scarletcorset's review against another edition
4.0
**4 STARS**
I really liked this one! I wasn't expected the paranormal aspect when I first started it, but that's actually the reason I ended up enjoying it so much. This book took a rather cliche mystery plot, and turned it into something so refreshingly unique and alluring. When the big question in this book was finally answered, it was so eerie, and pretty frightening to be honest. This is a great read if you're looking for a short, yet suspenseful mystery!
I really liked this one! I wasn't expected the paranormal aspect when I first started it, but that's actually the reason I ended up enjoying it so much. This book took a rather cliche mystery plot, and turned it into something so refreshingly unique and alluring. When the big question in this book was finally answered, it was so eerie, and pretty frightening to be honest. This is a great read if you're looking for a short, yet suspenseful mystery!
jlove731's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy! But, oh so good. And the cover, goes so perfectly with the story.
Cryer's Cross starts off when Tiffany Quinn goes missing in Kendall's small town of only 212 people. It nerves the citizens because Cryers Cross is peaceful and Tiffany is never found. Life goes on, and things go back to normal, but then Kendall's boyfriendish (yes, I say ish for a reason), Nico, goes missing as well. Kendall and her OCD are in terrible form... she's heartbroken over Nico. She starts to distract herself with soccer and hanging out with the new kids in town: Jacian and Marlena. Kendall still can't shake the feeling that there's a connection between Nico and Tiffany's disappearances, so when she starts to hear strange voices, that seem to be Nico's, well she would do anything to save him.
This book was creepy yes, and that seems to be all that people see, but I don't. I don't think it was as creepy as everyone is making it out to be. It's defiantly strange, but there's more of a story here... there's learning how to cope with illnesses like OCD, learning how to move on and not give up, learning that you will always need good friends, and well of course there's romance.
I really liked Kendall and Jacian, they certainly helped each other change for the better. "I'm feeling an urge to smack you again" (Hehe<3). Marlena was a doll, she was like a pet, someone who loves you unconditionally no matter what.
I thought Cryer's Cross was a good story. I read it in one sitting, it just kept pulling me in and I had to know what happened next. This one is defiantly worth a buy... comes out Feb 8th! :)
Cryer's Cross starts off when Tiffany Quinn goes missing in Kendall's small town of only 212 people. It nerves the citizens because Cryers Cross is peaceful and Tiffany is never found. Life goes on, and things go back to normal, but then Kendall's boyfriendish (yes, I say ish for a reason), Nico, goes missing as well. Kendall and her OCD are in terrible form... she's heartbroken over Nico. She starts to distract herself with soccer and hanging out with the new kids in town: Jacian and Marlena. Kendall still can't shake the feeling that there's a connection between Nico and Tiffany's disappearances, so when she starts to hear strange voices, that seem to be Nico's, well she would do anything to save him.
This book was creepy yes, and that seems to be all that people see, but I don't. I don't think it was as creepy as everyone is making it out to be. It's defiantly strange, but there's more of a story here... there's learning how to cope with illnesses like OCD, learning how to move on and not give up, learning that you will always need good friends, and well of course there's romance.
I really liked Kendall and Jacian, they certainly helped each other change for the better. "I'm feeling an urge to smack you again" (Hehe<3). Marlena was a doll, she was like a pet, someone who loves you unconditionally no matter what.
I thought Cryer's Cross was a good story. I read it in one sitting, it just kept pulling me in and I had to know what happened next. This one is defiantly worth a buy... comes out Feb 8th! :)
agirlsnightbookbash's review against another edition
4.0
I say 3 and a half stars. The WE thing was super confusing and a little disorienting too. But all in all a good read.
megare's review against another edition
2.0
How in the world does this book have such a high rating???
Well, I will clearly be in the minority then.
I picked this book up from a skip that stood on the pavement near my house. I absolutely hate it when people just throw books away, so I thought I would save this one.
Might have been a mistake.
The story follows a young girl, Kendall, whose classmates start disappearing. Whilst worrying about them and trying to find out what happened, she is fighting her own demons – she suffers from OCD and she is also getting increasingly influenced by the “villain” of the story. To complicate matters, there is also a new love interest in town.
