zombxing's review against another edition
700 page book to explain your belief system.
tashmoustache_'s review against another edition
2.0
The final battle dragged on for way too long, with too many nonsensical twists and turns. All in all, this book could have been much shorter.
furstole's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing read! His love of Stephen King shines through this novel, I almost felt like I was reading King myself.
pagesofpins's review against another edition
2.0
I was more invested in the characters of this book that I usually am in a horror novel, and really enjoyed it until I hit the middle and realized that about two hundred pages should have been cut. Repeatedly there is a whole scene where a couple of lines could do, and the atmosphere is unmistakably the 70's or 80's rather than modern day (there are even still missing children on milk cartons). I think the book tried to shed a Stephen King vibe that it should have just embraced. And, is it me, or is Ambrose way older than he chronologically should be?
The supernatural creepers here are extended metaphors for an abusive Catholic childhood, some of which were smartly done, but by the time we reached redemptive turn-your-back-on-the-abuse-and-heal territory, I was so ready to be done with this 700+ page tome that I didn't care nearly as much about the resolution of characters I liked as I ought.
The supernatural creepers here are extended metaphors for an abusive Catholic childhood, some of which were smartly done, but by the time we reached redemptive turn-your-back-on-the-abuse-and-heal territory, I was so ready to be done with this 700+ page tome that I didn't care nearly as much about the resolution of characters I liked as I ought.
alblent23's review against another edition
3.0
They had me in the first half and then it got like…..weird.
lelalu's review against another edition
4.0
I managed to finish it in one month and I dont know how I did it. I enjoyed the read, yet there is so many things wrong, out of place and not making sense that I am quiet confused how I liked it.
1. Christopher is 7 years old. I saw this discussion in a few comments and reviews now. Let's take it down. Yes, he is a special kid. Yes, this CAN be realistic for a magically blessed child. But not a 7 year old. Make him 12, 10 if you mean, but 7 is a way too young age.
2. The fact that the mother wins in the lottery is cool while you read it but it fades as the book goes on and it has almost zero to do with the actual plot besides giving them the opportunity to move and have a new fresh beginning
3. For some reason, the mother (Kate) reminds me a lot of Joyce from Stranger things and I can not be the only one
4. Why in the world did it have to have a religious point to it? Only as soon as I ended it, I realized all the religious references and the ending was kinda whack looking at how FUCKING LONG THIS BOOK IS??
5. Really repetitive, way too often you thing "this is it" but knowing there is like 300 more pages, it takes away the effect. But since this happens so often in the book, it ruined the excitement for the finish line
6. If this was made a movie, eventually, this would have been way more sucessful
7. Even though this book is so massive, a few things happen way too fast.
I give it 3.5 Stars, because I really liked the read and would sometimes be excited to continue the read. I can understand people that dont have a christian understanding could end up confused, so here is what I remember being the references:
1. Christopher (main characters name): 'christ', the child of god, having power on earth etc.
2. Mary: the pregnant virgin, is basically really self explainitory, yet maybe worth mentioning
3. "We will die on christmas day": Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ
4. Ambrose: Western Christianity identified Ambrose as one of its four traditional Doctors of the Church
5. I could go on but dont want to overanalyze
1. Christopher is 7 years old. I saw this discussion in a few comments and reviews now. Let's take it down. Yes, he is a special kid. Yes, this CAN be realistic for a magically blessed child. But not a 7 year old. Make him 12, 10 if you mean, but 7 is a way too young age.
2. The fact that the mother wins in the lottery is cool while you read it but it fades as the book goes on and it has almost zero to do with the actual plot besides giving them the opportunity to move and have a new fresh beginning
3. For some reason, the mother (Kate) reminds me a lot of Joyce from Stranger things and I can not be the only one
4. Why in the world did it have to have a religious point to it? Only as soon as I ended it, I realized all the religious references and the ending was kinda whack looking at how FUCKING LONG THIS BOOK IS??
5. Really repetitive, way too often you thing "this is it" but knowing there is like 300 more pages, it takes away the effect. But since this happens so often in the book, it ruined the excitement for the finish line
6. If this was made a movie, eventually, this would have been way more sucessful
7. Even though this book is so massive, a few things happen way too fast.
I give it 3.5 Stars, because I really liked the read and would sometimes be excited to continue the read. I can understand people that dont have a christian understanding could end up confused, so here is what I remember being the references:
1. Christopher (main characters name): 'christ', the child of god, having power on earth etc.
2. Mary: the pregnant virgin, is basically really self explainitory, yet maybe worth mentioning
3. "We will die on christmas day": Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ
4. Ambrose: Western Christianity identified Ambrose as one of its four traditional Doctors of the Church
5. I could go on but dont want to overanalyze
mjbooknerd's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at page 170.
I'm agnostic, I don't believe in any religion. I believe there can be something out there that is unexplainable but refuse to give it a name. And I hate having some author trying to impose their religion to other people.
This is not horror, this is Christian fantasy disguised as horror.
So, no, I'm not going to continue.
I'm agnostic, I don't believe in any religion. I believe there can be something out there that is unexplainable but refuse to give it a name. And I hate having some author trying to impose their religion to other people.
This is not horror, this is Christian fantasy disguised as horror.
So, no, I'm not going to continue.
vlkydash's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0