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imcarsick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Blood
amyapple's review against another edition
4.0
I was all the way there with Ethan. I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it and found out what was going on and boy, was it not what I expected.
The pacing is fabulous and the writing is fantastic. Crouch does not disappoint.
Can’t wait to read the follow on although this is good as a standalone even.
The pacing is fabulous and the writing is fantastic. Crouch does not disappoint.
Can’t wait to read the follow on although this is good as a standalone even.
maren23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
3.5 stars - audio
Yeah I’m not exactly sure what all happened….? Pretty odd but a quick read. It was really spooky bc Ethan showed up in Wayward Pines September 24th which is the day I started my crater lake trip. So I was into the creepiness. Haven’t decided yet if I’ll go for the other books in the series yet…
Yeah I’m not exactly sure what all happened….? Pretty odd but a quick read. It was really spooky bc Ethan showed up in Wayward Pines September 24th which is the day I started my crater lake trip. So I was into the creepiness. Haven’t decided yet if I’ll go for the other books in the series yet…
lyndsayemily's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
zutsie's review against another edition
3.0
Reading this, the first thing that popped into my mind is that it read like a Koontz novel. The longer I read, the more it reminded me of Koontz's The House of Thunder. I have not read spoilers for this (there are few things I abhor as much), but the twists and turns in this novel did not really keep me in suspense. Why? Because I felt it was really predictable, and nothing really shocked me.
So let's start with this - the premise is interesting. It is. A special agent in an accident and suffering from acute amnesia in a creepy little Stepford style town? For sure. Soon after that though it becomes evident that our leading man is not a particularly likable character, and there is a lot of him running back and forth but nothing happening. That does not make for a boring read, and it helps in this regard that the writing is not particularly meaty - meaning you are really just going to run through this, there is nothing you are going to chew on and think over, to really get involved with. So it certainly scores in the way of a quick read with an interesting premise, even though the execution is a little weak and could leave one wanting. The fragmented sentences littered throughout the book were a source of endless frustration for me though, seriously!
I feel that Pines is a messy book, but entertaining. There was enough mystery to keep me going, although I had pegged the majority of the outcomes and plot twists before they were delivered, and the reveals were no shocker, save one. I have also got to admit that the reasoning behind things as well as some of the logic is completely preposterous, something I struggled to buy into. I know it sounds like a lot of bitching, but the story flows fast and it does pull you in, even though a lot is left to be desired.
So let's start with this - the premise is interesting. It is. A special agent in an accident and suffering from acute amnesia in a creepy little Stepford style town? For sure. Soon after that though it becomes evident that our leading man is not a particularly likable character, and there is a lot of him running back and forth but nothing happening. That does not make for a boring read, and it helps in this regard that the writing is not particularly meaty - meaning you are really just going to run through this, there is nothing you are going to chew on and think over, to really get involved with. So it certainly scores in the way of a quick read with an interesting premise, even though the execution is a little weak and could leave one wanting. The fragmented sentences littered throughout the book were a source of endless frustration for me though, seriously!
I feel that Pines is a messy book, but entertaining. There was enough mystery to keep me going, although I had pegged the majority of the outcomes and plot twists before they were delivered, and the reveals were no shocker, save one. I have also got to admit that the reasoning behind things as well as some of the logic is completely preposterous, something I struggled to buy into. I know it sounds like a lot of bitching, but the story flows fast and it does pull you in, even though a lot is left to be desired.
penguin_emperor_of_the_north's review against another edition
4.0
Did a good job of communicating the fear of waking up in a strange place and not being able to contact anyone or get any information on what's going on and everyone around you is being a pain or obtuse about helping. Like Ethan wakes up and everyone starts bullshitting him about his past and they're not even trying real hard, just stonewalling him. "Oh goodness, I'll pass a message." Then the next day, "Well, if I said I would then I did. No I didn't get a response. Wouldn't I have passed it along if I did."
And it does a good job of showing the frustration of being completely out of your element and having someone completely bullshit you to your face. In my experience it's not quite so life threatening but in here it does a good job of showing the fear of finding out everyone you meet is hostile and the need to escape. It was a trip, I finished it in a day for a reason.
One criticism (without getting into spoilers) is around how the villain manages things. I think I'd run things differently Granted though, that'd be a lot more work.
And I did watch the show back in 2014 or so and I remember loving every minute of it up until the season finale. Here's hoping the book series keeps a similar track but manages to stick the ending.
And it does a good job of showing the frustration of being completely out of your element and having someone completely bullshit you to your face. In my experience it's not quite so life threatening but in here it does a good job of showing the fear of finding out everyone you meet is hostile and the need to escape. It was a trip, I finished it in a day for a reason.
One criticism (without getting into spoilers) is around how the villain manages things. I think I'd run things differently
Spoiler
the villain introduces kidnapped people to his town by waking them up in the hospital, claiming they'd been in a car accident and expecting them to get in line. I think I'd arrange a life for them to fall into. Like you were in a car accident but here's your job, wife and kids and they're very happy you're okay. Aren't you happy to go back to them?And I did watch the show back in 2014 or so and I remember loving every minute of it up until the season finale. Here's hoping the book series keeps a similar track but manages to stick the ending.
snappcastermage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
ramones's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence