justdavid3113's review against another edition
2.0
This was a struggle.
I was really intrigued by the premise and the characters of Alex and Cooper. There was an interesting dynamic between them and as the story unfolded, I was enjoying it. Parts made me want to keep reading, then it started to become too much of a blur.
Mid way through I almost gave up, then a few things happened simultaneously that piqued my interest again. I wish I had given up though, as the rest was just odd. The narrative became disparate. Parts just didn’t make sense or seem to fit and I’m really not happy with the end and the supposed resolution.
I was really intrigued by the premise and the characters of Alex and Cooper. There was an interesting dynamic between them and as the story unfolded, I was enjoying it. Parts made me want to keep reading, then it started to become too much of a blur.
Mid way through I almost gave up, then a few things happened simultaneously that piqued my interest again. I wish I had given up though, as the rest was just odd. The narrative became disparate. Parts just didn’t make sense or seem to fit and I’m really not happy with the end and the supposed resolution.
wendydt's review against another edition
4.0
If this is his first book I am really looking forward to the rest. The story is given in a hazy, dreamlike style which somehow made my mind sharper. Impossible to review without giving things away.
jan_gaunt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
2.5
I got to the end of this audiobook, thought I’d lost concentration towards the end and missed something vital. Re listened to it again from the start and had the same conclusion at the end. I enjoyed it until I stopped being able to understand what was going on. Maybe one of those where the print edition is better? Or just me?
andrea_ebers's review against another edition
2.0
Ein Roman, der mit einem Gedicht von Robert Frost beginnt. Literarisch läuft mir dabei sofort das Wasser im Mund zusammen. Buchanan kann der hohen Erwartung nicht standhalten. Zu anstrengend sind die vielen kurzen Kapitel, zu bemüht mysteriös und verwirrend. Keine Figur will dem Leser näher rücken, keiner will Sympathie erwecken. Dass auf den 448 Seiten das Potenzial der Inhaltsangabe nach und nach versinkt, ist schade.
pkc's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, Blood, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Suicide
ketterd4mn's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An interesting and dark animal-themed premise (not for the faint hearted or those who cannot handle animal abuse and the like) that was fairly well executed. A fantastic debut for the author. My only issue was that it was quite confusing at times, particularly at the end and I really cannot tell you the conclusion to the novel as I don’t understand it myself.
snorkmidden's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
graemeh's review against another edition
2.0
The blurb from Val McDermid on the front cover indicates I won’t read another book like this again this year. I’m glad - overly wordy, faux-philosophical, a terrible, out-of-nowhere ending and worst of all it’s just boring. I didn’t like nor care about any of the characters, their motivations were cliche and I give it a second star only because the design of the book itself was very pleasing on the eye. Not recommended, a real slog.
judenoseinabook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
A very disturbing story. Wish I hadn't read it now.
It drew me I quite early on and I wanted to understand what was going on, which was why I carried on despite the awful crime at the beginning. But it got more and more enigmatic and the ending is even more so. There are no real answers as to how or why things happened either.
Not for the faint hearted.
It drew me I quite early on and I wanted to understand what was going on, which was why I carried on despite the awful crime at the beginning. But it got more and more enigmatic and the ending is even more so. There are no real answers as to how or why things happened either.
Not for the faint hearted.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5