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wespm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.5
rjscamp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ibrow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
little_worm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
In reading, it is very clearly an early work from the author. You can see him stretching some of the narrative devices and use of description that he becomes very adept in later works, and the core themes of environment and trans-humanism that are more concrete and explored in greater depth in his later works. Like a very baby brother to Southern Reach.
Would I have enjoyed it as much as a stand-alone piece, without prior knowledge of Vandermeer's body of work? Probably not, but it was still enjoyable all the same.
Would I have enjoyed it as much as a stand-alone piece, without prior knowledge of Vandermeer's body of work? Probably not, but it was still enjoyable all the same.
kathrynlangenderfer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cfos27's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Gore
tregina's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes I need to remind myself not to rate authors against themselves, because while I prefer everything else I've read by Jeff Vandermeer, when I asked myself "What would you rate this if it had been written by somebody else?" it still rated very highly for me. It's all the creepy, strange and twisted things that I love, and doesn't flinch from the darkness. I didn't even mind the extensive parts in second person POV, which is saying a lot.
galaxywitch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0