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arockinsamsara's review against another edition
5.0
A great follow-up. Especially by the end it was jumping around across so many different POVs that it became a bit chaotic, but this kept the pacing nonstop and frenetic, which worked. I really liked the the way this was a proper sequel, but also parallel, to the first book in the series, it was smart and kept things interesting. Again, some great set pieces and a lot of interesting ideas, somewhat mashed together without extensive explanation, trusting that there was enough for the reader to always follow what was going on (as well as any given character's motivations) but still have some questions unanswered. I liked not feeling spoon-fed, and letting the story give us just enough to keep up with the characters' experiences but never feel like we can answer or solve things that they are ignorant to. The supernatural "world" of the series was already pretty wide open, at the conclusion of the first book, but this opens up the world even further.
Unfortunately, the frenetic pace and the shifting POV didn't remedy my biggest complaint about the first, which is that while the characters didn't feel like stock or boring archetypes, and they did have little bits of interesting histories and lived experiences, we didn't really get the chance to spend enough time with any of them to really feel like we could identify with them. So everything was more voyeuristic than participatory, which deadens the scares, somewhat, since the stakes don't feel personal, and there is less investment. And the deus ex machina of a magical savant kind of returned, with a little less "Holly Gibney" vibes but still a somewhat uncomfortable feeling that a character is portrayed as neurodivergent (even though that is not explicitly stated) and this neurodivergence either grants, or is the result of, her kind of supernatural/multidimensional existence.
All that said, the complaints obviously weren't enough to knock a star off. I had a lot of fun reading the book, which was well-paced and plotted and full of interesting ideas, and I am excited to continue with the series.
Unfortunately, the frenetic pace and the shifting POV didn't remedy my biggest complaint about the first, which is that while the characters didn't feel like stock or boring archetypes, and they did have little bits of interesting histories and lived experiences, we didn't really get the chance to spend enough time with any of them to really feel like we could identify with them. So everything was more voyeuristic than participatory, which deadens the scares, somewhat, since the stakes don't feel personal, and there is less investment. And the deus ex machina of a magical savant kind of returned, with a little less "Holly Gibney" vibes but still a somewhat uncomfortable feeling that a character is portrayed as neurodivergent (even though that is not explicitly stated) and this neurodivergence either grants, or is the result of, her kind of supernatural/multidimensional existence.
All that said, the complaints obviously weren't enough to knock a star off. I had a lot of fun reading the book, which was well-paced and plotted and full of interesting ideas, and I am excited to continue with the series.
amateur_reader's review against another edition
4.0
I love a good ghost story and this series has become one of my favorites. It takes a lot creep me out. I highly recommend it if you are seeking a haunted house story.
brodaciously's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
exorcismemily's review against another edition
3.0
"Oblivion would be better than this hell."
The Hungry Ones is the sequel to The Nightmare Room, which was one of my favorite books last year. This book has two main characters, and one of them is the same main character from the last book (it took me a minute to realize this, though).
If possible, I would recommend reading the two books together. I was a little confused at times because I had a tough time remembering everything that happened in The Nightmare Room. This book begins where the previous one left off, and there isn't really a refresher on information (which is fine; I'm just giving you a heads up).
I had a difficult time getting into The Hungry Ones. It's entertaining, but unfortunately, I don't feel like it really stands out from other haunted location novels. There were a couple spooky scenes, but I never really felt drawn into The Hungry Ones, or convinced of the scariness of the hotel. I found the ending to be a bit confusing, but we know there's a third book coming, so everything will be ironed out. This is not a bad book at all, and this is a very fun haunting series. I'm looking forward to book 3.
The Hungry Ones is the sequel to The Nightmare Room, which was one of my favorite books last year. This book has two main characters, and one of them is the same main character from the last book (it took me a minute to realize this, though).
If possible, I would recommend reading the two books together. I was a little confused at times because I had a tough time remembering everything that happened in The Nightmare Room. This book begins where the previous one left off, and there isn't really a refresher on information (which is fine; I'm just giving you a heads up).
I had a difficult time getting into The Hungry Ones. It's entertaining, but unfortunately, I don't feel like it really stands out from other haunted location novels. There were a couple spooky scenes, but I never really felt drawn into The Hungry Ones, or convinced of the scariness of the hotel. I found the ending to be a bit confusing, but we know there's a third book coming, so everything will be ironed out. This is not a bad book at all, and this is a very fun haunting series. I'm looking forward to book 3.
rkking's review against another edition
3.0
THE GOOD:
This series is told in an interesting way, in that instead of the traditional installment one after the other to tell an overarching story, this trilogy deals with changing realities, characters and plot that are integral to each other but also their own events. This is a very intriguing way of telling a larger story, and drew me in.
