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kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Blood, and Death of parent
louberry360's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
What i enjoyed: the mystery is tied into the plot quite nicely and the transitions flow very smoothly, making it easy to want to keep reading and play along with the characters. Twists and surprises aren't jarring and can be figured out, but its still subtle enough to be enjoyed.
What I didn't enjoy: the characters didn't always seem like real people and it's a bit obvious that Lockwood is supposed to be like Sherlock Holmes. Despite the set up for the setting and age of characters it wasn't quite played right to feel like it was actually an alternative world where children were the heroes. Some events that should have had consequences didn't and vice versa. One major thing that granted on me the more it kept happening was how one main character has different strengths and weaknesses than the other 2, but is always described as incompetent and fat and it's outright stated as well as implied that him being fat is part of why he's incompetent and inferior to his peers. The other characters get plenty of descriptors and traits, but all he gets is various ways of saying he's fat and inferior.
Overall though, it was an enjoyable read!
What I didn't enjoy: the characters didn't always seem like real people and it's a bit obvious that Lockwood is supposed to be like Sherlock Holmes. Despite the set up for the setting and age of characters it wasn't quite played right to feel like it was actually an alternative world where children were the heroes. Some events that should have had consequences didn't and vice versa. One major thing that granted on me the more it kept happening was how one main character has different strengths and weaknesses than the other 2, but is always described as incompetent and fat and it's outright stated as well as implied that him being fat is part of why he's incompetent and inferior to his peers. The other characters get plenty of descriptors and traits, but all he gets is various ways of saying he's fat and inferior.
Overall though, it was an enjoyable read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Colonisation
anna456's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I picked up this one because I enjoyed the Netflix TV series. It's fairly faithful to the book, except where Netflix has increased the diversity of characters by making those with inexplicit ethnicity into PoC.. bravo, Netflix! It seems that the character of George has also been updated for the screen but I'm not sour about it.
In a dark future, the UK has a Problem. Curfews are in force to keep the populace safe from terrifying ghosts, some of which (whom?) have the ability to maim or kill. To make matters worse, those who are the first line of defense against these apparitions and horrors, are those who are psychically sensitive, and like lactose tolerance, that is mostly children and they grow out of it as they age. (This trope is similar to things like "Locke and Key" and even the "Narnia" books, where children age-out of magic.) Protective iron, silver and salt are booming in popularity along with warding herbs like lavender. Our main characters are trained Operatives. These ghost busters with rapiers are tasked with risking their lives to find and contain or dispel nasty hauntings. Tea and gingerale abound.
My favourable review is possibly because I'm already familiar with the story. Had I read the book first I might not have been so enamoured. As a murder mystery there are hints willy-nilly but that goes with the whole youth fiction vibe. There are a couple of twists, but nothing difficult to follow. As this was almost like a re-read for me I appreciate how the author had a light touch for misdirection. It was fairly artfully done. There is definite tease for what we might want to learn about the characters in later adventures.
A note on the audiobook narration; OH, good job! I was almost taken aback by the narrator's capability with pronouncing words that I typically hear butchered by other readers. Things like "dully" and "frisson" come to mind immediately, but there were many more (was "awry" in there? I can't remember). I don't know if that makes me a word-nerd or a snob.. possibly both. I'm a bit rueful about that.
I think the characters are interesting. The pretty, foppish lad with a mysterious past, who has inherited his family home, along with a collection of supernatural artefacts, dazzles people with his haughty airs and winning grin. I would find him insufferable, but he almost wins me over with his caring vulnerable moments. I remember having a companion like this when I was about 19. The sidekick (who really isn't) is a quirky, bookish lad with a critical eye, and poor manners.. but a heart of gold? I dunno, his honesty and earnest interest in the world always win me over, and he's a dab hand in the kitchen. The main character is (again, like Narnia) called Lucy. She's a neglected runaway with rare psychical gifts and is humble, plain, and has no clue about girly things. This is basically an Autistic geek girl fantasy piece. Yes, I'm biased.
The horrible things are bloody and sometimes gross. There are spiders. I could see this being a fun book for tweens and teens who like dark stuff and don't care about murder, blood, ghosts, spiders, and clandestine cults doing human sacrifices.
