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ktjawrites's review against another edition
5.0
VanderMeer throws you right into a strange new world without hesitation, letting his trademark imagination take over in spades.
scytheria's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Gore, Body horror, Medical content, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexual content
shane_tiernan's review against another edition
4.0
Unfortunately my copy of this book doesn't include the extra stories so I only had the pleasure of reading the main story. The first section of the story reminded me of Jeff Noon's Vurt or Pollen, it was rife with fantasy lingo and extreme future concepts and frankly very confusing. The 2nd section was more somber and creepy and then the last section (my favorite) was a surreal, horror-filled quest/adventure (akin to China Mieville's Perdido Street Station)
The mix of atmosphere's and writing styles worked for me. I enjoyed Vandermeer's City of Saints and Madmen and I would say this is on par with that in creativity and originality.
The mix of atmosphere's and writing styles worked for me. I enjoyed Vandermeer's City of Saints and Madmen and I would say this is on par with that in creativity and originality.
fuckleberry_hinn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
bugsisshrimp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
yvarg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I just didn't really get the appeal.
jimmyfission's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up. It's Vandermeer's earliest work and shows, but he nevertheless captures the raw, mind-numbing horror of being alive as powerfully as ever. Some parts are kind of rough, stylistically. I don't feel that Nicola is a very well-rounded character compared to Shadrach and even Nicholas, who plays a much smaller role, but I'm not bothered by the second-person perspective. I also feel like the ending was somewhat anticlimactic, but I enjoyed the reveal of Quin and descriptions of all of his creatures. Overall it's imperfect, but solid.
doriangraim's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
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
3.5