Scan barcode
theangrystackrat's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This was not my book. I'm usually not a fan of unlikeable MCs and this dude was one of them. I found myself rooting for the villain a lot and in the end it did make some interesting points about life but it was a miss for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
bergha1998's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
I love this book. It’s dialogue on almost a cultish scientific religion, what it could take to make the world get along, and the “truth” and what it means. I get that it isn’t the easiest start of the book. The MMC is asshole for a good 1/2 of it, but goodness it gets good.
“The whole dating scene hung was a meltdown for her, an attempt to satisfy the craving to be normal. She was, in fact, not normal… she sometimes felt guilty for just being who she was.”
“Looking at the past is the only way to accurately predict the future.”
“Thinking in percentages like that might make us smarter, but it also makes us worst. When it comes to human beings, it makes acceptable causalities and extermination easier because all we’re getting rid of is a number.”
“The whole dating scene hung was a meltdown for her, an attempt to satisfy the craving to be normal. She was, in fact, not normal… she sometimes felt guilty for just being who she was.”
“Looking at the past is the only way to accurately predict the future.”
“Thinking in percentages like that might make us smarter, but it also makes us worst. When it comes to human beings, it makes acceptable causalities and extermination easier because all we’re getting rid of is a number.”
“Gods don’t make us into their images, we make them into ours.”
“I spent most of my life believing that history was where you found the truth. That you could just revisit a past thing again and again until you discovered it.”
“Walk forward and thrive without judgement, without mirrors. And most importantly, be thankful for every fleeting thing you’ve got in this near-apocalypse garbed in a riot of color.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
sylvestra's review
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Child death
missmali's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Self harm, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
sipping_tea_with_ghosts's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Midnight Water City is a book I wanted to like but found myself avoiding completion for at any opportunity I could for other works. The premise on its own is interesting and some of the worldbuilding is creative but this story feels much more science-fantasy than it does science fiction, omitting any explanations for why the world is the way it is - hardly speculative or introspective.
The story itself is also lacking in the mystery department - delivering answers in a way that feels convenient at best and borderline magical at worst. The second half of the book is especially guilty of this, using hallucinations and dreams as hardcore evidence and a diary as the entire backstory for the main villain. Questions are raised and never answered, possibilities are given center stage but with no real point. As the last third approached and the culprit finally showed themselves, I started to wonder if my audiobook was buffering or reading from something else entirely but no, the tone shift really did go from old man detective with a railgun to anime fox girl with absurd mommy issues mutilating themselves for the sake of self ownership.
As the start of an alleged trilogy, this book unfortunately doesn't work as a satisfying one-off nor does it set up future adventures with much confidence. The main character is an 80 year old detective with nothing much more than the noir clichés and some superfluous differences such as color blindness and synthesia. The guy also rambles way too much about the same guilts and self doubts for far too long, so being stuck with him for two more books sounds like it'd be equivalent to getting locked into conversation at a painful family cookout by your condescending relatives. (Honestly if Goodreads didn't say it was going to be a trilogy, I would have never guessed. Nothing about this story indicates something bigger is going to happen later or that so much needs to still be explored by Detective Grumps.)
Overall, a disappointing mystery with a plodding pace, absurd plot points, boring characters and a wasted setting. I'd rather go to Rapture, at least my stay would be longer and more thrilling than what was advertised on this cover.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
tigger89's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was okay. I didn't have any expectations going into it(I wasn't familiar with the author, and I picked it up primarily due to the setting), and the read was quick enough. I just feel like it could have been more. Details of the setting were teased but never explored. We spent very little time underwater, despite it being the cover image. I thought the blending of speculative future and detective story was done well though, and I enjoyed the plot for the most part. Despite being listed as the first in a trilogy, it reads perfectly well as a standalone.
You will hate the point of view character for the first little while. He's a real jerk of an old cop, playing out a classic trope of the crime genre. He does get better, and while I can't say I loved him by the end, I could at least stand to be in his company.
I liked the use of synesthesia in the book. Is it entirely plausible? Eh, probably not. It's explained enough by the end that I can suspend my disbelief, though.
I did not like how women were written in this book. The only one who wasn't antagonistic, dead, or both, was the main character's wife, who can best be described as complicated. I'm not familiar enough with the author to know if this is a known failing of his or if he just had an unfortunately-constructed cast here, but with that in mind I'd hesitate to pick up another of his titles.
I also question the meta-implications of one of the major plot points. Spoilers ahead:
So one of the big reveals is that Sessho-seki might have been a lie to unite the world, and all the naysayers were killed as a coverup. By itself, this is fine. I enjoyed it when Ozymandias did it in Watchmen, and it was a good twist here as well. What I'm less fine with is how the conversation around Sessho-seki had previously played out using arguments that clearly were a parallel to the climate change "debate." I believe the author might be accidentally saying something here that he hadn't intended(or maybe it was intended), and it left a sour taste in my mouth.
You will hate the point of view character for the first little while. He's a real jerk of an old cop, playing out a classic trope of the crime genre. He does get better, and while I can't say I loved him by the end, I could at least stand to be in his company.
I liked the use of synesthesia in the book. Is it entirely plausible? Eh, probably not. It's explained enough by the end that I can suspend my disbelief, though.
I did not like how women were written in this book. The only one who wasn't antagonistic, dead, or both, was the main character's wife, who can best be described as complicated. I'm not familiar enough with the author to know if this is a known failing of his or if he just had an unfortunately-constructed cast here, but with that in mind I'd hesitate to pick up another of his titles.
I also question the meta-implications of one of the major plot points. Spoilers ahead:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty and Misogyny
For misogyny, the main character occasionally uses the word "bitch" to refer to women.mar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
that doesn't sound right, but i dont know enough about synesthesia to dispute it.jpg
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Self harm
Minor: Pregnancy
paperpaladin's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A neo-noire story that is part Chinatown, part Bioshock. The main character of this story (who is unnamed) is a old detective with a sordid past. When asked to do a job for his old employer, things quickly go sideways as he is forced to confront both his employer's nebulous past as well as his own.
With this book there are two stories going on: the murder mystery that the main character is trying to solve and the arc of the character. As far of the plot goes it was interesting with a lot of flash backs. Not every question is answered but all of the big questions are answered. Things are set up well enough that I was able to guess some of the twists but not all which is a nice place to be at in a mystery. As for the character arc, I loved it. Chris Mckiney felt like he really understands the noire genre and was able to both pay homage to the genre while deconstructing it. The main character has growth and a self-awareness that makes the story enjoyable throughout.
My rating system
1 - Did not enjoy
2 - Not irredeemable but has too many flaws to say I enjoyed
3 - Enjoyed it
4 - Great book but didn't love it
5 - Amazing book
With this book there are two stories going on: the murder mystery that the main character is trying to solve and the arc of the character. As far of the plot goes it was interesting with a lot of flash backs. Not every question is answered but all of the big questions are answered. Things are set up well enough that I was able to guess some of the twists but not all which is a nice place to be at in a mystery. As for the character arc, I loved it. Chris Mckiney felt like he really understands the noire genre and was able to both pay homage to the genre while deconstructing it. The main character has growth and a self-awareness that makes the story enjoyable throughout.
My rating system
1 - Did not enjoy
2 - Not irredeemable but has too many flaws to say I enjoyed
3 - Enjoyed it
4 - Great book but didn't love it
5 - Amazing book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Murder