4.0 Stars Let me acknowledge that the premise of this book requires a level of suspension of disbelief. I also think readers need to go into the book w4.0 Stars Let me acknowledge that the premise of this book requires a level of suspension of disbelief. I also think readers need to go into the book with the understanding that children are pretty much sociopaths and would make absolutely terrible leaders. I actually one quite a bit and thought the epilogue really added to the story. I would recommend this one to the right reader....more
4.0 Stars This was an entertaining horror novel about a mother from hell. Perhaps a bit predictable, but I personally enjoyed the tropes so I did not m4.0 Stars This was an entertaining horror novel about a mother from hell. Perhaps a bit predictable, but I personally enjoyed the tropes so I did not mind. Be aware that there is a lot of "weird sex" in this one. This reminded me a lot of Bentley Little with the diversity and martial themes of Tananarive Due....more
This is a fantastic collection of four novellas that are loosely tied together by the strange and powerful weather of summer season. The audiobook verThis is a fantastic collection of four novellas that are loosely tied together by the strange and powerful weather of summer season. The audiobook version is brilliantly produced.Â
Snapshot - 4.5 Stars I think I loved this novella even more reading it the second time around. This is a light piece scifi horror, which dealt heavily in emotional themes of memory and loss. As a coming of age story, the narrator was reflecting back on his adolescence in the 1980s, capturing the wonder and flaws of the decade perfectly. The horror was not really the focus of this novella. Instead, this was more of a heartfelt story with some incredible character and relationship work. The ending felt a bit drawn out, extending long after the horror climax, yet overall I adored the narrative. I would highly recommend this one, even to readers who normally avoid the horror genre. The audiobook narration by Wil Wheaton was brilliant because he has a knack for capturing the nerdy awkwardness of the teenage years.
This is a fantastic collection of four novellas that are loosely tied together by the strange and powerful weather of summer season. The audiobook version is brilliantly produced.Â
Loaded - 4.5 Stars This was a politically charged novella with prominent themes surrounding gun control and racial prejudice in modern America. Readers' enjoyment of this story will largely depend on if they share the author's left leaning political views. Personally, I found this to be an absolutely gripping and powerful narrative.Â
I think this story is especially important to read in today's political climate. While not a traditional horror narrative, I thought this was a brilliant piece of fiction that left a lasting impression on me.
Aloft - 3.5 Stars This was the weakest of the four stories. The skydiving aspect was thrilling, but I felt that the flashbacks bogged down the plot and I just wasn't very invested in the characters.
Rain - 4.0 Stars This was a thrilling post apocalyptic story told from the perspective of a lesbian woman. Like Loaded, there was a lot of left leaning political thinking in this story. I particularly enjoyed the not-so-subtle jabs at presidents who use Twitter. Overall, this was an emotional story with a strong woman at its center.
While these novellas weren't exactly traditional horror narratives, I really enjoyed this collection. I appreciate that Joe Hill using his authorial voice to address some very important socio-political topics....more
4.0 Stars In this dystopian, King imagined a near-future society, filled with pollution and poverty, that felt terrifyingly possible. Before the age of4.0 Stars In this dystopian, King imagined a near-future society, filled with pollution and poverty, that felt terrifyingly possible. Before the age of reality tv, King accurately predicted a world where society is entertained by the desperation of people who need money. While the premise of this story was quite bleak, the narrative was fast paced and absolutely engaging. I was hooked in from the very first chapter. Â Â ...more
3.5 Stars This was an excellent piece of literary horror that provided social commentary on racial prejudices and mental health. While not particularly3.5 Stars This was an excellent piece of literary horror that provided social commentary on racial prejudices and mental health. While not particularly scary, this is the kind of horror that would appeal to a wider audience of readers. The characterization and writing in this novel was well done. However, the narrative was quite slow. Personally, I felt that the novel could have been shorter. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the story as much if I had read a physical copy. The audiobook version definitely enhanced my reading experience....more
3.5 Stars At times, this book felt more like a contemporary, focusing on the mundane details of family life, real estate and politics. However, this bo3.5 Stars At times, this book felt more like a contemporary, focusing on the mundane details of family life, real estate and politics. However, this book also contained some very explicit sex scenes, which were quite unexpected in this seemingly quiet haunted house story. The psychological sexual effects were easily the most disturbing aspects of this novel. Although I enjoyed this psychosomatic effect, these scenes could be too graphic for more sensitive readers. Also, trigger warnings for cutting. Despite the family drama, this is a fairly enjoyable haunted house story with a few surprisingly creepy moments....more
This is an entertaining and enthralling novel of survival . The resulting story is a compulsive and addicting page-turner. Many of the scenes4.0 Stars
This is an entertaining and enthralling novel of survival . The resulting story is a compulsive and addicting page-turner. Many of the scenes are absolutely brutal, full of psychological trauma and grisly details. There are some fantastical elements within the plot that may require some suspension of disbelief. Regardless, I recommend this one to anyone with strong stomachs who are looking for a gripping and horrific read....more
This is such a fantastic, underrated novel! I really feel that more people should read it. While this was not very creepy, I found the story 4.0 Stars
This is such a fantastic, underrated novel! I really feel that more people should read it. While this was not very creepy, I found the story to be engrossing and clever. The setup of the plot is fantastic. I adore potentially unreliable narrators and spent most of the novel questioning the sanity of the caretaker. Told from multiple perspective, the author cleverly hides the action to keep to the reader in the dark. The horror in the novel is largely unseen. In this way, this novel felt somewhat similar to Bird Box, although I personally found this book more interesting. The ambiguous nature of the monsters created a sense of unease, which created an eerie atmosphere.
While not overtly scary, I loved this smart, quiet story. I would recommend this novel to wide range of readers, including those who do not regularly read books in the horror genre....more
Rachel (TheShadesofOrange)
>
Books:
bc-scifii
(9)
Loading...
