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beansreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
meganemarshall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Scooby Doo meets HP Lovecraft. Sounds like it would be amazing. The story and the plot were both great! I liked the characters. I like their development throughout the book. I liked all the twists and turns the story took.
However, the writing style was just not for me.
It would move from normal narration into lines like from a play, even parts that had stage direction. At times, the humor didn't work for me. I would describe the writing style as quirky. Sometimes, that would lend itself to the story, but other times, it was just distracting. I switched to the audiobook, which worked better for this narration.
However, the writing style was just not for me.
It would move from normal narration into lines like from a play, even parts that had stage direction. At times, the humor didn't work for me. I would describe the writing style as quirky. Sometimes, that would lend itself to the story, but other times, it was just distracting. I switched to the audiobook, which worked better for this narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Violence
Moderate: Suicide
maryconney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Suicide, and Alcohol
mainereading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am obsessed with Scooby Doo. I grew up watching it since I was a baby and I even named my dog Scrappy after the character from the series. I was really looking forward to reading this book, and it didn't disappoint. I loved it. It was spooky, funny, and it had many Scooby Doo references! Not everyone will enjoy this story or the writing style the author used, but I liked it. I do have some questions and complaints, but overall it was an enjoyable read, and it has become one of my favorite books! Also, this gave me Scooby Doo on Zombie Island and Scooby Doo and the Witches Ghost vibes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
shaunashares's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
Minor: Alcoholism
monarchbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I don't know what I was expecting going into this book but it was not what I got. Every page shocked me. A bit wordy and heavy on metaphors. Unexpected queer rep.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Minor: Deadnaming
sn8man's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Mental illness and Sexual content
thelittleone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.25
Very talented writer, and a great riff on Scooby Doo and Lovecraft with a few unique spins. I probably would have rated this higher if it weren’t for one thing: I cannot stand Andy.
As a take on Scooby Doo, most of the cast stays true to character as darker, more realistic versions of themselves haunted by a harrowing investigation in their teen years. However, the author combines Daphne and Velma into one character, named Kerri, and introduce Andy in Velma’s place.
Andy is introduced in a scenefighting off multiple grown men twice her size in a bar fight with ease. She’s capable of about doing anything to save the day, as she “learned to fight” when training in the military for a year (which she ran away from). Also, she broke out of prison.
Look, I get the book is about Lovecraftian horrors and that requires me to suspend my disbelief a bit, but this gets into the territory of “look at my super cool original character” aka Mary Sue.
Also, there’s a coming of age story here about Andy, who is a non-binary lesbian, falling in lovewith her childhood best friend, Kerri. I am absolutely here for it, and at a high level I love it. There’s moments where it feels like a really candid take on the confusion about navigating the unknown between two young women who care immensely about each other. But, other times it absolutely gives “man writes lesbians” vibes.
When Andy confesses her feelings to Kerri, she tells her that she’s been “fantasizing” about her since she was 13 years old. If a man confessed his feelings to his childhood best friend and said he’s been “fantasizing” about her since he was 13 years old, she would probably be terrified and grossed out. But a woman says it and it’s okay? There’s also a scene where Andy forces a celebratory kiss onto Kerri when Kerri has already told Andy that she doesn’t like women and it just feels like a violation of Kerri’s autonomy.
Also, there’s a graphic scene early on in the bookwhere Kerri has a nightmare about being violently molested. It feels really out of place from the rest of the book, and I just can’t help but think that a woman author would never include a scene like that in a book so why does a male author feel the need to do it?
As a take on Scooby Doo, most of the cast stays true to character as darker, more realistic versions of themselves haunted by a harrowing investigation in their teen years. However, the author combines Daphne and Velma into one character, named Kerri, and introduce Andy in Velma’s place.
Andy is introduced in a scene
Look, I get the book is about Lovecraftian horrors and that requires me to suspend my disbelief a bit, but this gets into the territory of “look at my super cool original character” aka Mary Sue.
Also, there’s a coming of age story here about Andy, who is a non-binary lesbian, falling in love
Also, there’s a graphic scene early on in the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, and Blood
erinreadstoomuch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Everything I wanted and didn’t know I wanted from “the gang” in a more realistic setting (kind of but not really?) seeing a diverse set of characters with real life problems, genuine hijinks, this was a fuckin delight to read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Gun violence and Suicide
tarsharks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Scooby Doo x Lovecraft was an interesting premise that I have not seen before. The first part of the book was a little slow and hard to get into but once all the action started I couldn't put the book down! A big complaint I have is the random format switching. Even in the middle of a conversation it will go from script style to tradtional novel and I found it to be very jarring. Overall I thought the book was ok and felt like he could have done more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse