The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
curtisb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-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? Yes
3.0
raven419's review against another edition
Had a few interesting pieces but was not interesting enough overall to slog through the rest
domproc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.25
theresajf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
badoerr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
monstermomma5's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mokey4's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book about 10 years ago. I went through a Clive Barker phase right around when I graduated college, and I think I read at least 3 of his books. This is the only one I am certain that I read, I can't remember the other ones. I keep meaning to get into Clive Barker again.
kiteabooks's review against another edition
4.0
Clive Barker is a great story teller, this book blew my mind right open. The mixture between fantasy, horror, and reality is so thrilling that you can't stop reading this book. He tetter-totters on the borderline of insanely creepy and genius, his work isn't for the faint of heart if you love horror and want to try a different take on a normal reality twisted with a hidden world that is full of mystery, corruption, and a search that can make anyone go a little mad. This is a great story for such a adventure. It hits the mark of always be careful what you wish for.
jedbird's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The only other Barker I've read is WEAVEWORLD, which I read back in 1987 and found thoroughly enthralling. I reread that book a few years back and was disturbed by the racism that pervades the fantasy that I (a white person) didn't pick up on back in the day, and that did affect my enjoyment of a truly creative horror classic.
This book is neither as creative nor as fantastical as that earlier book. Rather than racism, it has baffling sizeism - a teenage girl who is a mere 20 lb heavier than her teenage friends is described as blobby and fat and ponderous over and over again, suggesting that Mr. Barker has no real sense of what 20 lb looks like, but knows he hates the idea of it. Anyway, that seemed weird.
Two enemies locked in an eternal battle are horrified when their offspring fall in love. The secrets beyond the secrets are being exposed and an unthinkable enemy approaches on a tide of dreams. It's all dramatic but I found it lacked inspiration and I didn't care about any of the characters except maybe poor Raul, who was blameless in all of this.Â
There's another book, which I feel sort of obligated to read, but maybe I won't be in a hurry to do that.
This book is neither as creative nor as fantastical as that earlier book. Rather than racism, it has baffling sizeism - a teenage girl who is a mere 20 lb heavier than her teenage friends is described as blobby and fat and ponderous over and over again, suggesting that Mr. Barker has no real sense of what 20 lb looks like, but knows he hates the idea of it. Anyway, that seemed weird.
Two enemies locked in an eternal battle are horrified when their offspring fall in love. The secrets beyond the secrets are being exposed and an unthinkable enemy approaches on a tide of dreams. It's all dramatic but I found it lacked inspiration and I didn't care about any of the characters except maybe poor Raul, who was blameless in all of this.Â
There's another book, which I feel sort of obligated to read, but maybe I won't be in a hurry to do that.