shellbean's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
georgemay's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jamessmith82's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
skusaroo's review against another edition
3.0
Very good book, brutal but convincing. The rats are fearsome as well as overwhelming, even to the reader.
madhatter13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tokujoe's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
siana910's review against another edition
3.0
This is considered a 'horror' book but I don't ever understand horror as a part of reading (as someone who has yet to read more classic/popular horrors such as King) it isn't scary, though it is quite gruesome at times.
The rats are trying to take over. They are the size of cats and small dogs (ew) and are out to kill. One bite and you will be dead in 24hrs. We are first introduced to a few characters' POV in the first few chapters but mostly settle at Harris, the teacher and our main character. When one of his troubling students turns up late having been bitten (yet 'luckily' was not torn to shreds at the time). The East End of London dives into chaos when more cases of being attacked by these rats come in more and more frequently. They need to come up with a plan of how to get rid of them but the only person who has survived an encounter with rats and survived to tell the story as of yet, Harris, the 'not hero' hero of this book. So he is appointed to a council to get a plan in place alongside the recently disgraced Health politician person (I honestly don't remember his name or what his actual job was) but the rats prove troubling to get rid of.
As my 3 stars reflects, it was a good book, quite short compared to my usual 400 or so page fantasy books, so I could finish it in a couple hours. Got it as an ebook and read in my empty time between lectures and on busses etc. Definitely going to see if I can read the next book in the series although I have no idea what it is about, this could certainly be a stand alone book.
The rats are trying to take over. They are the size of cats and small dogs (ew) and are out to kill. One bite and you will be dead in 24hrs. We are first introduced to a few characters' POV in the first few chapters but mostly settle at Harris, the teacher and our main character. When one of his troubling students turns up late having been bitten (yet 'luckily' was not torn to shreds at the time). The East End of London dives into chaos when more cases of being attacked by these rats come in more and more frequently. They need to come up with a plan of how to get rid of them but the only person who has survived an encounter with rats and survived to tell the story as of yet, Harris, the 'not hero' hero of this book. So he is appointed to a council to get a plan in place alongside the recently disgraced Health politician person (I honestly don't remember his name or what his actual job was) but the rats prove troubling to get rid of.
As my 3 stars reflects, it was a good book, quite short compared to my usual 400 or so page fantasy books, so I could finish it in a couple hours. Got it as an ebook and read in my empty time between lectures and on busses etc. Definitely going to see if I can read the next book in the series although I have no idea what it is about, this could certainly be a stand alone book.
lydiavsbooks's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
A short grim horror about a plague of giant rats hungry for human flesh. It follows a variety of characters as they come in to contact with the rats, and as they attempt to put a stop to them.
It did exactly what it described, a fun little horror to gross you out. I didn't realise this was written in the 70s before I started reading it, but it then became very apparent with its casual racism and sexism. Its just very of its time. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, but I didn't feel the need to for it to get the job done of grossing you out.
A decent time but not one that will stay with me
It did exactly what it described, a fun little horror to gross you out. I didn't realise this was written in the 70s before I started reading it, but it then became very apparent with its casual racism and sexism. Its just very of its time. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, but I didn't feel the need to for it to get the job done of grossing you out.
A decent time but not one that will stay with me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexism, Body horror, Racism, Blood, Misogyny, and Gore
kirstycarson1's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
4.5