Reviews

Shriek: An Afterword by Jeff VanderMeer

dr_al's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

I re-read the Ambergris trilogy for the first time since being a baby right out of college, and even though the setting is (still) significant to me and the meta-fiction aspects are (still) fascinating and enjoyable, some of the choices VanderMeer makes hit me differently. 

Spoiler

Duncan's relationship with Mary (and Janice's reaction to it, and the way Mary is treated as the party with power...over...her professor...) is kinda ick? It would have been so easy to either better acknowledge the ick or not do the ick (either way!) but...yikes.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body horror

There's a significant sexual/romantic relationship between a male professor and his female (college) student, which is not handled particularly well.

aryaxo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

viva_pugnacio's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative mysterious reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Multilayered. Multiversal. Mycological. Myopic. Masterful. 

sepptb's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

mellalynnie's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Violence

Strong writing, strong character development, dark humor

blackcatbinx29's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Good book. I liked it more in the beginning. It kinda started to drag towards the end but was enjoyable. 

depressed_frog_man's review

informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

2.5

not bad. just not for me

jmm3rs's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

sarvikaskas's review

dark emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

layres's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75