Reviews

4.5 stars. Superlatively well-written. It felt like a mash-up of Vandermeer and McCarthy in all the best ways. There are notable themes of eco-feminism that I think were very well done and present throughout the narrative, but at no point was the story compromised to make a point.

An excellent book.

jrangel1's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

slaydie511's review

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dark sad

4.0

bravesirtoaster's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

jraye1998's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

laurenbookwitchbitch's review

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4.0

This is one of those rare books that I originally got from the library, but now I’ll be running out to grab my own copy! “Desert Creatures,” is a fever dream of a book. (I know I use that phrase a lot but A. That’s the vibe I want many times when I read and B. It’s true). Magdala, born with a club foot, and her father Xavier are desperately looking for shelter after their home is burned down. They must trek across an apocalyptic Sonoran desert seeking refuge. Along the way they will encounter thirst, hunger, violence, and the horrors of skeletal rotting chimera creatures made up of those with “desert sickness,” and humans are just as vulnerable. Finally Magdala and her father meet up with a ragged band of holy pilgrims, searching for the lost Holy City of Las Vegas and the many magical mystical saints who are cherished and persecuted there. This band of pilgrims are neither righteous nor virtuous and one by one each fall victim to the desert sickness, leaving Magdala and her father…and eventually only Magdala herself on her own. But she is determined to survive this Mad-Max waste land by any means necessary and she goes on a journey to the shrine of a holy saint she believes may heal her foot.

Cults, magic, strange animals and plagues, radical preachers, relics, mythologies and equal parts horror and mysticism of the Sonoran landscape itself, “Desert Creatures,” has become one of my favorite books this year. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth a read!

morethanmylupus's review

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adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.0

I don't even know how to review this book. It was so weird. I appreciated the women taking back power and there's some definite commentary on how society can devolve. Beyond that, I think if you can handle a horror-esque, dystopian novel then you just need to read this one to understand. Overall, this one was just too weird for me.

Content Warnings

sensitivemuse's review

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adventurous dark hopeful slow-paced

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

3.0

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