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stymieurgeson's review against another edition
3.0
I am full of mixed feelings on this book. Having read the other two Night Vale novels, I think this one may be the strongest of the bunch, or at least I did think that up until the last section. It's not overloaded with fan service like the first novel was, and it's not overly moralizing like the second one was―until the last part. I may have given this book a higher rating if I had stopped about three-quarters of the way through. Maybe it was the unsubtle social commentary, maybe it was the drastic change in narrative structure, or maybe it was the horror of what the Faceless Old Woman turns into, but somehow the book fell flat to me in the end. I know the authors intended it to be disturbing and horrifying, and I'm not always opposed to that, but … I don't know.
I did enjoy the earlier parts of the book. I love the intrigue, conspiracies, deceptions, and twists and turns. I liked a lot of the supporting characters. I liked the setting, especially the use of Night Vale's alternate version of Europe (with the countries of Luftnarp, Franchia, and Svitz). It was just enough reference to Night Vale without being overdone. I also thought Mara Wilson's performance in the audiobook was excellent.
Some things I didn't like throughout: Often it is shockingly violent. I didn't particularly enjoy the graphic descriptions of violence that the authors seem to enjoy so much. I also think they sometimes try too hard to be poetic, with commonly repeated refrains ("This is what ____ smells/feels/tastes like," "It's not the water that scares me, it's the fall", etc.). Sometimes that works but in this case it just seemed too precious a lot of the time.
Ultimately my opinion from the first novel still stands: I think Fink and Cranor are better at writing podcasts than novels. I still love Welome to Night Value the podcast, but the novels keep leaving me disappointed. Would I recommend this book? Maybe. There's stuff to like in it. But unless you're already a hardcore fan of Night Vale I'm not sure there's enough to keep you going.
I did enjoy the earlier parts of the book. I love the intrigue, conspiracies, deceptions, and twists and turns. I liked a lot of the supporting characters. I liked the setting, especially the use of Night Vale's alternate version of Europe (with the countries of Luftnarp, Franchia, and Svitz). It was just enough reference to Night Vale without being overdone. I also thought Mara Wilson's performance in the audiobook was excellent.
Some things I didn't like throughout: Often it is shockingly violent. I didn't particularly enjoy the graphic descriptions of violence that the authors seem to enjoy so much. I also think they sometimes try too hard to be poetic, with commonly repeated refrains ("This is what ____ smells/feels/tastes like," "It's not the water that scares me, it's the fall", etc.). Sometimes that works but in this case it just seemed too precious a lot of the time.
Ultimately my opinion from the first novel still stands: I think Fink and Cranor are better at writing podcasts than novels. I still love Welome to Night Value the podcast, but the novels keep leaving me disappointed. Would I recommend this book? Maybe. There's stuff to like in it. But unless you're already a hardcore fan of Night Vale I'm not sure there's enough to keep you going.
urmigurimgay's review
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, and War
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Car accident
darkyline's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
whybeereads's review against another edition
4.0
This Night Vale installation is more anchored in the real world than previous installments, in some ways to its benefit however there are some bits where Night Vale surrealism comes crashing into a previously realistic setting that feels quite jarring - the wedding ceremony in Franchia as an example. In previous installations that were set wholly in Night Vale the strange and bizarre elements feel natural and organic.
It's only a small complaint, but one worth mentioning. Otherwise it was an excellent book, full of intrigue and violence and mystery with a lovely creeping horror that very effectively takes your hand and walks you gently but inescapably down the road towards becoming a monster. While you may not agree with every action and decision our narrator makes, you do understand the impulses and though processes behind every twist and turn that takes her to the form we know her as today.
It's only a small complaint, but one worth mentioning. Otherwise it was an excellent book, full of intrigue and violence and mystery with a lovely creeping horror that very effectively takes your hand and walks you gently but inescapably down the road towards becoming a monster. While you may not agree with every action and decision our narrator makes, you do understand the impulses and though processes behind every twist and turn that takes her to the form we know her as today.
dankmatcha's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
flosquisquiliae's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dodie_sullivan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
trcf721's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing origin story for one of my favorite recurring characters in welcome to nightvale!! I think it would be a fantastic standalone novel as well if you don't know anything about the podcast, there's really not a lot of reference to the show since it's a way way in the past background on the faceless old woman