In a dark future, the UK has a Problem. Curfews are in force to keep the populace safe from terrifying ghosts, some of which (whom?) have the ability to maim or kill. To make matters worse, those who are the first line of defense against these apparitions and horrors, are those who are psychically sensitive, and like lactose tolerance, that is mostly children and they grow out of it as they age. (This trope is similar to things like "Locke and Key" and even the "Narnia" books, where children age-out of magic.) Protective iron, silver and salt are booming in popularity along with warding herbs like lavender. Our main characters are trained Operatives. These ghost busters with rapiers are tasked with risking their lives to find and contain or dispel nasty hauntings. Tea and gingerale abound.
My favourable review is possibly because I'm already familiar with the story. Had I read the book first I might not have been so enamoured. As a murder mystery there are hints willy-nilly but that goes with the whole youth fiction vibe. There are a couple of twists, but nothing difficult to follow. As this was almost like a re-read for me I appreciate how the author had a light touch for misdirection. It was fairly artfully done. There is definite tease for what we might want to learn about the characters in later adventures.
A note on the audiobook narration; OH, good job! I was almost taken aback by the narrator's capability with pronouncing words that I typically hear butchered by other readers. Things like "dully" and "frisson" come to mind immediately, but there were many more (was "awry" in there? I can't remember). I don't know if that makes me a word-nerd or a snob.. possibly both. I'm a bit rueful about that.
I think the characters are interesting. The pretty, foppish lad with a mysterious past, who has inherited his family home, along with a collection of supernatural artefacts, dazzles people with his haughty airs and winning grin. I would find him insufferable, but he almost wins me over with his caring vulnerable moments. I remember having a companion like this when I was about 19. The sidekick (who really isn't) is a quirky, bookish lad with a critical eye, and poor manners.. but a heart of gold? I dunno, his honesty and earnest interest in the world always win me over, and he's a dab hand in the kitchen. The main character is (again, like Narnia) called Lucy. She's a neglected runaway with rare psychical gifts and is humble, plain, and has no clue about girly things. This is basically an Autistic geek girl fantasy piece. Yes, I'm biased.
The horrible things are bloody and sometimes gross. There are spiders. I could see this being a fun book for tweens and teens who like dark stuff and don't care about murder, blood, ghosts, spiders, and clandestine cults doing human sacrifices.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Gaslighting
ktdakotareads'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Amazing. Brilliant. Wonderful. Fantastic.
There are not enough adjectives to describe how much I loved The Screaming Staircase. It was actually hanging around a solid 4/4.5 stars for most of the book, but those last 100 pages? Magnificent. The writing is beautifully creepy and evocative, one of my favorite haunted house sequences I've ever read in my life!
To be honest, I'm not often a person to be put off by solving the mystery before the end, so it may affect others differently, but I solved most of it relatively early on and it didn't affect my engagement one bit. There was also a nice little quirk that Stroud included that I (personally) should have figured out a little earlier, but I really loved that reveal.
One of my favorite things about Stroud's writing in general is that he doesn't pull his punches. Even keeping in mind his middle grade to YA audience, he puts his characters in real danger with really creepy, scary things happening and he does it so well.
I can't wait to read the sequels!!!! I already know this is going to join the Bartimaeus Sequence as one of my favorite series. And I know the series has been optioned for a Netflix series and let me assure you, I will watch it on premiere day. This is going to make a spectacular piece of media.
There are not enough adjectives to describe how much I loved The Screaming Staircase. It was actually hanging around a solid 4/4.5 stars for most of the book, but those last 100 pages? Magnificent. The writing is beautifully creepy and evocative, one of my favorite haunted house sequences I've ever read in my life!
To be honest, I'm not often a person to be put off by solving the mystery before the end, so it may affect others differently, but I solved most of it relatively early on and it didn't affect my engagement one bit. There was also a nice little quirk that Stroud included that I (personally) should have figured out a little earlier, but I really loved that reveal.
One of my favorite things about Stroud's writing in general is that he doesn't pull his punches. Even keeping in mind his middle grade to YA audience, he puts his characters in real danger with really creepy, scary things happening and he does it so well.
I can't wait to read the sequels!!!! I already know this is going to join the Bartimaeus Sequence as one of my favorite series. And I know the series has been optioned for a Netflix series and let me assure you, I will watch it on premiere day. This is going to make a spectacular piece of media.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
rory_john14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Suicide and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Classism