Now, the premise did sound really interesting. There was potential. Unfortunately, it was completely wasted. The only reason why I have given it 2 stars and not 1, is because the protagonist is actually quite likeable and relatable – so the book does evoke some positive feelings in the reader.
However, this is the only positive in this whole novel. Let me make a list of the things that were not so good, starting from the mild ones, and ending with the most serious one:
1. Third person present tense narration. WHY???
I consider present tense such a cheap shot on the part of the thriller writers. It feels like they are trying to force the suspense on me and also trying to force this sense of rushing through the action. I always feel like I am chasing sentences, instead of savouring them. A good thriller does not need this, there are so many other ways to evoke suspense and introduce actual thrills.
2. The “villain” / evil object. It is the most ridiculous thing ever. If you would like a spoiler, here is:
3. The romance. I read the blurb and I went “Ooh, a thriller, sounds really good, I might enjoy this.” And then, about 60% of the story is a budding romance. Not what I signed up for!
4. The tropest of the tropes – the love interest is a stand-offish jerk who then turns out not to be a jerk. Really? Star Wars has done it already, and has done it much better (not to mention the countless books and other movies that have done it, as well). Can we please not have the watered-down, school-jock versions of Han Solo in our thrillers?
5. The worst one: presenting a mental disorder as beneficial.
This is difficult to discuss without spoiling, but I am going to try. At one point of the story, OCD is a factor that somehow (not quite sure how, it is a mystery) becomes a savior. Kendall says she is never going to complain about it again.
Excuse me?
I now suffer from a mild form of OCD. It used to be much worse. Let me give you one example: I would come back up the stairs to a 2nd-floor flat after leaving the building, sometimes 5, 7, 8 times, because I had to check over and over again if I had locked the door, turned the cooker off, closed the windows, not left the iron on. I would cry with frustration, I would know I would be late, and yet I would still do it, nonetheless. This is just one example.
I am much better these days, but I feel flabbergasted that anyone could present this as beneficial in any way, shape or form. I just find it completely unrealistic. And that statement of Kendall’s where she is never going to “complain about it again” seems to be both trivialising and at the same time glorifying a disorder that can be an absolute nightmare for the affected. It made it sound like OCD was an issue on par with a runny nose that somehow helps fight villains (I don’t know how. Incapacitates villains by shooting boogers at them? Your suggestions are welcome.)
All in all, I am very underwhelmed. I wish more time was spent on discovering the secrets of the town’s inhabitants, as this could have been much, much more interesting, especially coupled with all the difficulties a sleuth suffering from OCD might encounter. It could have gone in a much fresher, livelier direction.
This book left me feeling like it needed re-writing.
Well, I will clearly be in the minority then.
I picked this book up from a skip that stood on the pavement near my house. I absolutely hate it when people just throw books away, so I thought I would save this one.
Might have been a mistake.
The story follows a young girl, Kendall, whose classmates start disappearing. Whilst worrying about them and trying to find out what happened, she is fighting her own demons – she suffers from OCD and she is also getting increasingly influenced by the “villain” of the story. To complicate matters, there is also a new love interest in town.
Now, the premise did sound really interesting. There was potential. Unfortunately, it was completely wasted. The only reason why I have given it 2 stars and not 1, is because the protagonist is actually quite likeable and relatable – so the book does evoke some positive feelings in the reader.
However, this is the only positive in this whole novel. Let me make a list of the things that were not so good, starting from the mild ones, and ending with the most serious one:
1. Third person present tense narration. WHY???
I consider present tense such a cheap shot on the part of the thriller writers. It feels like they are trying to force the suspense on me and also trying to force this sense of rushing through the action. I always feel like I am chasing sentences, instead of savouring them. A good thriller does not need this, there are so many other ways to evoke suspense and introduce actual thrills.
2. The “villain” / evil object. It is the most ridiculous thing ever. If you would like a spoiler, here is:
Spoiler
An evil school desk. What.3. The romance. I read the blurb and I went “Ooh, a thriller, sounds really good, I might enjoy this.” And then, about 60% of the story is a budding romance. Not what I signed up for!
