vinedrinker1234x's review against another edition
2.0
Kin is not the typical "wrong-turn" like cannibalistic slasher, it tries very hard to be something more - the revenge and guilt driven psychological horror with a message. There are few moments that it delivers. The strong premise is absolutely wild and gruesome - especially when Burke made monsters look more humane, rooted in their own reality rituals, really believing in their own truths like hunting and cleansing their world from the inhabitants of New World e.g. teenagers lost in the woods. The revenge part of Finch is nicely done - maybe a bit stereotypical, but the reader understands his motivation and deep anger and frustrations that he is holding in the heart.
And there are many flaws, like there is not much to study psychologically because the characters have no real depth; there are few not followed by any logic plot decisions, the latter dramatical parts are actually dull, and the ending is one of those "no tension nor emotion - nothing happened type".
So the idea was very ambitious, but it delivers only partially. It's not a bad book, just a very simple read with a gruesome first chapter.
And there are many flaws, like there is not much to study psychologically because the characters have no real depth; there are few not followed by any logic plot decisions, the latter dramatical parts are actually dull, and the ending is one of those "no tension nor emotion - nothing happened type".
So the idea was very ambitious, but it delivers only partially. It's not a bad book, just a very simple read with a gruesome first chapter.
jorma's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jarichan's review against another edition
3.0
Eigentlich hätte ich nicht gedacht, dass ich soetwas je sagen würde, aber von Kealan Patrick Burke haben mir die Kurzgeschichten eindeutig besser gefallen. Sie haben mehr mit dem Grusel und der Stimmung gearbeitet, während "Kin" vor allem auf den Ekelfaktor setzt.
Man sollte also vor dem Lesen darüber nachdenken, ob man zur Zielgruppe gehört oder nicht. Als Einstieg in das Horror-Genre eher nicht zu empfehlen. Nicht, weil ich es jetzt als besonders dramatisch oder entsetzlich empfunden hätte, aber ich bin wohl auch schon etwas abgehärtet.
Sehr viel Neues bietet der Titel eigentlich auch nicht, aber trotzdem kann man sich damit ein paar finstere Lesestunden gönnen. Es ist blutig, es ist teilweise deftig, hat aber auch seine empfindsamen Momente.
Somit also kein Highlight, aber es reut mich auch nicht, dass ich es gelesen habe, da ich teilweise doch ganz gut unterhalten war.
Man sollte also vor dem Lesen darüber nachdenken, ob man zur Zielgruppe gehört oder nicht. Als Einstieg in das Horror-Genre eher nicht zu empfehlen. Nicht, weil ich es jetzt als besonders dramatisch oder entsetzlich empfunden hätte, aber ich bin wohl auch schon etwas abgehärtet.
Sehr viel Neues bietet der Titel eigentlich auch nicht, aber trotzdem kann man sich damit ein paar finstere Lesestunden gönnen. Es ist blutig, es ist teilweise deftig, hat aber auch seine empfindsamen Momente.
Somit also kein Highlight, aber es reut mich auch nicht, dass ich es gelesen habe, da ich teilweise doch ganz gut unterhalten war.
thedustbunnyslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
From the first few sentences, I felt like I was watching a horror movie. The author did a brilliant job with creating a memorable opener and his imagery throughout kept me engrossed.
While I’ll admit I didn’t find any of the characters particularly interesting (aside from Momma-in-Bed’s raw description), their perspectives, dialogue, and scenarios were realistic and captivating enough to keep me fully engaged. Multiple reviews complained that there was too much detail thrown in. For many scenes, I thought this helped the reader feel even more sympathetic, and in others the precise placement of “unnecessary” paragraphs added to the suspense.
This book is more than violence and gore. The story quickly gets to its plot points and focuses heavily on not only the deranged Merrill family but the families affected by their gruesome acts as well, making “Kin” the perfect title for this novel
This was an incredible horror story. It took advantage of movie tropes in the best way possible, without coming across as corny or boring. I highly suggest reading Kin if you’re in the mood for a visceral modern classic!
From the first few sentences, I felt like I was watching a horror movie. The author did a brilliant job with creating a memorable opener and his imagery throughout kept me engrossed.
While I’ll admit I didn’t find any of the characters particularly interesting (aside from Momma-in-Bed’s raw description), their perspectives, dialogue, and scenarios were realistic and captivating enough to keep me fully engaged. Multiple reviews complained that there was too much detail thrown in. For many scenes, I thought this helped the reader feel even more sympathetic, and in others the precise placement of “unnecessary” paragraphs added to the suspense.
