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cyndi1966's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I didn't really like it.
The premise of finding a door to another world isnt an original concept, but it's a great concept because the possibilities are endless. Maybe that's why I'm so disappointed.
Stephen king tends to write books with settings so rich they almost feel like characters themselves but I didn't feel that way in this book. It wasn't as immersive as I'd hoped.
The pacing of this story was off and it felt bloated. We don't find out about the fantasy world until we are basically a third into the book. i actually enjoyed the beginning act because there was a lot of mystery and anticipation and the relationship between charlie and Howard was wholesome, but it could have been shaved down. A lot of it wasn't necessary. Same with the events that follow Charlie's encounter with the night soldiers - it just felt so long and lackluster. This book felt like 3 different stories squished into one.
The tone of the story was off for me. It's fantasy but I wish it had more horror elements. Charlie finds himself in dire situations but I never felt like he was in true danger. There was very little fear. Part of this might be because he is telling the story in past tense. So we know he is going to be okay or else he wouldn't be telling us the story. There was a few times when I wish the fantasy world was scarier, kind of like the world in From The Light of His Lantern by Abe Moss. There were also a few times when I thought this story would be excellent if Adam Nevill wrote it and made it spooky!
The general plotline was kind of ridiculous. No 17 year old would put himself in danger for the reason charlie goes to the fantasy world in the first place.
I did really like Charlie as a character. I enjoyed that he wasn't totally pure and good. He was capable of violence but trying to do the right thing. Not everything was super easy for him and he had to be witty. This also felt like a coming of age story as well where Charlie has to sacrifice and grow. His character development was good.
The climax was basically non-existent. The ending felt too easy. I was excited for the book to be over. There was bits of political commentary scattered throughout the book which I especially didn't like because it was totally unnecessary.
The narrator of the audiobook did a great job.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Self harm, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest and War
angela_iseli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Slavery, Car accident, and Death of parent
theremightbecupcakes's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
It’s also a treatise on how we change everyone we meet, for better for worse. The choice of how is ours.
You’ll be wondering (and if you’re like me, worrying) does the dog die? Click here if it’s bothering you:
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Slavery, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Hate crime, Torture, and Cannibalism
immovabletype's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and Sexual content
tguccione's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer
mgraceoliver's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Slavery and Torture
kyrstin_p1989's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Rape, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
kelisabeth's review
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
naomi_k's review
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Terminal illness, Torture, Vomit, and Medical content
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Slavery, and Cannibalism