tanilian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Death
Moderate: Fatphobia
czoltak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Blood, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Torture
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Classism
e_r_q's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"I couldn't see its eyes, but I sensed them. Until that moment, I've never felt like prey... I stared at it, and felt death staring back."
Dark Matter: A Ghost Story is a very spooky and captivating horror novel. Through the diary-entry format, and the beautifully desolate Artic setting, Michelle Paver masterfully exploits innate primal terrors, specifically the fear of the dark.
Jack, the protagonist, is haunted by the past, both figuratively and literally. Figuratively, he is haunted by a history of loneliness, misfortune, a lower social class and also his repressed homosexuality. But literally, he is haunted by something awful from the past, that lurks in the darkness of Gruhuken. Dark Matter is a surprisingly thematically rich novel; despite some things being a bit too over-explained for my liking, Paver leaves just enough ambiguity and mystery to ensure this book will remain lingering in my head.
Early on, some of the dialogue could feel a bit clunky, which I think was mainly down to Paver only writing children's books before this. But as the novel progressed, I was progressively taken aback by the intense power of Paver's simple, but undeniably atmospheric, intricate and mesmerising descriptions. Paver paces the novel perfectly, crafting some memorably tense sequences. Forgive my use of this idiom, but it's a real page turner! I loved the climax and how it was built up to, although I was weirdly hoping it would end on a much darker note than it did. Regardless, Dark Matter: A Ghost Story is magnificent. I can't wait to see Francis Lee's film adaptation of it.
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Classism and Fatphobia
thereadingdude's review
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Blood
Minor: Torture and Vomit
gabriellesimpson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Animal death, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
cviii's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Alcohol, Vomit, Murder, and Hate crime
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, Medical content, Animal death, Classism, and Excrement
eli_jw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Fatphobia, and Grief
Minor: Torture and Death
bookish_vicky's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Death
elliebellie2022's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Ableism and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal cruelty
All violence and cruelty is briefly mentioned amd not described in detail however the writing is so effective that it can feel quite visceralpyotrkrothotkin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Minor: Death, Animal death, and Murder