rungemaille's review against another edition
This was a second try at reading this one — I thought the audiobook format would help, but it just really is not my thing.
I kind of expected the tropey, by the numbers plot (I often relish in it with horror) but struggled too much with the poor characterisation.
I had a particularly hard time with the female characters, who all seemed built on the model of “strong-willed woman who constantly feels like she has something to prove to the men around her to justify her equal status with them”. In the case of Meryam, it got to be particularly aggravating because of her position of power (which reads as unearned given her lack of competences and credentials in comparison with the gang of experts she brought in and then seems to constantly think know less than she does). As a result, she reads as strident and entitled. It felt like a bad take on feminism, and got tiring very fast.
I kind of expected the tropey, by the numbers plot (I often relish in it with horror) but struggled too much with the poor characterisation.
I had a particularly hard time with the female characters, who all seemed built on the model of “strong-willed woman who constantly feels like she has something to prove to the men around her to justify her equal status with them”. In the case of Meryam, it got to be particularly aggravating because of her position of power (which reads as unearned given her lack of competences and credentials in comparison with the gang of experts she brought in and then seems to constantly think know less than she does). As a result, she reads as strident and entitled. It felt like a bad take on feminism, and got tiring very fast.
dana_naylor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
5.0
Wow. Incredibly creepy.
I had great fun with it.
I had great fun with it.
walkonpooh's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
cluckingbell's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book for free through a GoodReads giveaway.
This was a light, breezy read (as supernatural horror goes). None of the characters made me hope for their death, which is relatively rare for any book, but I also wasn't very concerned about whether they survived or not, which means the tension wasn't as high as it might have been. While I had some unanswered questions and wondered why certain conversations weren't had, for the most part I was content to go along for the ride.
I do think the book suffered from the hyperacceleration of violence. Just as the shark in Jaws is much scarier when you're anticipating seeing it, this book was much scarier when it was things going bump in the night than it was once all hell had broken loose. I would have preferred more bumps and less hell.
This was a light, breezy read (as supernatural horror goes). None of the characters made me hope for their death, which is relatively rare for any book, but I also wasn't very concerned about whether they survived or not, which means the tension wasn't as high as it might have been. While I had some unanswered questions and wondered why certain conversations weren't had, for the most part I was content to go along for the ride.
I do think the book suffered from the hyperacceleration of violence. Just as the shark in Jaws is much scarier when you're anticipating seeing it, this book was much scarier when it was things going bump in the night than it was once all hell had broken loose. I would have preferred more bumps and less hell.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
Snowstorms and mountaintops are plenty scary on their own, and I liked the setting a lot. The demon possession was less scary, beacuse it was basically just the same thing over and over again. Which I'm sure is an accurate description of demonic possession, but still, more investigating and less reacting to events would have been nice.
lisa_does_booksta's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kodermike's review against another edition
2.0
I could not do this to myself. When halfway through the book I still felt no interest in any of the characters or even the scenario as it was being portrayed, I decided to walk away. Based on the other reviews of this book, it looks like you, fellow reader, will fall into one of two camps (and only TWO!) - you will either enjoy this book, or you will question the Bram Stoker award, the publishing industry, and what passes for well-written horror these days.
For myself, I'm in the latter camp.
For myself, I'm in the latter camp.
the_weirdling's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book after hearing Christopher Golden being interviewed on Brian Keene's podcast. The book starts with a couple scaling the famous Mount Ararat in modern day Turkey. An earthquake and avalanche exposes a cave which they enter for shelter. Once inside, they realize that they are inside an buried ship near the top of a mountain. It is quickly assumed that this ship is likely proof of Noah's ark, long rumored to have settled on Mount Ararat following the Great Flood.
An expedition dispatched to the archeological dig soon finds a tomb in the ship, but when they open it, they do not discover the remains of a kindle prophet of God and carpenter named Noah. In stead, they discover something that looks more beastly and demonic.
This book had excellent pacing. It kept charging forward, heightening suspense, and never letting you go. The twists and turns only go deeper and darker. The archeological dimension of the story is - for the most part - sound. Yes, liberties are taken to make the plot work, but at least there weren't outright fabrications opposed to all known facts being passed off as if they were established consensus. (Ahem, "DaVinci Code", I’m looking at you).
As a fan of archeological books that crossover with sci-fi, horror, or both, this was a deeply satisfying book.
An expedition dispatched to the archeological dig soon finds a tomb in the ship, but when they open it, they do not discover the remains of a kindle prophet of God and carpenter named Noah. In stead, they discover something that looks more beastly and demonic.
This book had excellent pacing. It kept charging forward, heightening suspense, and never letting you go. The twists and turns only go deeper and darker. The archeological dimension of the story is - for the most part - sound. Yes, liberties are taken to make the plot work, but at least there weren't outright fabrications opposed to all known facts being passed off as if they were established consensus. (Ahem, "DaVinci Code", I’m looking at you).
As a fan of archeological books that crossover with sci-fi, horror, or both, this was a deeply satisfying book.
brigitav's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5