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ichigotia's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mooncurser's review against another edition
2.0
Oh my god this book is somehow worse than Cirque Du Freak, Jesus Christ. The characters actions are somehow almost always unpredictably baffling and frequently morally objectionable. The story ends with
Spoiler
a character “pranking” someone into almost commuting suicide like that’s a comedy beat.annhoang191's review against another edition
4.0
Damn, I don’t remember giving this only 2 stars. Now here I am, trying to fix my dreadful mistake by writing some words about this brilliant book.
Lord Loss is a perfect example of how a writer should introduce an idea with distinct storytelling. Read it and believe me, you will never forget that gorefest bedroom scene. Best opening chapter, ever. Everything in this book is all over the top. Demons and lycanthropy may sound cliché. However, the way Mr. Shan put ideas into words is spectacular. Even playing chess can be as badass as fighting demons. I lost my shit at that certain chess match. Goosebump! I still remember a naive younger me picked up an old chess board, learned how to play chess desperately, and even tried to summon demons after reading the book lol. And damn those twisted humour moments.
My fourteen year-old self is screaming internally while I am typing these words. Ah those nostalgia feels. Reading sagas written by Darren Shan, and then geeking them with friends was unforgettable experience in my teenage years. When the world went all crazy with Harry Potter few years ago, there were kids choosing to face nasty realities in Darren Shan’s books.
Lord Loss is a perfect example of how a writer should introduce an idea with distinct storytelling. Read it and believe me, you will never forget that gorefest bedroom scene. Best opening chapter, ever. Everything in this book is all over the top. Demons and lycanthropy may sound cliché. However, the way Mr. Shan put ideas into words is spectacular. Even playing chess can be as badass as fighting demons. I lost my shit at that certain chess match. Goosebump! I still remember a naive younger me picked up an old chess board, learned how to play chess desperately, and even tried to summon demons after reading the book lol. And damn those twisted humour moments.
My fourteen year-old self is screaming internally while I am typing these words. Ah those nostalgia feels. Reading sagas written by Darren Shan, and then geeking them with friends was unforgettable experience in my teenage years. When the world went all crazy with Harry Potter few years ago, there were kids choosing to face nasty realities in Darren Shan’s books.
gardenreader's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
mgndrng's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
3.0
jrosenstein's review against another edition
3.0
Werewolves, demons, and magic, oh my! This is definitely one for those reluctant teenage readers who like blood and gore. Shan mixes horror and teenage ennui in a way that's sure to please adolescent readers. Grubbs Grady, the main character, is a typical rebellious teen until he comes home to find his parents and sister gruesomely murdered by the demon master Lord Loss and his demon familiars. After a long stint in a psych ward Grubbs moves in with his uncle Dervish, who, it turns out, is a sort of wizard and reveals to Grubbs the magical truth of his family.
The plot is quick-moving, there's lots of violence and the yuck factor is pretty high. Shan definitely loses momentum in certain key plot points. For example, the demon master's sole weakness is a fondness for chess. Not exactly the stuff of classic horror. But it's a fun, scary ride and Grubbs is a likable character. Give this one to boys who never pick up a book.
The plot is quick-moving, there's lots of violence and the yuck factor is pretty high. Shan definitely loses momentum in certain key plot points. For example, the demon master's sole weakness is a fondness for chess. Not exactly the stuff of classic horror. But it's a fun, scary ride and Grubbs is a likable character. Give this one to boys who never pick up a book.
marleyrollins's review against another edition
4.0
This was surprisingly just as good as I remembered it being when I was 12! Gory, gothic, and the imagination behind the appearances of the demons is really impressive. Some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy and cliche but I think that’s always to be expected with YA, especially old school YA. Made me feel excited to keep reading this series.