etwasinspired's review against another edition
DNF at about 75 pages. A bad copy of Neverwhere. It had potential, just not for me.
perch15's review against another edition
3.0
Well written but for whatever reason, it just didn’t grab me. It may have been the narration, which didn’t jive with the author’s description of Taylor. If I try future volumes, I won’t go the audiobook route. I wouldn’t discourage urban fantasy fans from trying this series—this audiobook simply wasn’t my cup of tea.
ianthereader0's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
Somehow tries too hard and doesn’t try hard enough.
Somehow tries too hard and doesn’t try hard enough.
knittingwild's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
trufyre's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
tltyogg's review against another edition
2.0
I was really looking forward to finding another book series that was similar to the Dresden Files series that I absolutely love and this was recommended to me on a website. Even though I liked the idea behind the book the writing was kind off putting with all the "...in the Nightside" comments and the weird story plot between the two main characters. I didn't even finish the book because I was just not at all drawn into the story.
cheeriospank's review against another edition
4.0
This book was inventive and fun. Bits were unpredictable but one thing I didn't figure out until right before they told me, which is REFRESHING! Still loving Razor Eddie, and although you only get to see Cathy's personality for about 3 pages, I adore her! YAY!
saromen's review against another edition
1.0
Terrible writing. Dont get me wrong- it starts off kind of funny, but there is no storytelling here. the narrator tells you exactly how badass the main character is every page or so and then explains how bad everything else is without ever showing. Also blasts out every cliche in existence.
Also- the word "Nightside" is used in this book the same way "Smurf" is used in named children's cartoon. You can find the word "Nightside" 1-3 time on EVERY page- telling you just how terrible it is, over and over. The book is like a very long bad poem.
Nightside. Nightside nightside nightside. Nightside? Nightside!
Also- the word "Nightside" is used in this book the same way "Smurf" is used in named children's cartoon. You can find the word "Nightside" 1-3 time on EVERY page- telling you just how terrible it is, over and over. The book is like a very long bad poem.
Nightside. Nightside nightside nightside. Nightside? Nightside!
leenichole's review against another edition
2.0
John Taylor is a hard-boiled London private eye who's fallen on hard times when a lucrative new case draws him back into a place he intended to leave behind forever--The Nightside. While there were things I liked about this novel, unfortunately, there were far more things that I didn't.
From the beginning, this book gave me serious Dresden Files vibes. It's got that good paranormal mystery, urban fantasy feel that I love. The Nightside itself is very cool. The idea of a city's seedy underbelly as an actual fantasy location full of danger, illegal activity, and just plain weirdness worked very well for me. The plot was compelling. The mystery surrounding John Taylor was intriguing. Also, Razor Eddie was scary as hell, in a good way. There were definite high points to this story.
That said, the execution was a steaming pile of hot garbage. According to my Kindle, the phrase "in the Nightside" appears 166 times in 244 pages. Can you imagine if I wrote a book set in Seattle and reminded you on (at least) every other page that we're "in Seattle?" It's repetitive to the point of condescension. I KNOW WE'RE IN THE NIGHTSIDE, SIMON GREEN! We've been here since Chapter Two!
John Taylor himself is one of the worst examples of telling-not-showing I've encountered. We know what kind of man he is, not because we spend time watching him in action and getting to know him as we go, but because he spends three pages listing everything about himself. "I sleep alone. I eat everything that's bad for me, and I take care of my own laundry. When I remember." FOR THREE PAGES.
The "romance" (which term I use with the utmost reluctance) comes completely out of left field between two characters who've barely interacted, but suddenly find themselves embracing passionately in the middle of the street. I'll buy passion born of adrenaline, sure, but you want me to believe he fell in love with this woman? Enough to mourn her? Like six hours after they met? Nah, bro.
Suffice it to say that I had issues with this book. HOWEVER, I've heard pretty much universally that the series gets better from here. I'm intrigued enough by the concept and John Taylor himself that I'll keep reading. But we are not off to a strong start, the Nightside and I.
From the beginning, this book gave me serious Dresden Files vibes. It's got that good paranormal mystery, urban fantasy feel that I love. The Nightside itself is very cool. The idea of a city's seedy underbelly as an actual fantasy location full of danger, illegal activity, and just plain weirdness worked very well for me. The plot was compelling. The mystery surrounding John Taylor was intriguing. Also, Razor Eddie was scary as hell, in a good way. There were definite high points to this story.
That said, the execution was a steaming pile of hot garbage. According to my Kindle, the phrase "in the Nightside" appears 166 times in 244 pages. Can you imagine if I wrote a book set in Seattle and reminded you on (at least) every other page that we're "in Seattle?" It's repetitive to the point of condescension. I KNOW WE'RE IN THE NIGHTSIDE, SIMON GREEN! We've been here since Chapter Two!
John Taylor himself is one of the worst examples of telling-not-showing I've encountered. We know what kind of man he is, not because we spend time watching him in action and getting to know him as we go, but because he spends three pages listing everything about himself. "I sleep alone. I eat everything that's bad for me, and I take care of my own laundry. When I remember." FOR THREE PAGES.
The "romance" (which term I use with the utmost reluctance) comes completely out of left field between two characters who've barely interacted, but suddenly find themselves embracing passionately in the middle of the street. I'll buy passion born of adrenaline, sure, but you want me to believe he fell in love with this woman? Enough to mourn her? Like six hours after they met? Nah, bro.
Suffice it to say that I had issues with this book. HOWEVER, I've heard pretty much universally that the series gets better from here. I'm intrigued enough by the concept and John Taylor himself that I'll keep reading. But we are not off to a strong start, the Nightside and I.