Reviews

I'm only writing a review because there were a smattering of DNF and one-star reviews that had me questioning this book. And honestly?

If you can't identify with a multiracial cast that range in sexualities and have complex feelings towards their changing home, then...yeah. Walk away. This isn't a teenybopper novel where the spunky girl from suburbia fights the supernatural.

If you can see past that, this is an eloquent novel that braids together mysticism, horror, and history into a very realistic portrayal of a rapidly gentrifying city. Some of the commentary about gentrification had me in stitches (the 5 antique shops on one street is a real, real thing). Yes, this book touches on some "big themes" - poly, queerness, etc. But it's not the point - rather, it actually injects the messy complications of real life. It's refreshing to have characters with very real, very messy lives that both complicate and propel the plot.

4/5 stars.

scrow1022's review against another edition

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5.0

Devastating. All too real, all too possible, all too breathtaking, despite the fantastic/paranormal elements. But with some hope in love through action in the end. And rich characters with rich relationships between them.

romonko's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book was given to me as a gift, so I read it until the end, but I can't tell you how many times I wanted to put it away. It is very confusing, yes, but it is also graphic and it hits really close to home with its take on community vigilantism and acts of terrorism which we see so much of in the news today. I found all the characters were hateful, spiteful and loathsome. I did not like any of them, and the main character is probably the worst of the lot. Ronan has a lot of anxiety that he left behind him in Hudson, NY, and a lot of unresolved issues leftover from the early death of his mother, and the bullying that he received in school. Ronan is openly gay, which the students in the school had no tolerance for. He is called back to the nightmare of his childhood to look after his ailing father, but all his demons were still there waiting for him. Ronan's hate and unresolved issues actually ignite the town to violence and destruction. The "old" Hudson is no longer there. Instead it is an up and coming town that is becoming the playground for the rich and famous and all the older citizens have been displaced. Interspersed throughout the book are supernatural occurrences which don't appear to make any sense to anyone, including Ronan. After reading about the violence and hatred in the community for the first 50 pages, I soon grew tired of it and stopped trying to make sense of it. I finished the book only because it was a gift, but I certainly cannot recommend it.

awesomejen2's review against another edition

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3.0

This is an interesting book that centers on what it means to 'go home'. The protagonist moves away from his small and small minded town at the earliest opportunity vowing never to come back but years later due to some unusual circumstances he comes home only to find that everything is changed. He then has to face the people he left behind and his own complicated feelings about his hometown. This novel beautifully portrays the many layered emotions that someone can have about their hometown, how you can both love and hate a place. Ultimately this just wasn't for me, it was darker than I imagined and felt overly complicated. This is less for scifi/fantasy fans and more for those who enjoy psychological suspense.

starslang's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

bossman8680's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This was a very imaginative story that takes place in a town being gentrified by YUPPIE's. I enjoyed learning about the background of the main character along with the town. With the author being so similar with the town helped add to the authentic feeling of the story.

dgrachel's review against another edition

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I've listened to 3 1/2 hours of this audiobook and (a) I'm struggling to follow what's going on with the POV switches, (b) I don't care at all about any of the characters, and (c) there's a lot of sexual content that just seems vulgar, and this is coming from someone who regularly reads romance. Based on some other reviews I've read, none of the above gets better. This is the first book by this author that I have attempted and it will probably be the only one.

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