becandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Yep, I have no idea what I just read. Thought this was a serial killer book, turns out it was also a demon book?
The actual storytelling was good, but this just wasn't something for me overall.
The actual storytelling was good, but this just wasn't something for me overall.
natenason's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
bearpolar's review against another edition
dark
funny
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bxermom's review against another edition
3.0
Its like slowing down at the scene of an accident. You just can't help but do it. Its the same with John....gotta keep reading.
shaekin's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't mind this book at all until I got to the animal cruelty and I noped out. Not my kind of book that way.
chillawesome's review
dark
funny
tense
fast-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
3.75
heiditighe's review against another edition
So very, very disturbing. This is an LDS author like you've never read before.
As a teenager, I used to wonder what it would be like to be a sociopath who was trying not to kill. It seems very similar to the way I felt about sneaking snacks into the movie theater. It's something that I know I shouldn't do in my head, but I didn't think my heart would feel any guilt if I actually did it. What stopped me, then, from sneaking snacks in even though I really wanted to? Was that the same thing that would stop a socipath from killing?
I don't know if Wells has answered that, but he certainly tries, and he tells an unforgettable story in the process. Between the disturbing beauty that Cleaver finds in embalming a body to his desperate, determined heroism in the face of his greatest and worst desires to the dark humor that shows Cleaver's uncanny clarity about just how twisted he is, this book kept me riveted from page one to the last moment. This is one series I'm actually collecting not because it will look pretty on a shelf, but because I actually want to possess them. To own them. To have them close whenever I want them.
Hmmmmm. Maybe the books rubbed off on me more than I thought.
As a teenager, I used to wonder what it would be like to be a sociopath who was trying not to kill. It seems very similar to the way I felt about sneaking snacks into the movie theater. It's something that I know I shouldn't do in my head, but I didn't think my heart would feel any guilt if I actually did it. What stopped me, then, from sneaking snacks in even though I really wanted to? Was that the same thing that would stop a socipath from killing?
I don't know if Wells has answered that, but he certainly tries, and he tells an unforgettable story in the process. Between the disturbing beauty that Cleaver finds in embalming a body to his desperate, determined heroism in the face of his greatest and worst desires to the dark humor that shows Cleaver's uncanny clarity about just how twisted he is, this book kept me riveted from page one to the last moment. This is one series I'm actually collecting not because it will look pretty on a shelf, but because I actually want to possess them. To own them. To have them close whenever I want them.
Hmmmmm. Maybe the books rubbed off on me more than I thought.
rhythmofryn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gmvader's review against another edition
5.0
John Wayne Cleaver is a teenager with Conduct Disorder. That means that if he were an adult he would be called a sociopath. He follows certain rules to keep from hurting people and becoming the killer that he feels like his nature wants him to be. The rules worked even if they made him a little bit socially awkward. Then a demon came to town, hunting and killing men. John was forced to let out his own inner monster, break his rules in order to hunt down the demon and stop him from killing. Now that the demon is gone John is left struggling to reinstate the rules again so that he can go back to living his life without feeling a need to torture and kill those around him.
If you can’t tell this story is dark. John is not the kind of person whose thoughts you want to share. He wants to be a good person. He wants to have friends and be around people but his understanding of social cues is learned rather than natural and being around people makes him imagine some very dark things.
Dan Wells is a strong writer. He takes a character that would normally be the villain and makes him not only sympathetic but somebody you don’t feel bad about sympathizing with. He also brilliantly puts John in positions where only a sociopath, with no emotional connection to other people, could keep a clear head. John becomes the hero because of his sociopathy, not in spite of it. I’m not sure whether to applaud this or feel just a little creeped out.
Regardless the book is intense and exciting and written beautifully.
If you can’t tell this story is dark. John is not the kind of person whose thoughts you want to share. He wants to be a good person. He wants to have friends and be around people but his understanding of social cues is learned rather than natural and being around people makes him imagine some very dark things.
Dan Wells is a strong writer. He takes a character that would normally be the villain and makes him not only sympathetic but somebody you don’t feel bad about sympathizing with. He also brilliantly puts John in positions where only a sociopath, with no emotional connection to other people, could keep a clear head. John becomes the hero because of his sociopathy, not in spite of it. I’m not sure whether to applaud this or feel just a little creeped out.
Regardless the book is intense and exciting and written beautifully.
schnanko's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0