armchair_vibes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
spook_29's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
rosekk's review against another edition
3.0
It was a weird way to end the series, because the feel of the book was entirely different from the first two. In the first two the rats were the central focus of the book, and provided all the horror. In this the nuclear devastation and everything it brought with it overshadowed the rats a little. The main characters were still fairly interesting, although Kate's nature wasn't very clear to me. It was an interesting take on an apocalyptic setting, but I didn't feel like it concluded much about the over all story. We still don't really know what the whole deal with the rats is - why the brains? Why the white mutants? It's not even clear of there's always only ever 1 main white rat, or if there are many. All the knowledge about the rates, developed over the first two books, never really comes to anything. It was still an enjoyable read though - as a stand-alone book I'd have given it 4 stars, but I docked a star for its place in the series.
itcamefromthepage's review against another edition
4.0
James Herbert bring the Rats saga to its end with a BANG...quite literally as this post apocalyptic animal attack book begins with the bombs falling on London.
The bulk of this book is some of the best work in the trilogy, unfortunately the ending gets a little repetitive. At least in Lair the ending had an interesting twist, Domain essentially just recreates the bulk of the ending of the original with a single (and unendingly ridiculous even for a book about giant rats) twist.
The post apocalypse section is truly chef's kiss and I would have loved to read James Herbert expand upon this topic even more.
Herbert almost goes the entire book without being cringe but rest assured he gets some racism in there near the midpoint.
All of this makes this one a bit under Lair which from my recollection dated fairly well.
The bulk of this book is some of the best work in the trilogy, unfortunately the ending gets a little repetitive. At least in Lair the ending had an interesting twist, Domain essentially just recreates the bulk of the ending of the original with a single (and unendingly ridiculous even for a book about giant rats) twist.
The post apocalypse section is truly chef's kiss and I would have loved to read James Herbert expand upon this topic even more.
Herbert almost goes the entire book without being cringe but rest assured he gets some racism in there near the midpoint.
All of this makes this one a bit under Lair which from my recollection dated fairly well.
megapixelmoon's review against another edition
3.0
I have wanted to read The Rats Trilogy for years and when I finally had the opportunity I was not disappointed. It isn't the best horror series but it is a captivating read.
In my opinion the first and second books are the best. The rats in Domain however felt like they were out of place to me. The nuculer holocaust was very well described and I enjoyed reading it, but I can't help but think this would have been better for a separate book, the addition of rats just seemed a bit unessesery to me.
I would have preferred a book which concludes the story, either with humans completely loosing or the rats finally being destroyed for good.
In my opinion the first and second books are the best. The rats in Domain however felt like they were out of place to me. The nuculer holocaust was very well described and I enjoyed reading it, but I can't help but think this would have been better for a separate book, the addition of rats just seemed a bit unessesery to me.
I would have preferred a book which concludes the story, either with humans completely loosing or the rats finally being destroyed for good.
darkstar69's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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? No
5.0
fullwom777's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
bundy23's review against another edition
4.0
The book opens at the start of a nuclear attack on London and just gets darker and darker and, somehow, darker still...
Strangely I found this to be both the best of the series and also the least entertaining... The plot's actually really good, the writing is on point, it's just that it's so much more serious than [b: The Rats|397867|The Rats (Rats, #1)|James Herbert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356454885l/397867._SY75_.jpg|2452726] and [b: Lair|397872|Lair (Rats, #2)|James Herbert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348473330l/397872._SY75_.jpg|1422642] which is what lessened the enjoyment factor a little for me. There's still some pretty funny stuff in here though, the dude trapped in his bunker with the neighbours cat is a particular high-point, it's just that after that it all gets very grim...
The one thing I couldn't stop thinking when I was deep into the second half was, "I reckon this would make a great premium TV series if someone threw a heap of cash at it and did it properly."
Strangely I found this to be both the best of the series and also the least entertaining... The plot's actually really good, the writing is on point, it's just that it's so much more serious than [b: The Rats|397867|The Rats (Rats, #1)|James Herbert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356454885l/397867._SY75_.jpg|2452726] and [b: Lair|397872|Lair (Rats, #2)|James Herbert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348473330l/397872._SY75_.jpg|1422642] which is what lessened the enjoyment factor a little for me. There's still some pretty funny stuff in here though, the dude trapped in his bunker with the neighbours cat is a particular high-point, it's just that after that it all gets very grim...
The one thing I couldn't stop thinking when I was deep into the second half was, "I reckon this would make a great premium TV series if someone threw a heap of cash at it and did it properly."
aoutramafalda's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mariafleissig's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe the most horrifying book, I’ve ever read. For me, it reminds of The Walking Dead kind of feel, just with giant mutant rats instead of zombies. Yikes! However, a good story line and hard to put down.