beaksmeep's review against another edition
3.0
I knew it was a mocumentary but at some points I forgot. It draws you in that much. Did feel like it drug on for a bit. There was one part where they were fighting for dominance and that was without a doubt my favorite part. Open ended ending.
tfelmey's review against another edition
4.0
Better that WWZ
I waited to start this one, as it has been on my list for a while. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. A great post apocalyptic story twisted with lore.
I waited to start this one, as it has been on my list for a while. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. A great post apocalyptic story twisted with lore.
lpip's review against another edition
4.0
Couldn’t stop listening! I loved the realistic feel of this audiobook. BUT even if a person could find time to write alllll those journal entries while trying to protect their community from sasquatches, why wouldn’t she ALSO write a note in that journal before she escaped to the woods? I just can’t get in line with the logic that she might still be alive. Sorry!
stupidpiscesguy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
dorothy_shack's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
jgstewart87's review against another edition
2.0
The story felt rushed. The characters were one dimensional and just stereotypes.
One character knows everything there is to know and exactly what to do all the time
One character serves as the foil to this person, constantly just saying the opposite of what the first character says.
Typical "oh we're falling out of love but real adversity brings us together" character.
The main character is Mary Sue for the reader's self insert
Then the child which of course serves as a major plot point for bravery at some point
The diary style was kind of jarring because it just didn't really work in this. Why was the main character writing a journal in the middle of so much chaos?
It was an easy enough read and short, so that's fine, but I was disappointed
One character knows everything there is to know and exactly what to do all the time
One character serves as the foil to this person, constantly just saying the opposite of what the first character says.
Typical "oh we're falling out of love but real adversity brings us together" character.
The main character is Mary Sue for the reader's self insert
Then the child which of course serves as a major plot point for bravery at some point
The diary style was kind of jarring because it just didn't really work in this. Why was the main character writing a journal in the middle of so much chaos?
It was an easy enough read and short, so that's fine, but I was disappointed
cascadienne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
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
4.0
brettpet's review against another edition
2.0
Devolution is a difficult book to recommend because it's too long to be a pulpy horror read and too dumb to think of as a character drama (which it definitely paints itself as). I went into this book hoping for something schlocky and entertaining, but the first half of the book is such a drag. Character motivations are all over the place when the catalyst of the book occurs, with people instantly going into long-term survival planning because they...might get stuck in traffic during the evacuation from the volcanic eruption zone? The book's insistence on trying to get you to care about rich people starting a vegetable garden or manage resources feels pointless, which is a shame given the interesting setting. Characters are barely developed in the first half of the book aside from Mostar, and there's some weird shoe-horning of an IDF connection later in the book. There's one really confusing character decision where someone becomes obsessed with .
My major issue with this book boils down to Brooks' writing style which uses lots of fragmented sentences. The book's journal entries typically read like this:
"I walked over to X's house. The air was chilly. I thought I heard something scary from the woods. But it was just a bird!"
This gives the protagonist an incredibly juvenile and rapid-fire way of processing her group's situation, which presents an inconsistent tone compared to the book's horror elements. I was hoping Brooks' writing style had developed since reading The Zombie Survival Guide when I was in middle school, but this feels about the same level.
Spoiler
their elliptical over the two weeks to the point where they forget to eat and lose all self-sufficiencyMy major issue with this book boils down to Brooks' writing style which uses lots of fragmented sentences. The book's journal entries typically read like this:
"I walked over to X's house. The air was chilly. I thought I heard something scary from the woods. But it was just a bird!"
This gives the protagonist an incredibly juvenile and rapid-fire way of processing her group's situation, which presents an inconsistent tone compared to the book's horror elements. I was hoping Brooks' writing style had developed since reading The Zombie Survival Guide when I was in middle school, but this feels about the same level.
echarp's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0