version of this. Delanie Nicole Gill’s voice acting lifted this one up to a whole other experience in the creep factor! FI highly recommend the audio version of this. Delanie Nicole Gill’s voice acting lifted this one up to a whole other experience in the creep factor! From that first opening sentence, she gives 8-year-old Bela a voice that lets you know you are in for a ride of horror and suspense.
Josh Malerman gives his readers a LOT to love in this horrific haunting. Bela is a spectacular character, even if her parents are less than stellar.
There are some interesting characters, but by the time the séance and security protocols are involved, it gets a bit much.
The "loss of innocence" could have gone many different ways.
Overall, everything up to leaving the house with many rooms was 5-star material, but everything after brought it down to a 4-star for me.
I loved this until the end when it felt like I was missing pages, but nope, that was it.
The most hilarious part was when a character is pushed off toI loved this until the end when it felt like I was missing pages, but nope, that was it.
The most hilarious part was when a character is pushed off to their death. I know that's irreverent of me, but for some reason, the way it was written made me think of about a thousand ways to parody it.
I loved Spindrift; wish I liked the ancillary characters more and wanted a bit more of the history.
The Abarat: a vast archipelago where every island is a different hour of the day, from the sunlit wonders of Three in the Afternoon, where dragons roaThe Abarat: a vast archipelago where every island is a different hour of the day, from the sunlit wonders of Three in the Afternoon, where dragons roam, to the dark terrors of the island of Midnight, ruled by Christopher Carrion.
I have only read Horror novels by Clive Barker, and I wasn't prepared for how whimsical and lyrically beautiful this would be.
I love the motley crew and the sea battle.
The way that the "real world" is portrayed as a type of heaven to the Abarat.
I love the ideas of the islands and all of their different traits.
Oooh boy,.... Catriona I love your mind, but I did not love this.
This narrator was a terrible choice and I think it affected my enjoyment immensely, gOooh boy,.... Catriona I love your mind, but I did not love this.
This narrator was a terrible choice and I think it affected my enjoyment immensely, go with the physical or ebook copy. His voice was Sooooo boring for me. With a slower moving historical fiction, it just was NOT working.
Finishing this book was a struggle bus. I wanted the creepier more horrific tone that previous novels had.
I have come to rely on Ward for a highly intelligent look at the human psyche with a bit of paranormal thrown in. This one had some great paranormal touches, but the human psyche was missing.
I don't know what went wrong, but I wanted to quit many times during this one.
I know there is greatness from Ward, and I will check out future novels, but hopefully they hold my attention better than this.
Didn't quite pack the power that the adult Hannibal possessed.
This is still worth a read if you are an avid Hannibal fan because it is good to see hoDidn't quite pack the power that the adult Hannibal possessed.
This is still worth a read if you are an avid Hannibal fan because it is good to see how he became Hannibal, but this also weirdly feels like it's just another psychopathic serial killer rather than Hannibal.
Enjoyed the historical fiction relations to the development of young Hannibal's way of thinking and how he got interested in certain unsavory desires.
I love Verity; even though I felt like I was waiting on a lot of answers from the first book that never felt resolved, I enjoyed the tone of this one I love Verity; even though I felt like I was waiting on a lot of answers from the first book that never felt resolved, I enjoyed the tone of this one even more.
Verity can see and communicate with spirits, which leaves her family to lock her onto their online.
When a chance comes for her to leave in lieu of a painting assignation, she sneaks off to see the world.
Things turn from bad to worse in the jacked-up Bloem manor.
I LOVED the twists and turns this one took. This book felt like Erin A. Craig found her stride in her writing. This was straight fire.
Just when I thought I loved this book, some new F'ed up thing would happen or be uncovered, and I would love it anew.
Audio narration was perfectly done for Verity.
5 Stars, but hate that I have to wait until 2026 for the next one. I hope the next tale will tie the sisters together a bit more....more
Literally perfect. This book is true perfection. There is not a single word wasted in this.
This is the greatest thing that Veronica Roth has written tLiterally perfect. This book is true perfection. There is not a single word wasted in this.
This is the greatest thing that Veronica Roth has written to date. Slavic dark fantasy is HER STRENGTH! Please, please, please give us more of this. I will read EVERYTHING involving these characters. I love all of them equally. There is so much fun that can be had here.
I love the merge of the Polish darkness in the underbelly of Chicago emigrants. I love the training to "see." That moment upstairs after the boxing match when it all CLICKED for me, and the reveal was still GUT WRENCHING!!!!
I love how this ended; I need this to be a new beginning. I loved Roth's take on Baba Jaga and the different side seldom seen in American depictions of her. There's so much to explore here!! Dymitr's whole family has so much going on; it could be a series.
This is what a perfectly edited book looks like.
This is in my top 3 favorite books of 2024. I NEED to own this meow!! I need fan merch for Dymitr, Ala, Niko, and of course, the leszy.
The leszy/forest guardian could narrate a thousand tales, and I would still keep reading.
