Scan barcode
vlphildreth's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book I want on my shelf. I want it to get dusty. I want to pull it down on a rainy day, blow the dust off the cover, hear the spine creak when I open it. I'm a huge Mignola fan, so this book was very up my alley; however, I didn't initially like it. It seemed too apt and aware of what it was. I don't want to spoil anything, but I am glad I stuck with this book.
glimnore's review against another edition
4.0
First Day of Summer (Officially) and I finished a book. Now this is how to start a summer! :D
Disclaimer: PAUSE! No matter what I say in this review, please let it be known that I did like this book. I truly did, on a personal level. From a critics level...well let's see.
*Because this is an "illustrated novel" I'll be rating the illustrations as well.
REVIEW
Plot (3/5) - I'm not gonna lie, I felt a lot more could have happened with the plot in this novel. It spans a good 250+ pages, but at a glance, one could say that there were only a few long scenes held together; now in terms of a potential sequel, there isn't much material out there aside from, oh, aberrant entities from 'un-dimensional' space. I am not much of a Cthulu Mythos fan, but I will admit that the subject is interesting, however the book didn't seem to play as much on the interesting components as they did on the aberrant entities from 'un-dimensional' space concept. (Which only occurred in the last fifty or so pages...)Furthermore, I feel as if some people might try to stick this into the realm of steam-punk...but I feel that it is too dystopian for that.
Pacing (3/5) - Once again, a lot more could have been done in the pages that this novel had occurred in. A major gripe, but not so bad that the book itself became too difficult to follow.
Characters (3/5) - The main villain is a pscyho. I couldn't seem to feel the slightest bit of remorse for Felix Orlov. Church, the brilliant detective was just a plot device. Molly, the main female lead was a good character, but the sheer lack of development was dissapointing. Joe Golem however, the titular character of the book resonated incredibly well. That was until the later half of the book, which made me sad....
Prose (5/5) - Here is where the novel shines. The prose of a dystopian drowning New York is freaking beautiful. Clear, concise imagery is brought to life with a rich vocabulary. Flames burn brighter, scenes are painter with quality ink. Everything is described in wonderful detail, and it isn't a hazard to read about at all. The scenes, sometimes fast, were told efficiently and no words were lost in their communication. BRAVO for the prose!
World (5/5) - An extra star was added because of the prose. The world of the Drowning City is vastly entertaining and a curious collection of tales. I feel as if the lands created could potentially house much more mysteries and oddities that I would definitely want to read about.
Illustrations (3/5) - I wish they were in color and I wish they were a little bit more concise. The occasional image of Joe Golem was just epic though!
Totals:
3+3+3+3+5+5=22/6 = 3.67, which I will happily round to 4 stars.
Final Verdict: I will read the sequel. Just to know what happens to JOE!
Disclaimer: PAUSE! No matter what I say in this review, please let it be known that I did like this book. I truly did, on a personal level. From a critics level...well let's see.
*Because this is an "illustrated novel" I'll be rating the illustrations as well.
REVIEW
Plot (3/5) - I'm not gonna lie, I felt a lot more could have happened with the plot in this novel. It spans a good 250+ pages, but at a glance, one could say that there were only a few long scenes held together; now in terms of a potential sequel, there isn't much material out there aside from, oh, aberrant entities from 'un-dimensional' space. I am not much of a Cthulu Mythos fan, but I will admit that the subject is interesting, however the book didn't seem to play as much on the interesting components as they did on the aberrant entities from 'un-dimensional' space concept. (Which only occurred in the last fifty or so pages...)Furthermore, I feel as if some people might try to stick this into the realm of steam-punk...but I feel that it is too dystopian for that.
Pacing (3/5) - Once again, a lot more could have been done in the pages that this novel had occurred in. A major gripe, but not so bad that the book itself became too difficult to follow.
Characters (3/5) - The main villain is a pscyho. I couldn't seem to feel the slightest bit of remorse for Felix Orlov. Church, the brilliant detective was just a plot device. Molly, the main female lead was a good character, but the sheer lack of development was dissapointing. Joe Golem however, the titular character of the book resonated incredibly well. That was until the later half of the book, which made me sad....
Prose (5/5) - Here is where the novel shines. The prose of a dystopian drowning New York is freaking beautiful. Clear, concise imagery is brought to life with a rich vocabulary. Flames burn brighter, scenes are painter with quality ink. Everything is described in wonderful detail, and it isn't a hazard to read about at all. The scenes, sometimes fast, were told efficiently and no words were lost in their communication. BRAVO for the prose!
World (5/5) - An extra star was added because of the prose. The world of the Drowning City is vastly entertaining and a curious collection of tales. I feel as if the lands created could potentially house much more mysteries and oddities that I would definitely want to read about.
Illustrations (3/5) - I wish they were in color and I wish they were a little bit more concise. The occasional image of Joe Golem was just epic though!
Totals:
3+3+3+3+5+5=22/6 = 3.67, which I will happily round to 4 stars.
Final Verdict: I will read the sequel. Just to know what happens to JOE!
cseanread's review against another edition
2.0
I really want to give this more stars -- it's one part steampunk, two parts Lovecraft, with a healthy dash of squicky imagery.
But overall? I really wish I'd skipped this one. it just want worth the time I put into it.
But overall? I really wish I'd skipped this one. it just want worth the time I put into it.
kamikazefooby's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
snowbenton's review against another edition
5.0
I have such a weakness for Lovecraftian lore. This story is an adventure about a golem and a girl, but also a treatise on meaning; death; and large, interdimensional, tentacled monsters. It is also sparsely illustrated.
thehmkane's review against another edition
5.0
I want -- no, okay, I NEED -- Guillermo del Toro to make this movie. Sure, Joe Golem is the title character, but scrappy, smart 14-year-old Molly McHugh is the star of this show. Her life consists of men trying to manipulate her, trying to get what they want (and Molly has no illusions about some of the more sinister things they desire of her), but she consistently thwarts their plans and comes out on top. Molly McHugh is my hero. Confronted with Lovecraftian (Mignolian?) horrors, disasters both natural and unnatural, and a crappy social situation, Molly McHugh overcomes the odds and saves her best friend - the man who has come to act as her father figure - and the world.
Seriously, Guillermo. Make this movie. I wish I'd had this story, and this kickass role model, when I was a kid.
The rest of you - READ IT. Mignola's illustrations completely floor me. I mean literally. There was one point where the art was so perfect I actually had to lay on the floor for a little bit (book in hand, of course). Once I started, I could hardly put it down. Definitely recommended, to, like, everybody.
Seriously, Guillermo. Make this movie. I wish I'd had this story, and this kickass role model, when I was a kid.
The rest of you - READ IT. Mignola's illustrations completely floor me. I mean literally. There was one point where the art was so perfect I actually had to lay on the floor for a little bit (book in hand, of course). Once I started, I could hardly put it down. Definitely recommended, to, like, everybody.
spmcleroy's review against another edition
4.0
great book, a little slow in the beginning, but the ending was nice.
antlersantlers's review against another edition
1.0
It makes me so sad how awful this book is. It's rotten. I love Mike Mignola so much (SO MUCH!) but this was total garbage. The prose was so insanely stilted, and it seemed like they just threw words together. Yikes. It bums me out so hard that this book was such a tremendous disappointment.