This book is more than violence and gore. The story quickly gets to its plot points and focuses heavily on not only the deranged Merrill family but the families affected by their gruesome acts as well, making “Kin” the perfect title for this novel
This was an incredible horror story. It took advantage of movie tropes in the best way possible, without coming across as corny or boring. I highly suggest reading Kin if you’re in the mood for a visceral modern classic!
mituna's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This would've been so much better if we hadn't got the backstory and POV of completely unnecessary people (looking at you Louise). I'm here for the fucked up family and yet we barely spend any time with them, even though they were easily the most interesting part.
deathofastrwbry's review against another edition
4.0
Blood. Gore. Body horror. Redneck, backwoods, fun. If you want a fast paced bloody thriller than feels like you’ve been dumped in the middle of nowhere with no hope to survive, then having horrible PTSD about it this is your book. Gave it 4 stars because there was something lacking I can’t put my finger on, but it was quite enjoyable.
gothichues's review against another edition
2.0
I was rooting for you! I really like the first section of the book and thought I would like it until the end but then it got to the middle part and I completely lost my interest and was not into it at all. The writing felt so tedious and I struggled connecting to the story. The multiple character POV in this one didn't work for me because there's too many of them and I don't really care about the other characters except maybe for Claire and the cannibalistic family. I would've enjoyed it if the author explored a bit more of Claire's thoughts being the only survivor and also Luke's guilt that is slowly eating him. I read this while listening to the audiobook and props to the narrator because if not for him, I would've DNFed this.
ejr1904's review against another edition
3.75
This book has some truly chilling and beautiful prose but it’s strangely paced.
The first third is phenomenal- a fascinating and stunning intellectual Texas chainsaw inspired piece of literature. Part two lags quite a bit- a tremendous amount of time on characterizing with little plot movement (and honestly little reward). I wish it was 20 pages shorter. The last third wrapped up some loose ends but could have benefited from the sparkle of the first third or characterizations of the second. It needed to be expanded quite a bit.
Overall, liked it quite a bit but wish it was more steady.
The first third is phenomenal- a fascinating and stunning intellectual Texas chainsaw inspired piece of literature. Part two lags quite a bit- a tremendous amount of time on characterizing with little plot movement (and honestly little reward). I wish it was 20 pages shorter. The last third wrapped up some loose ends but could have benefited from the sparkle of the first third or characterizations of the second. It needed to be expanded quite a bit.
Overall, liked it quite a bit but wish it was more steady.
litwrite's review against another edition
3.0
I expected this to be a lot more rote than it turned out to be - the blurb came across to me as very 'Texas Chainsaw-esque' but ultimately it took a very unique twist in that rather than placing us in the beginning or even in the middle of the story - we actually start at the aftermath of the gory destruction of the erstwhile hot young teens and at the pick up of one plucky female survivor. The novel then goes on to follow the story-line of a few disparate characters that are pulled together by the destruction of the cannibalistic family that has destroyed so many lives.
"Kin" is a great name for this novel - clever, far more clever than your typical splatterpunk horror novel. Each narrator here are tied in some way to the atrocities by familial ties, and of course we also talk about the familial ties that bind these monstrous antagonists together. Burke is a good writer who elevates a nasty topic with elegant writing that may err on the side of being a little *too* descriptive and flowery, but what can I say, I enjoy a good run-on sentence if it's poetic enough.
Definitely enjoyed this more than the novella I've read by the same author, [b:Seldom Seen in August|2753653|Seldom Seen in August|Kealan Patrick Burke|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1202248734s/2753653.jpg|2779352]. I'd check out his other works for sure on the strength of this novel.
"Kin" is a great name for this novel - clever, far more clever than your typical splatterpunk horror novel. Each narrator here are tied in some way to the atrocities by familial ties, and of course we also talk about the familial ties that bind these monstrous antagonists together. Burke is a good writer who elevates a nasty topic with elegant writing that may err on the side of being a little *too* descriptive and flowery, but what can I say, I enjoy a good run-on sentence if it's poetic enough.
Definitely enjoyed this more than the novella I've read by the same author, [b:Seldom Seen in August|2753653|Seldom Seen in August|Kealan Patrick Burke|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1202248734s/2753653.jpg|2779352]. I'd check out his other works for sure on the strength of this novel.
alicia88's review
4.0
Enjoyed this story about what happens to the people after the horror movie ends. It was interesting that the final girl wasn’t really the main character but instead we get to know a lot of people who were affected by the killings.