reading_rainbow_with_chris's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
“The Blade Between” by Sam J. Miller
Ronan returns to Hudson, the city of his childhood…and of his nightmares. While Ronan is unhappy to be back, he is drawn there by mysterious forces and the gentrification of the city he does and does not remember. In the process of reconnecting with old friends (and enemies), Ronan uncovers something about the city that, much like gentrification, can never fully be taken back. I have adored Miller’s writing since I first read “The Art of Starving” about five years ago. Talking with a friend recently, I finally was able to pin down why. One thing I find Miller does masterfully is make relationships crackle with electricity. They always feel alive to me, and the relationship between agents in the text then infects the mood of the scene palpably. This book is no exception. Despite the inherent unlikeability of some (maybe many) of these characters, Miller’s dialogue and descriptive character nonverbals charge the book with something undeniable, creating a chemistry that keeps me invested in what happens next for these characters. Likewise, the mood of this book is exceptional, never so dark it drags but never light enough that we forget the all-to-real core of the narrative. My one wish for this particular Miller novel, however, was that I left better understanding the rules of the world. By the end of the book, I think I had a general understanding but I found myself with lingering questions about some of the unseen forces at play (which I will not describe for fear of spoilers). But I don’t think that could be done in the novel here, which felt tight and appropriately scoped as was. It’s almost like…I needed a prequel, a historical retrospective of Hudson where we see the rules of this town building upon itself over the decades/centuries. If Miller ever writes this prequel, I will be among the first to order! All in all, this is another excellent addition to Sam J. Miller’s already wonderful collection of writing, even if I found myself still missing some pieces of understanding. Definitely a recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Dementia, Suicide, Gore, Death, Violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Gun violence
parasolcrafter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
pain. pain and agony and suffering
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Rape, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Alcohol, Bullying, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Kidnapping
amandalynnnb's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I requested The Blade Between because a friend of mine was absolutely raving about it. I’m glad that I requested it because I flew through this book. I don’t know that I would say I enjoyed it, but it was definitely and experience.
So, I want to mention first that the writing was incredible. There were so many great lines and fantastic description in this book. I cannot say enough good things about Miller’s writing. He managed to make it a creepy and atmospheric story, but also convincing us to love these very flawed characters. I think there were some really interesting topics covered in a thoughtful way. This story follows Ronan as he returns to his home town of Hudson, a place he has no fond memories of. But his father is dying and it’s time he finally returns. But things escalate and suddenly he’s fighting against the gentrification of a town he grew up hating. I really liked this aspect of the story. Ronan has so many mixed feelings about his hometown, but he still does his damnedest to save it. I also loved all of the antics that Ronan and his friends participate in to ‘save’ the town. I think there were definitely some moments that were a bit extreme, but the author did a really good job showing character motivations that were almost understandable. It wasn’t hard to sympathize with these characters.
I also think the author did a really great job of creating different and interesting characters. Even though the story sort of jumped around with who it was following, I had no issues distinguishing between any of them. They were all unique and interesting. Now, the plot was fascinating. I loved the fantasy elements that were included in the story. The bits about the whales was absolutely creepy, but only got creepier with the inclusion of the ghosts that play a role in the story.
Overall, I think this was an horrifying and excellent story. I will absolutely be reading more books by this author. Miller’s writing was exceptional and memorable. I think the characters were easy to love, even when they were doing shitty things. I just couldn’t put this book down. I highly recommend this one for fans of horror or darker fantasy books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence
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