k_kthedeathknight13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
cuddlesome's review against another edition
5.0
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this. I've always thought that the video game that this is based on had a really fun premise (cartoon studio with an ink monster in it and heavy Disney influence?! YES) but a shaky execution when it came to the gameplay and some of the story elements. You can all but feel the frustration bleeding off of people who play the game because they really want to know what happens but they don't want to have to endure the game's backtracking fetch quests and glitchy boss fights. I can't speak for the sequels, but the original BatIM seems like it has a lot of ambition that it struggles to match technically.
This book, obviously, was freed from the need to have video game elements in it and I thought that very much worked to the story's benefit. I enjoyed getting to know the narrator, Buddy, who feels like a realistic teen who's just trying his best and has understandable motivations. Even when he's doing the wrong thing you feel for him. I enjoyed all of the side characters, especially Dot and Buddy's grandfather. I even liked the anger-inducingly smug Joey Drew. You just love to hate him and how he takes advantage of people. The studio itself feels like a character, and settings aren't always something that stand out to me so I found that particularly impressive.
I felt a little surprised at how the story addressed the American cultural attitudes that were very distinctly 1940s in terms of discrimination against women, Jewish people, and the lower class. I don't know, I guess I just wasn't expecting it after the source material didn't make much mention of it. There are also brief, nondescript mentions of World War II and the Holocaust. I wonder how realistic it is that women would maintain their positions in an animation studio like this post-war when someone like Drew (who is out and out sexist multiple times) is in charge. I have to admit I don't know enough about the time period and specifically about animation studios to say, but it does make me want to know more about the history behind this story.
There were a few logic flaws but honestly they feel like nitpicking (Buddy's poor family makes no mention of the expensive suit that Drew gets him?) and the only other real complaint that I have is that the monster didn't appear more, but I can't say where they could have had him appear more than wouldn't have felt shoehorned.
I'd say this is perfect for teens who are a fan of the game who are okay with softcore horror; I don't know that it can be fully enjoyed without context but I think in a lot of ways it stands on its own. It's a slow build without a ton of payoff in terms of an "ending" but if it were to go on any longer it would just be rehashing the game, so it felt appropriate for it to end where it did.
This book, obviously, was freed from the need to have video game elements in it and I thought that very much worked to the story's benefit. I enjoyed getting to know the narrator, Buddy, who feels like a realistic teen who's just trying his best and has understandable motivations. Even when he's doing the wrong thing you feel for him. I enjoyed all of the side characters, especially Dot and Buddy's grandfather. I even liked the anger-inducingly smug Joey Drew. You just love to hate him and how he takes advantage of people. The studio itself feels like a character, and settings aren't always something that stand out to me so I found that particularly impressive.
I felt a little surprised at how the story addressed the American cultural attitudes that were very distinctly 1940s in terms of discrimination against women, Jewish people, and the lower class. I don't know, I guess I just wasn't expecting it after the source material didn't make much mention of it. There are also brief, nondescript mentions of World War II and the Holocaust. I wonder how realistic it is that women would maintain their positions in an animation studio like this post-war when someone like Drew (who is out and out sexist multiple times) is in charge. I have to admit I don't know enough about the time period and specifically about animation studios to say, but it does make me want to know more about the history behind this story.
There were a few logic flaws but honestly they feel like nitpicking (Buddy's poor family makes no mention of the expensive suit that Drew gets him?) and the only other real complaint that I have is that the monster didn't appear more, but I can't say where they could have had him appear more than wouldn't have felt shoehorned.
I'd say this is perfect for teens who are a fan of the game who are okay with softcore horror; I don't know that it can be fully enjoyed without context but I think in a lot of ways it stands on its own. It's a slow build without a ton of payoff in terms of an "ending" but if it were to go on any longer it would just be rehashing the game, so it felt appropriate for it to end where it did.
claresbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
4 out of 5 stars.
So, the concepts of the game have always made me a little uneasy. Body horror always does. But in game form, it's easy to disassociate from it.
This book, however, really sets you into the mind of this poor boy who has the worst imaginable fate and though the writing isn't the strongest (most likely because of the characteristics of Buddy) the overall story gives a really cool insight into the earlier parts of the Bendy story.
So, the concepts of the game have always made me a little uneasy. Body horror always does. But in game form, it's easy to disassociate from it.
This book, however, really sets you into the mind of this poor boy who has the worst imaginable fate and though the writing isn't the strongest (most likely because of the characteristics of Buddy) the overall story gives a really cool insight into the earlier parts of the Bendy story.
abortress's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
zoth's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
krazykentreader's review against another edition
5.0
The best thing to read for Halloween and the best companion to the world of Bendy!
BEWARE THE INK DEMON!!
BEWARE THE INK DEMON!!
incrediblemre1447's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
carrimeraviridae's review against another edition
3.0
This novel managed to capture the spooky and eerie vibe that the game has. It's fun to witness the story in another's shoes. Seeing the familiar characters interact here before everything got inked is exciting too (Shoutout to my boy, Sammy Lawrence!). Got a little bored at the start because it took a little while to get to the inky part but I know that something is coming and that's what's made me read the entirety of the book. Dreams really do come to life, don't they? :D
Rating: 3.5/5 - Good
Rating: 3.5/5 - Good