adrizeuza's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Whilst I was listening to this LONG audiobook, all I kept thinking about was how good the tv show was. How good the adaptation decisions were. And how ?? Dan Simmon's decisions in writing The Terror were in comparison. I lost count of how many times the question "... why?" popped into my head.
Geniunely cannot understand how nobody edited this down to a 400 page book. There was no reason for this to be so long. Crozier's POVs were extremely repetitive and not that interesting after a while, most other POV's did not do much to advance either the plot or our understanding of the ships' or characters' dynamis. So... why??? Even some scenes where there was supposed to be tension were completely dried out due to the dragged out descriptions the author made. Also, shout out to the cringiest sex scenes and sexual descriptions I have EVER read in my life.
Dan Simmons clearly knows how to write. And he researched the hell out of the Franklin Expedition. But my biggest grip with this book comes down to the choices he made. The reviews about women's poor treatment are real. I cannot stress enough about how poorly and superficially women are portrayed. Especially Lady Silence, and all Inuit women who show up, are so grossly objectified BY THE NARRATOR. Another choice I have a massive problem with is that with SUCH A LONG BOOK how is there not ONE POV of an Inuit character, namely Lady Silence who is one of the driving forces of the plot?? Don't even get me started on the end of her arc.
Anyway. I can't wait to rewatch the show!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Moderate: Cannibalism, Classism, Gore, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
inquietrotundas's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Excrement, Emotional abuse, Death, Chronic illness, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Sexual content, Sexism, Mental illness, Infidelity, Gore, Cursing, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Body horror, Blood, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Violence, Cannibalism, Torture, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racism, Pregnancy, Murder, Misogyny, Homophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
renegadegrocerycart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Genuinely one of the best books I’ve ever read, but I’d never recommend it to anyone because it’s objectively horrifying. I’ve had nightmares about botulism and cannibalism for weeks. This book will stay with me forever.
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Addiction, Excrement, Gore, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Self harm, Homophobia, Racism, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Vomit, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Death
cbug412's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Cultural appropriation, Excrement, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Genocide, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Colonisation, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, and Religious bigotry
applequinn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Death and Cannibalism
athryn's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Overall a great story with a lot of twists and turns. I actually felt cold reading this. It's sometimes a bit of a bummer, but also I love seeing hubris take people, especially colonial era Brits.
Graphic: Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Excrement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Bullying, Cannibalism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Alcoholism, Xenophobia, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, and Gun violence
elvenpanther's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
While I did enjoy the meandering pace and high detail, I'll admit that when it came to some of the authors more technical descriptions of the naval structures and ships I may have zoned out a bit. I didn't feel that it took away from the story at all, I appreciated it, it's just not a topic I am super familiar with.
The cast of characters, while mainly being men of the British Navy, was still diverse in their personalities, backgrounds, and beliefs. There where characters I truly liked, that handled the circumstance of their situation with grace, such as Lieutenant John Irving and Ice Master Thomas Blanky. Given the nature of what had befallen the crew of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, not every character could be expected to handle themselves with dignity and poise. Dan Simmons did a good job of showing both sides of the coin when it came to men's dispositions when faced with a very bleak and dangerous, life threatening event. Their were characters that I despised because their nature was so abhorrent. You would find yourself rooting for the survival of some while hoping karma caught up to others.
Crozier was a very interesting, but troubled character. It felt that his life had been spent in a struggle between who he truly was and who he tried to shape himself into as a member of the Royal British Navy. He was accomplished, but seemed looked down upon by others in his rank. He was bitter, and I couldn't blame him for it. Despite his demons he showed a loyalty to his crew that was very admirable. I feel like the ending was appropriate for him. While the last couple chapters did deviate from the style of the rest of the novel, I liked that they brought some understanding to what it was that hunted the men on the ice and why. I enjoyed that it delved into native lore and gave the novel that slightly fantastical twist.
There is so much I could say about this novel and I could go on for quite a while. I had rented a copy from my library, but the day after I finished it, I ordered a copy to keep on my shelf. I expect that this is one of those novels that I will revisit at another time or flip through when the mood strikes.
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Murder, Medical trauma, Death, and Gore
inediblecupcake's review against another edition
While I did have a decent enough time listening to it, there were some very uncomfortable aspects that I had to put aside to do so.
The portrayal of the native people seemed questionable at best. I understand that the sailors would have their very of the time biases and racism, but the way the natives were written to behave seemed very odd to me.
Beyond that, the things that stood out to me were the homophobia and the way the cannibalism went down.
The cannibalism being a thing that only the bad people do, while understandable as an urge to write, felt deeply unrealistic and optimistic. People do awful things when they feel they have no other options left, and making it so that only the evil queer man and his team partook in that added to the discomfort.
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Cannibalism, and Death
ilmariel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Classism, Abandonment, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Cannibalism and Sexual content
cviii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Classism, Gore, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cultural appropriation, Death, Medical content, Grief, Addiction, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content, Ableism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Genocide, Abandonment, Excrement, Vomit, Chronic illness, Drug use, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Violence