Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Short Stay In Hell by Steven L. Peck

44 reviews

carrie_96's review against another edition

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dark reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It’s only a short story so it’s not packed full of action. It’s a little repetitive and moves on fairly quickly so you only meet side characters for a short time. 

It has its dark moments, as you’d expect from a book about hell, but also a few moments that made me laugh or at least contemplate. 

Overall, there’s no real resolution, which can be frustrating, but also is in tune with the rest of the story. Not a bad read, not the best, but it’s only a quick one anyway and can make you think. 
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quipo's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

very cool good rainy day read
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taylorlanxon's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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bmpicc's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I learned what zoroastrianism is, props to Peck for using the word rapscallion, a unique idea that I had definitely not read before.

I might even keep my kindle on airplane mode to give my guy a chance to read this one. Scandalous! 
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avalon's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Holy hell. That's the only thing I can say to describe it.

The only negative thing I can say is that the ending felt a bit anticlimactic, like it was waiting to get the main character back to Rachel or find some sort of hope in that miserable place. But I'm certain that was the author's intention - I mean, there is no hope in Hell, is there?

This book was definitely one of my favorite reads, it was very thought provoking and beautifully written.
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vouija's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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jess_orjess's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

This book was a quick, yet absurd and rather existential read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the light criticism it had in religion, eternity, the end. The demon Interview was light hearted and funny, followed by a horrifying sense of longevity. You hope and hope that a good conclusion will come of it, but none does. 

The prose was interesting and, at some times, beautiful. The description of societies and behaviours in the library over the years was intriguing. It hardly felt like a hundred pages.
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anemosise's review against another edition

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dark reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

really great! i do wish it was actually a decent amount longer, with more explorations of its characters and etc, but a lovely novella and a fascinating thought experiment. it's very "i have no mouth and i must scream" and i love that for it... very good :) some of the writing at the beginning about the demons was a bit corny imo but I got over it very quickly. also I was
very sad about rachel. as a fellow falafel loving vegetarian, my heart hurts.

eternity is the true "hell" and whether it's called heaven or hell frankly doesn't matter. man. loved this.
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lecheeese's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Thoughtful read! It can sway into stream of consciousness at times which was surprisingly a delight.

Anticipation is a gift. Perhaps there is none greater. Anticipation is born of hope. Indeed it is hope's finest expression. In hope's loss, however, is the greatest despair.
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callmeplushies's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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