THE GREAT:
The creature design. The titular hungry ones are a group of spirits/demons with very cool attributes, in which Sorensen does a bang up job of getting across. Their leader, Sister, in particular, is very intimidating and provided a lot of tension in its cat-and-mouse game against Michael.
THE NOT SO GREAT:
In addition to reality hopping, this book does some time travel sort of the way the first book did. Combined with the changing realities, I found it a little confusing. But that could entirely be my own problem.
The continued symbiosis with Peter and Whisper also gets confusing at times, description wise. There were a couple of instances where the ongoing changes melded together too much and left me unable to really picture was was going on.
Still, a very intriguing installment in this trilogy, and I'll read the next one for sure.
Join the RK King Readers' Tribe for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
This series is told in an interesting way, in that instead of the traditional installment one after the other to tell an overarching story, this trilogy deals with changing realities, characters and plot that are integral to each other but also their own events. This is a very intriguing way of telling a larger story, and drew me in.
THE GREAT:
The creature design. The titular hungry ones are a group of spirits/demons with very cool attributes, in which Sorensen does a bang up job of getting across. Their leader, Sister, in particular, is very intimidating and provided a lot of tension in its cat-and-mouse game against Michael.
THE NOT SO GREAT:
In addition to reality hopping, this book does some time travel sort of the way the first book did. Combined with the changing realities, I found it a little confusing. But that could entirely be my own problem.
The continued symbiosis with Peter and Whisper also gets confusing at times, description wise. There were a couple of instances where the ongoing changes melded together too much and left me unable to really picture was was going on.
Still, a very intriguing installment in this trilogy, and I'll read the next one for sure.
Join the RK King Readers' Tribe for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
nikki_jcf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
sugoimax's review against another edition
4.0
This was so good! I much preferred this to the first book, although I felt that was still an excellent introduction to all the characters. Looking forward to reading book 3 :)
shrikebait's review against another edition
4.0
A step in the right direction for the series.
I wasn't too sure about the Messy Man trilogy after book 1. This second book takes the strangest parts of the first and RUNS with them - in a good way! Especially the supernatural and time-travel elements. I'm very glad I read the second book shortly after the first. There are so many recurring characters and references to other timelines that would be near impossible to follow as a standalone story. That being said, I found this to be a fun ride. I loved seeing familiar characters and familiar stories distort into something new and unfamiliar.
Thank you for the chance to read this for free as part of the trilogy ARC. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
I wasn't too sure about the Messy Man trilogy after book 1. This second book takes the strangest parts of the first and RUNS with them - in a good way! Especially the supernatural and time-travel elements. I'm very glad I read the second book shortly after the first. There are so many recurring characters and references to other timelines that would be near impossible to follow as a standalone story. That being said, I found this to be a fun ride. I loved seeing familiar characters and familiar stories distort into something new and unfamiliar.
Thank you for the chance to read this for free as part of the trilogy ARC. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
tyto_alba's review against another edition
5.0
As much as I liked the first book, this book was even better. It's definitely a page turner. About halfway through, it hits a stride that feels like it's gearing towards the climax, but keeps going, building more and more momentum that makes it impossible to put down until you reach the final page.
The characters are all great. The story masterfully blends character building with the plot, connecting all of the characters to the events that shaped their lives and each other in a way that furthers the plot without ever feeling slow or skimping on developing the characters' personalities. This is really good for me, as I won't find myself caring too much about a plot, no matter how tightly written, if I don't care about the characters. (By the way, Ellen and Riggs are probably my favorite characters across both books, though I have a soft spot for Peter/Whisper as well).
So far, this series has been refreshingly original with its ideas and the mechanics of the world. The circular and branching function of time is wild, but not so weird that I can't wrap my head around it or accept the way it works in relation to the story. The demons/creatures are terrifying and mysterious, yet somehow manage to be pitiful in some ways. I cannot wait to see them further explored in the third and final book of this series!
I HIGHLY recommend this book and the previous book, if you haven't read it.
The characters are all great. The story masterfully blends character building with the plot, connecting all of the characters to the events that shaped their lives and each other in a way that furthers the plot without ever feeling slow or skimping on developing the characters' personalities. This is really good for me, as I won't find myself caring too much about a plot, no matter how tightly written, if I don't care about the characters. (By the way, Ellen and Riggs are probably my favorite characters across both books, though I have a soft spot for Peter/Whisper as well).
So far, this series has been refreshingly original with its ideas and the mechanics of the world. The circular and branching function of time is wild, but not so weird that I can't wrap my head around it or accept the way it works in relation to the story. The demons/creatures are terrifying and mysterious, yet somehow manage to be pitiful in some ways. I cannot wait to see them further explored in the third and final book of this series!
I HIGHLY recommend this book and the previous book, if you haven't read it.