4. The tropest of the tropes – the love interest is a stand-offish jerk who then turns out not to be a jerk. Really? Star Wars has done it already, and has done it much better (not to mention the countless books and other movies that have done it, as well). Can we please not have the watered-down, school-jock versions of Han Solo in our thrillers?
5. The worst one: presenting a mental disorder as beneficial.
This is difficult to discuss without spoiling, but I am going to try. At one point of the story, OCD is a factor that somehow (not quite sure how, it is a mystery) becomes a savior. Kendall says she is never going to complain about it again.
Excuse me?
I now suffer from a mild form of OCD. It used to be much worse. Let me give you one example: I would come back up the stairs to a 2nd-floor flat after leaving the building, sometimes 5, 7, 8 times, because I had to check over and over again if I had locked the door, turned the cooker off, closed the windows, not left the iron on. I would cry with frustration, I would know I would be late, and yet I would still do it, nonetheless. This is just one example.
I am much better these days, but I feel flabbergasted that anyone could present this as beneficial in any way, shape or form. I just find it completely unrealistic. And that statement of Kendall’s where she is never going to “complain about it again” seems to be both trivialising and at the same time glorifying a disorder that can be an absolute nightmare for the affected. It made it sound like OCD was an issue on par with a runny nose that somehow helps fight villains (I don’t know how. Incapacitates villains by shooting boogers at them? Your suggestions are welcome.)
All in all, I am very underwhelmed. I wish more time was spent on discovering the secrets of the town’s inhabitants, as this could have been much, much more interesting, especially coupled with all the difficulties a sleuth suffering from OCD might encounter. It could have gone in a much fresher, livelier direction.
This book left me feeling like it needed re-writing.
beautifully_broken's review against another edition
5.0
A hauntingly beautiful story.
Kendall's perfect life is rocked by an unimaginable tragedy that sends her and the town of Cryer's Cross into terror. Missing class mates, a lost love and unexplained voices twist Kendall's life until its unrecognizable, leading her down a disturbing and dark road. What Kendall learns unveils a secret long buried, that refuses to stay hidden any longer.
This is a love story darkened by an evil past that wants to come to light.
Kendall's perfect life is rocked by an unimaginable tragedy that sends her and the town of Cryer's Cross into terror. Missing class mates, a lost love and unexplained voices twist Kendall's life until its unrecognizable, leading her down a disturbing and dark road. What Kendall learns unveils a secret long buried, that refuses to stay hidden any longer.
This is a love story darkened by an evil past that wants to come to light.
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
I feel mean giving this book a low rating because I really am a fan of Lisa McMann's simple but beautiful prose and speculative storytelling. There was just something missing here for me with this one. I was engaged, but never fully and completely, and the mystery was a little underwhelming (even predictable).
One of the novel's strengths is Kendall, a sweet girl who suffers from OCD. That aspect of the story was pretty interesting, but it isn't enough to carry the whole novel (even one as short as this one). The door has been left open to turn this into a series, but I really hope McMann restrains herself from being tempted to do so. If you are going to read McMann, I would highly recommend that you start with [b:Wake|1661957|Wake (Dream Catcher, #1)|Lisa McMann|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293806190s/1661957.jpg|1656772], and skip Cryer's Cross altogether.
One of the novel's strengths is Kendall, a sweet girl who suffers from OCD. That aspect of the story was pretty interesting, but it isn't enough to carry the whole novel (even one as short as this one). The door has been left open to turn this into a series, but I really hope McMann restrains herself from being tempted to do so. If you are going to read McMann, I would highly recommend that you start with [b:Wake|1661957|Wake (Dream Catcher, #1)|Lisa McMann|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293806190s/1661957.jpg|1656772], and skip Cryer's Cross altogether.
abenajanet's review against another edition
3.0
Talk about creepiness. Mad intense mojo of spookiliciousness that will having u sayin OMFG.
the_lady_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This book is haunting in the creepiest way. I literally had chills through most of the book. It's not a novel I will forget very soon. It may be short, but it definitely wasn't lacking. It was the perfect length for this story. Lisa McMann's writing always sucks me in. Her style is just so easy to fall into and it keeps you reading from beginning to end.
nansybooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75