So many great quotable, but a few I jotted down were "he doesn't like religious spaces, in general-the obsession with wrong and right, purity and pollution, modernity and eternity, it doesn't make sense to him."
"You only know what I've shown you" "That... is true of everyone, all the time."
"the powdered-sugar scent. Pleasent and light, like angel food cake. "I'm worries about you," she says. "That's what it smells like."
Wow, the beginning was a bit muddled, as it seems to be the way of these books, but MAN, did it get INTENSE! The dream pulling is an imaginative and VWow, the beginning was a bit muddled, as it seems to be the way of these books, but MAN, did it get INTENSE! The dream pulling is an imaginative and VERY cool theory, of course; as routinely occurs in literature, it gets incredibly dark. I love that Persephone played a more significant role, and I hope we learn more about her.
Blue's emotional evolution in this book was much more enjoyable to read about than her more one-dimensional self in the first book. I look forward to more character development for her and all of the Raven Boys.
What I enjoy most about this book is that it is just fun to read. The Grey Man was a fun diversion that could have many implications for the future.
I love the moments with Chainsaw.
Krasinski drove me NUTS in this book.
Another great one for some fun quotes:
"I thought you said scrying was a bad idea." "It's like vodka," Cala said. "It depends on who's doing it."
"I'm very nearly drunk enough to be transcendent," Calla said... She was not the only psychic drinking, but she was the closest one to transcendence. Persephone peered dubiously into the bottom of her glass. In a very small voice (her voice was always small), she said sadly, "I am not drunk at all."
"Gleefully, Noah said, "There's a pool table now! I'm the worst at pool ever! It's wonderful."...more
So much going on after we get confirmation that some weirdass type of vampirism is alive in the world.
As with anyThis was one heap of an intense book.
So much going on after we get confirmation that some weirdass type of vampirism is alive in the world.
As with any apocalyptic novel, there is sectioning of survival groups and fighting for resources.
The depth of the story itself is stronger in this one, but I felt that the Passage was more intimate in humanity. However, this could have easily been intentional by author Justin Cronin as he continues to strip away humanity in exchange for survival at whatever that may cost.
My biggest complaint, and why this isn't a 5-star read for me, was that everything was leading up to this point, and then the ending scene and the fight was just such a short space and was gone too easily and quickly, and I felt like that was a major missed opportunity.
Yes! It's great to see a newer dark fantasy author!!! LOVED THIS!
Elspeth, Ravyn, and, of course, Nightmare are the reasons for this rating.
The settiYes! It's great to see a newer dark fantasy author!!! LOVED THIS!
Elspeth, Ravyn, and, of course, Nightmare are the reasons for this rating.
The setting is like the shadowlands of a Sherwood forest/sleepy hollows mashup.
Sickness gives you magic, but magic is forbidden, and you will be given to the mist to go on to the next life. (I'm really hoping we find out it's like a dystopian thing where they are all in there together and will come back in force).
The only magic allowed in the land of Bludner (makes me laugh every time) is that controlled using Tarot Cards. Read this book for the details on those, they are fun.
I hope to see more of the Elspeth/Ravyn budding romance as they team up to fight Nightmare. I hope Nightmare never stops dark rhyming.
Two Talented Bastids: I loved this one about potential and talents and using what you have if you believe you can, and the end was a great reality thaTwo Talented Bastids: I loved this one about potential and talents and using what you have if you believe you can, and the end was a great reality that we all have different uses. 4 Stars
The Fifth Step: a macabre ironic humor, haha 3.5 Star
Willie the Weirdo: The first grandfather/grandson bonding book with a 5 star finish
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream: 5 Stars, this one was soo good and so frustrating for Danny, loved the characters in this one. Cops who go corrupt for a good cause. A man whose life gets ruined for being a good person.
Finn: Finn may possibly have the worst luck of anyone. Waterboarding ensues.
On Slide Inn Road: Derry Main located. Another grandfather & grandson bonding moment. Dedicated to Flannery O'Connor with similar echoes. 3 Stars
Red Screen: Utter genius with aliens. 4 Stars
The Turbulence Expert:For those with a healthy dose of fear when flying. 2.5 Stars
Laurie:Laurie the dog, nothing new was added from when I first experienced this one at the back of Elevation. Dogs, alligators, and neighbors. 4 Stars for the end
Rattlesnake: So weirdly I have never read Cujo or Duma Key, which are both referenced in this one, I need to go rectify that. I loved the paranormal creepiness that was the classic vibe of a noteworthy King tale. 4.5 Stars
The Dreamers: The creepiest book in the collection. I need an entire novel or series on this concept. LOVED IT! 5 Stars
The Answer Man: Who doesn't want answers in life sometimes? I wish a bit more of the "did this happen because of the Answer Man, or did the Answer Man just see the future?" vibe in the story's second half. Perfect speculative tale. 4.5 Stars
Lots of great ones in this collection. just give it a read!
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